Discover Älta: Lakes, Nature and Cultural History

At Lake Ältasjön, swimming, fishing and birdwatching appeal to different visitors: it is a swimming lake and fishing water, as well as a good lake for birdwatching. Numerous species breed there, and migratory birds stop over during migration. If you are looking for accommodation in Älta, you can then decide whether water activities or nature watching should play a greater part in your stay.

Lakes, swimming spots and waterways

There are six municipal swimming spots in Älta. Ältabadet is a gently sloping, accessibility-adapted beach with a firm ramp and sandy shore. You can get there on buses 401, 821 or 840 to Älta Gård; from there, it is approximately a 400-metre walk. If you plan to use this connection, check the timetable before travelling. Strålsjöbadet is a popular, purpose-built swimming spot in the northern part of Lake Strålsjön.

A canoe route runs from Lake Dammtorpsjön through Lake Ältasjön and across Lake Drevviken, continuing all the way to the sea. This offers a water route alongside the walking and hiking trails described here as different ways to explore the area.

Protected areas and trails

The Älta mosse-Strålsjön Nature Reserve encompasses a bog, a lake, deciduous swamp forest, deciduous forest, spruce forest and a stately pine forest on rocky ground. Its landscape types range from wetlands to various kinds of forest. The reserve has lovely walking trails. The Flaten Nature Reserve includes the western part of Lake Ältasjön and its surroundings.

Nackareservatet is also a distinctive natural setting: thanks to its varied vegetation, it has the highest biodiversity of the nature reserves in Nacka. The Sörmlandsleden trail runs through Nackareservatet, through the forests south of Lake Söderbysjön and through the area around Lake Ulvsjön. It also passes the Strålsjön-Erstavik Nature Reserve on the eastern side of Lake Strålsjön.

In Strålsjön-Erstavik, along the ridge of a sandy and gravelly glacial esker, are settlement sites dating from the Stone Age. The combination of landscape and early settlement gives the area a cultural-historical dimension, without requiring a separate hike as a starting point.

Cultural history and activities

The cultural history walk in Älta shares interesting facts about Älta gård, the crofts in Älta, glacial potholes and Gula Faran. Another trace of the area’s history of land use leads to Älta mosse: peat was extracted there and dried near the croft Lovisedal. Art is the focus of the art trail in Älta. At Älta Church, there is a projecting bay behind the altar with a glass painting by Lars Abrahamsson.

Kulturhuset Älta offers courses for children, young people and adults. Various activities take place there, organised by non-profit associations, private individuals and professional operators. The reception is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 19:00 and Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00; it is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

For play and sport, Ältadalen Activity Park offers large grass areas and a multi-use court for football and field hockey. Älta idrottsplats has a parkour area and a motor skills course, as well as one football pitch for eleven players and another for seven. The outdoor gym at Älta IP is on a sports field and includes a wooden-log fitness course, fixed weights and an obstacle course. Hedvigslund outdoor gym is set in a park.

Discover more destinations: Saltsjöbaden, Nacka.

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