Ovanåker: Voxnan, Hälsingegårdar and Cultural Trails

Nature and Water

Ovanåker is partly located in the Voxnadalen Biosphere Reserve, which essentially follows the Voxnan River catchment area. The upper reaches of the Voxnan are one of the longest, best-preserved and least-impacted flowing waterways in central Sweden.

Separate pages provide an overview of the area covering Ovanåker, Alfta, Viksjöfors, Edsbyn and Voxnabruk.

The Sässman area between Lakes Ullungen and Vägnan provides a habitat for a diverse range of insects and birds, including sedge warblers and coots. The canoeing routes on the Voxnan cover 250 km and follow the riverbanks from rapids to calm stretches.

Culture and History

Summer grazing is still practised at Våsbo fäbodar: for several centuries, farmers from Roteberg have brought their animals there to graze during the summer. Since 2008, Våsbo fäbodar has been the county's second cultural reserve; its preserved buildings, flora and well-maintained grounds convey what Swedish transhumance farming in Hälsingland may have looked like in the late 19th century.

Hälsingegård Ol-Anders is one of four visitor centres for the Hälsingegårdar World Heritage Site. Its exhibitions tell the history of ÖSA, a forestry machinery company that grew out of a smithy in the village. The Emigrant Museum at Hälsingegård Ol-Anders tells the story of Brita Olsdotter and the religious group Erikjansarna, who left Alfta in 1846 to seek a new life in America.

Hälsingegård Löka is a local heritage museum with a shop selling local handicrafts and a café. The main building, also known as Storstugan, can only be visited as part of a guided tour; the farm is open in summer and by appointment.

Pallars is one of the seven farms on the UNESCO World Heritage List and features, among other things, two side wings, several elaborately designed entrance porches and a sleeping room with well-preserved wall paintings. Hälgegården is an exhibition about the comic character Hälge and its creator, Lars Mortimer. The Jim Reeves Museum in Voxna displays original photographs, personal belongings and awards belonging to the singer.

Trails and Activities

The Kulturstigen in Alfta is approximately 3 km long and explains the local history of Alfta on a total of 45 signs. The Kulturstigen in Edsbyn is a 2.2 km walking route from Bärstabron by the library along the Voxnan River to Bågbron, continuing past Sommars Café and up to Norra torget.

The Pilgrimsleden Hoppet is a seven-kilometre hike to Ovanåker Church. Stora Hälsingegårdars Väg is a 28 km tourist route connecting Hälsingegård Ol-Anders in Alfta with Alfta Church, Hälsingegård Löka in Gundbo and Hälsingegård Mårtes in Edsbyn, passing through several villages.

At the Kygelvallen recreation area, there is a 6 km MTB route that mostly runs through the forest as a varied singletrack trail. Edsbybacken on Gårdtjärnsberget in Edsbyn has a vertical drop of 135 m, two drag lifts, a conveyor belt in the children's area, five pistes and a fun park.

Water and Summer

Swimming and fishing are possible at Frostkilen Beach. Café Agnes is open in summer and serves Hälsingeostkaka, World Heritage pastries, open sandwiches, ice cream and coffee.

Bus route 100 runs from the road junction back towards Edsbyn or Söderhamn.

For the higher-level travel overview: Gävleborg.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Ockelbo, Hudiksvall, Söderhamn.