Hälla: Archaeological Traces and River Fishing

Hälla combines a long history of settlement with activities on the water and a café in the village. The trapping pit system and archaeological sites turn attention to the past; fishing and boat rentals are other reasons to visit.

Archaeology Across Several Periods

The trapping pit system in Hälla is 8 km long in total. Some pits were used from the Late Neolithic to the Migration Period. This time span applies to some pits and not automatically to every feature in the system. Hälla is a trapping landscape with a long continuity of use and settlement. It is also home to one of the densest concentrations of Stone Age settlement sites in Norrland. Hälla thus highlights both a long history of use and a high concentration of Stone Age settlement sites.

Sites 869–870 comprise a settlement from the Stone Age and Bronze Age. The archaeological settlement site Lokal 870 is located by the Ångermanälven in Hälla and is designated L1937:5605. The descriptions emphasize different aspects: sites 869–870 foreground the periods, while Lokal 870 gives the specific site name and its identifier. This makes it possible to distinguish the broader description of the settlement from the name of an individual archaeological site.

Landscape and Orientation

Hälla has a long glaciofluvial gravel ridge, known as a *rullstensås*. This adds a different perspective on the area alongside its archaeological themes: the description identifies a geological landform, not another archaeological site. There is also an information board in Hälla.

The Mesjödalen Nature Reserve is nearby. From Åsele, the easiest route is to take Road 90 to Hälla, then follow a forest road through Tjärn and Nytjärn. Hälla is a way point on this route; this sequence is helpful if you plan to visit Mesjödalen.

Fishing and Other Activities on the Water

In the flowing water near the old Forsnacken in Hälla, you can fish for grayling and trout. You can also try fly-fishing for pike in the Ångermanälven. The opportunities vary by named waterway, target fish, and fishing method: grayling and trout in the flowing water near the old Forsnacken, compared with fly-fishing for pike in the Ångermanälven. Fishing conditions and local arrangements may change; check them before making plans.

The fishing permit for the Hälla fishing area is valid for all waters within the area and for the Ångermanälven at Hällby. Its geographical coverage thus includes both the waters in the area and the specifically named stretch at Hällby. Boats can also be rented in Hälla, in addition to the reservoir.

Café Hälla

Café Hälla is in the village of Hälla, about 30 km south of Åsele. A visit offers a nostalgic trip back to the 1950s. Check whether the café is open before you travel. This keeps planning for the café separate from the fishing and landscape topics and makes it easy to include in your visit.

Discover more destinations: Fredrika, Åsele.

Return to the main travel overview: Åsele.