Hamra: Forest, Moor and Local History
Accommodation in Hamra
The oldest part of Hamra National Park is one of the few untouched forests in central Sweden. Within the national park, forest and moor take centre stage; in the village itself, the church and old cemetery offer historical points of interest. This gives you a range of interests to consider when planning your trip: hikes of varying durations, seasonal birdwatching and the history of the village.
Nature Between Forest, Moor and the Ice Age
Urbergsbassängen is the largest bedrock basin of the Svartån. Meltwater from the Ice Age carved it out of the rock. Here, the river, the shape of the basin and its formation can be considered together as a distinctive natural feature. For those interested in the geological forces that shaped the landscape, it offers a focus beyond the forest and moor.
Hiking Trails by Landscape and Time
Urskogsslingan is an approximately one-hour hiking trail through the old-growth forest in Hamra National Park. Myrlandskapet is a two-part hiking trail through the moorland. Hamraleden is an approximately six-hour hike through varied natural landscapes across the entire national park.
You can distinguish between the trails by asking two questions: Which landscape would you like to focus on, and how much time do you have for the hike? The stated durations for Urskogsslingan and Hamraleden differ considerably; Myrlandskapet, with its two sections, focuses on the moor. This lets you consider the time required and the natural setting together when choosing a trail.
Spring and Activities in the Park
From the observation tower at Myrentrén, you can watch black grouse displaying and cranes arriving with their spring calls in April. This birdwatching is a distinct seasonal activity alongside the hiking trails.
Each year, around 25 students from Los skola lead groups from the region at various stations on two loops in Hamra National Park; the general public takes its turn in the afternoon. Two different time references are important for these nature experiences: April is specified for birdwatching, while the afternoon is set aside for the general public as part of this annual activity.
Hamra Church and the Old Cemetery
Hamra Church was inaugurated in 1872. It stands 457 metres above sea level, and the church steps offer far-reaching views. The year of its inauguration and the view from the steps provide two different ways to explore the church.
Hamra Old Cemetery came into use in the mid-18th century and continued to be used until the 1860s. Erik Persson Pulkkinen’s gravestone can still be seen there. A path leads uphill to the cemetery from a turning in the village, and there is an information board along the way. The church and cemetery therefore offer different points of interest: the church’s inauguration year and views, and the cemetery’s period of use, gravestone and information board.
Hamra as a Starting Point for Finding Accommodation
The Svartån entrance to Hamra National Park can also be reached via the village of Hamra along Road 310. If you are looking for a hotel in Hamra, you can consider this entrance as a specific reference point when choosing your location. You can also base your choice on the landscape and time frame of whichever hike is most important to your plans.
Discover more destinations: Färila, Järvsö, Ljusdal, Korskrogen
Go to the main travel overview: Ljusdal.
