Tiveden National Park is very popular park in Sweden and rightfully so. Nine well sign-posted routes of various lengths and difficulties in beautiful nature, passing several lakes, forrest and rock formations. The trails can be a scramble at times, but not too difficult and well worth the effort. If you have limited time, it might be difficult to choose only one trail so keep reading to discover the highlights of each one of them.
GETTING THERE
Stockholm – 280km (3h 25min)
Gothenburg – 225km (3h)
Trondheim, Norway – 350km (5h)
By car: Park at one of the free parking lots at each Tiveden entrance: Main Entrance, entrance Vitsand or entrance Osjonas. Campers can be parked here also, however staying with camper is NOT allowed after certain hour (no overnight stay allowed).
By public transport: There is no public transport available to Tiveden.
Camper/ Van overnight stay: It is not allowed to stay at the official parking lots. If you are self-sufficient you might be able to stay at small parking spots along the road, there are couple of them. Or at one of the 3 fishing lakes. I’m not certain if it is allowed, but I have not seen any signs with exception of 1-2 spots, so I’m assuming it is to camp in these spots.
I have stayed Tivedstorp STF hostel, see website HERE. It has 4 spots with electricity (250 SEK) and 4 spots without (200 SEK). It is not luxurious but it is good location at the price. Main entrance is 5km or 3km to entrance Vitsand. If you have bike, it is significantly easier to cycle to Vitsand, not only due to distance but it is less hilly. There is long distance Berglagsleden that goes from the hostel and you can walk on it to get to blue or red loop. You will need to pay attention to signs as the trail does not meet those loops directly.
TRAIL NAVIGATION
You could navigate Tiveden national park easily without additional navigation. Take a picture of the map available at each park entrance. Or pick up physical map available free of charge. Once you select your route, follow ribbons on the trees. The ribbons are coloured octagons with specific number of dots signifying the corresponding trail by both number and colour. You can hike in any direction you like, the ribbons are visible from both sides.
Beware: You might also spot plain white ribbons without any octagons on them, those are to mark short side trails, usually to a peak and back, they do not signify the white loop. I have met people who got confused with these white ribbons as they thought they are on the white loop, but in reality they were over 3km away. Apart from this small nuance, the navigation is very easy.
TRAIL DETAILS
Tiveden national park has 9 official loops of various distances and difficulty. Based on your time availability, fitness level and sight-seeing interest, you can choose any loop or create your own. The shortest loop is 0,9km and longest is 9,5km. The maps also highlight points of interests which might help you with the selection of your trail.
Main entrance has 5 different loops starting from there, entrance Vitsand has 4 and Osjonas has 2. Main entrance has best options in creating loops but entrance Vitsand has beautiful white sand beach (hence the name).
If you can spare only 1/2 day or can choose only one trail in Tiveden national park, my personal suggestion is loop Stigmansrundan/ trail number 9/ colour grey as it has the best view points and the best variety of terrain.
TRAIL DETAILS – 1 – RED – TROLLKYRKORUNDAN – 4,6km – 3h
Entrance: Main
Personal experience: I have combined blue and red trail together, missing out on the shared path between the trail.
On the way you pass Metesjon lake, where it is also possible to camp. The red trail continues to Trollkyrkesjon lake, leading to Stora trollkyrkan, which is steep rock face, that indeed might resemble a church. It is also small viewing point, you can go up on it by following white ribbon without octagon, but it is not easy climb and the views are not that great. The second point of interest on this trail is Lilla Trollkyrkan, which is another rock face, although smaller and it has a small pass. I really liked this part. The terrain of this trail is a bit of obstacle course with some up and down over stones, tree roots and fallen trees. It can be strenuous to some people which is why it is estimated at 3h although it is less than 5km.
TRAIL DETAILS – 2 – YELLOW – STENKALLERUNDAN – 2,2km – 1,5h
Entrance: Main
Personal experience: I have combined white, bit of grey, yellow and purple trail.
This seems to be one of the more popular loops, due to Stenkalla, which is place with giant boulders covered in moss. This is very interesting and beautiful area. The loop goes along gorgeous part of the coastline of the big lake. The difficulty constantly changes between easy stroll, plank walk, rock scrambling, trail with tree roots and stones, overall of medium difficulty.
TRAIL DETAILS – 3 – ORANGE – TARNEKULLERUNDAN – 1,3km – 1h
Entrance: Vitsand
Personal experience: I have completed this loop as individual loop.
1h estimation for this loop is correct estimation due to its terrain. It starts easy enough but once you start the climb up it becomes challenging. You need to scramble over rocks on a hill. In addition you can complete this trail in both directions, so you will need to mind people on the trail in front and behind you, especially at the “cave” portion. The “cave” part is short and very challenging part and rest of the trail is still not easy, but it is really beautiful and worth the effort.
TRAIL DETAILS – 4 – PURPLE – TREHORNINGSRUNDAN – 9,5km – 4-5h
Entrance: Main, Vitsand, Osjonas
Personal experience: I have only completed small sections as part of other loops.
This trail takes you all around the big lake and portions of it are shared with other trails. It does seem like nice loop, but I’m not able to comment on this. The parts I have walked involved a lot of up and down over rocks and tree roots as well some easier sections.
TRAIL DETAILS – 5 – BLUE – OXOGABERGSRUNDA- 6,7km – 4h
Entrance: Main
Personal experience: I have combined blue and red trail together, missing out on the shared path between the trail.
You start with small hill climb, but after this the trail is mostly easy with forrest trail. It is of course up and down with some harder sections but mostly easy compared to other trails. Its mossy and boggy forrest, very tranquil. It is more less the same all the way, so not much variety, but I still enjoyed as it was so peaceful. I also felt like this trail had the biggest chance to spot moose or other wildlife. I have not seen any, but I really think here you would have the best chance. The highlight of this trail is Stigmapass which you passed while driving to the main entrance, but this time you have a chance to observe it from above. The other point of interest is lake Gaddsjon. You will also pass Metesjon lake, where it is possible to camp.
TRAIL DETAILS – 6 – GREEN – MELLANASRUNDAN – 1,9km – 0,5h
Entrance: Osjonas
Personal experience: Not visited
I can not comment as I have also not visited Osjonas entrance.
TRAIL DETAILS – 7 – WHITE – JUNKER JAGARERUNDAN – 2,8km – 1,5h
Entrance: Vitsand
Personal experience: I have combined white, bit of grey, yellow and purple trail. Completed full loop.
Second easiest trail. The main point of interest is Junker Jagare boulder, which gave name to this trail. The boulder is very impressive and not far from start, the trail leading to it is very easy, mostly plank walk or easy flat trail, so can be done with pram or wheelchair. Afterwards it turns into forrest trail but again, very easy. The terrain resembled trail 5 but not as long and more easy terrain.
TRAIL DETAILS – 8 – BLACK – VITSANDSRUNDAN – 0,9km – 0,5h
Entrance: Vitsand
Personal experience: I have passed majority of the trail while doing orange loop and white one
The most easy but also shortest trail. There are no points of interest along the trail. Unless you came only for very brief visit of the park, I would not complete as individual loop.
TRAIL DETAILS – 9 – GREY – STIGMANSRUNDAN – 4,2km – 3h
Entrance: Main
Personal experience: I have combined white, bit of grey, yellow and purple trail. I made side trip to visit Vringelirovarna during this loop. Part between Vringelirovarna and Stigma pass not completed.
First part of the trail is shared with yellow loop, leading to Stenkalla, which is part with giant boulders covered in moss. This is very interesting and beautiful area. It is bit challenging part but not very long. You also get small portion along the big lake before heading inland to lake Vringelirovarna which had side trail to viewing point overseeing the lake, which is great spot for break and is really enjoyable. The next highlight of this trail is Stigmapass which you passed while driving to the main entrance, but this time you have a chance to observe it from above. The terrain of this trail varies, it is not the easiest but also the most difficult. It has some harder sections but overall it is medium difficulty.
This would be the best trail with most highlights if you have limited time to visit Tiveden national park.
OTHER DETAILS:
Tree coverage: All trails are within forrest.
Geocaching: There are some geocaches on some of the trails, no Adventure labs.
Dogs: It is possible to do the trail with dog, but you need to choose trail depending on your dog fitness levels. Some trails have ladders with metal grids which can be scary or uncomfortable for dogs, although these are rare and dog could by-pass almost all of them. Dogs must be leashed.
Shoes recommendation: All routes can be completed in trail runners with good profile.
Trail running: Some trails might be better for experienced trail runners. In high season there might be a lot of people on trail with difficulties to pass by in certain sections.
FACILITIES
Prepare well in advance as there are limited facilities in Tiveden park.
Restrooms: Free public restrooms at all 3 entrances, Metesjon.
Shops: None at Tiveden park or anywhere nearby
Restaurant: None at entrances or on the way. Tivedstrop hostel has a restaurant, make sure to check for opening times, especially during week and off-season.
Personal experience
I completed hikes in Tiveden in September 2024 on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
On Sunday I completed hike late afternoon and there were still some people around the entrance, but not on the trail.
On Monday I completed blue/red trail. I only met one couple on the blue trail, although this could be that I started around 10am. I have met several people on the red trail.
On Tuesday I completed white, bit of grey, yellow and purple trail. I met a lot of people on the white and yellow. Lot of people were enjoying the Vitsand beach, having picnic, BBQ or swim as it was hot and sunny day.
Leave a Reply