Söderåsens National Park is a wonderful spot to visit in Southern Sweden throughout the year, however, in Autumn it really sparkles with that cosy fall feeling. At this time of year, wandering through the depths of the forest, surrounded by crisp autumn leaves, truly is magical!
What makes Söderåsens National Park so special is the mixture of hills and valleys it encompasses, with winding rivers and ridges completely covered in beech trees. It’s the perfect place for hiking, camping, a visit to the Naturrum, or simply a picnic in the forest! Whatever you plan to do, this trip should be at the top of your Southern Sweden autumn bucket list!
So, let’s get to planning! Here are top tips on visiting, hiking, camping and the best things to see and do in Söderåsens National Park in the autumn!
Please note that this post contains affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase through the link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I make sure to only ever promote products and brands I have used and like, and that all links are to trusted websites.
Hiking trails in Söderåsens National Park
Skäralid
This is one of the most accessible parts of the park if you want to hike around Kopparhatten and Lierna – however that also means it’s the busiest. Here, you will find Naturrum the museum/ nature centre for the area where you can learn about the landscape and the plants and animals that live there. In Skäralid there is a big carpark and cafe.
If you follow the path down from the carpark you will find Skärdammen. This is the starting point for the hiking trails around Söderåsens National Park. If you don’t want to do one of the longer hiking trails you can instead follow the 0.9km Skärdammen Runt which is relatively flat and only takes around 20 minutes to complete.
Röstånga
Röstånga is another entrance to the National park where there are a few smaller walking trails. While the nature and views are perhaps not as dramatic here as nearby Kopparhatten, it is still a beautiful forest area perfect if you want a quieter forest walk.
Härsnäsrundan
This was the most beautiful part of Söderåsens National park in the autumn! Parking at Härsnäs Parking and following the Härsnäsrundan down to Dahlbergs Rastplats, was a magical walk! The forest floor is completely covered in leaves whilst the trees turn an illuminating shade of orange.
The hiking trail is 5km in total and takes around 1.5 hours to complete. It is a very easy path with little climbing!
Our Hiking Path
In order to see all Söderåsens National Parks best viewpoints in one day we did a mix of a few different hikes. Starting at Skäralidsdammen we followed the Kopparhattsrundan towards Kopparhatten. When the path turns left and loops back, we joined the Hjortsprångsrundan and followed this back to Skäralid.
You can see all the hiking trails on this map.
Viewpoints in Söderåsens National Park
All of these viewpoints in Söderåsens National Park are connected, and beginning at the Naturrum, it is possible to see them all in a few hours round trip walk! The route we took which passed all of the viewpoints was a mix of all the different hikes (I have outlined it above).
Kopparhatten
This is definitely the most striking viewpoint in Söderåsens National Park! This is the highest point in the National Park and looks out over the canyon (the Skäralidsdalen). On a clear day you can see for miles! This is beautiful in the autumn when all of the trees have changed to fall colours, as well as the spring when they are still a bright shade of green!
To get to Kopparhatten you can begin at Naturrum and take the bath that heads around the right side of the lake. The path follows a semi-steep hill up and around the cliff top before you reach Kopparhatten.
At Kopparhattan there is a viewing platform that looks over the valley, toilets and picnic benches! There is also parking if you are not up for the walk, however, there are not so many spots!
Lierna
Lierna is another beautiful view. From the edge of the rocky outcrop you can see into Korsskär, the place where three of the park’s valleys meet.
To get to Lierna from Naturrum and take the Hjortspringsrundan, starting by following the path to the right of the lake. This trail is 7.7km long in total and passes both the viewpoint Hjortsprånget and Lierna. This path is beautiful, heading down into the valley and along the river before taking you back up the hill towards Lierna. However, it is a moderately difficult path with a lot of hills so consider this before taking the hike.
Just after Lierna you will find the camping spot Lägerplats Liagården where there are toilets and a wind shelter. If you don’t want to do the full hike, you can instead drive up to the parking for the campground (Parkering Söderåsen Liagården) and walk down the road from here. This path is much easier and flatter, but you do miss out on the beautiful forest paths.
The best place to find these exact routes and plan your day is Naturkartan or on Länsstyrelsens website!
Camping in Söderåsens National Park
There are two camping areas in the National Park. These are by Dahlbergs and by Liagården. Liagården is a much busier spot due to it being closer to the beautiful views – but from our experience it was also a much bigger area with better facilities. There was a lot of precut wood for fires and it was a very lovely area.
Camping here is free but you must make sure to follow the rules of the Swedish right of public access (allemansrätten). This means cleaning up after yourselves and leaving everything as you left it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Söderåsens National Park?
Söderåsens National Park is in Southern Sweden, just 40km east of Helsingborg. The park is 1625 hectares in size and can be accessed from several points! The best place to start is usually by the Naturrum. This is the “center” of the nature reserve, with a heart museum about the flora and fauna in the area, maps and a nice cafe!
How to get to Söderåsens National Park
The easiest way to get to Söderåsens National Park is by driving. However, it is definitely possible to get there using the public transport system. For the purpose of this blog post I will assume you are traveling from either Helsingborg or Lund – the two closest cities to Söderåsens National Park.
From Helsingborg you will need to take the train to Klippan Station and from here take the bus to Skäralid Nationalparken. This journey takes around 1 hour.
Similarly, from Lund you will need to take the train to Stehag Station. From here you can catch the bus to Skäralid Nationalparken. This journey also takes around 1 hour.
The best way to plan your trip or book tickets is to use the Skånetrafiken app or web platform. You can find it on this page.
During our trip we spent the night before and the night after in the city of Helsingborg. This is a beautiful place that I can recommend if you are traveling to the National park from a city further away. Otherwise, the connection to Lund and Malmö is quite easy to make.
What to bring when hiking in Söderåsens National Park
The hiking trails in Söderåsens National Park are relatively easy, with flat paths and stable grounds throughout! As always, make sure to bring weatherproof clothes, food and water, but other than that you don’t need anything special.
Can you camp in Söderåsens National Park?
Yes, you can camp in Söderåsens National Park, but only in the designated areas! Luckily, there are a few of them! The best is at the cosy wind shelter by Lägerplats Liagården, but you will also find a big area for camping by Dahlbergs. In both places is running water and extra firewood, but make sure to bring your own just in case!
Hotels near Söderåsens National Park
There are a quite a few great places to stay nearby Söderåsens National park. Depending what you are looking for, there are a few beautiful options to look into. Located just by Röstånga Bus Stop is the beautiful STF Villa Söderåsen B&B. This B&B is a beautiful old house with a big garden and shared kitchen. The best part is it is one of the best budget options for the area.
If you are visiting in the summer and looking for a longer term accomodation with facilities such as a pool then there is no better place than this cosy cabin. Only a few minutes away from the National Park it is the perfect place for a summer vacation and hiking trip.
Finally, if you want something a little more luxurious and comfortable, then this beautiful private house in Ljungbyhed with a sauna and 4 bedrooms is perfect for a bigger group. Located
How long should you spend in Söderåsens National Park
I would say 1-2 days is enough time to explore Söderåsens National Park. We were there for one full day and managed all the likes we wanted to do, however, if you want to take it slower and perhaps camp, I wouldn’t suggest two days.
