The best hiking routes in Malingsbo-Klotens naturvårdsområde

Malingsbo-Klotens naturvårdsområde is a vast, forested plateau on the border of Dalarna and Västmanland, characterized by a dense network of lakes, slow-flowing watercourses, and peat bogs. Unlike the dramatic peaks further north, this landscape is gently undulating, dominated by coniferous forest growing over rocky, moraine-strewn terrain. The soil is naturally acidic and nutrient-poor, which has shaped a quiet, uniform wilderness of spruce, pine, and thick carpets of moss and blueberry scrub.

Walkers will find a mix of terrain underfoot, ranging from soft, pine-needle paths and stony forest tracks to wet peatlands where wooden boardwalks are essential to cross the boggy ground. The area is heavily defined by its water; narrow channels connect larger lakes like Stora Kloten, meaning routes often follow shorelines or cross small ridges left behind by retreating glaciers. You will notice many small, dark forest tarns where the water is stained brown by peat.

While the reserve is well-known for its canoeing and fishing, the hiking trails away from the main hubs of Kloten and Nyhammar offer a more solitary experience. The forest here is managed for timber in parts, so walkers will encounter a patchwork of mature woodland, younger plantations, and open bog clearings rather than an untouched primeval forest. It is a landscape of quiet, repetitive patterns, best suited for those who appreciate subtle variations in moss, water, and stone.