Folkpark
Säterdalen is possibly the most beautifully located folkpark in Sweden. It´s a pride to the people of Säter.
Säters folkpark is owned by Yvonne and Thomas Jansson and their family. They make pleasant events all year round. In the summer there´s a large amount of events in the folkpark for all ages. Recurring events are children´s theater, flea market, vintage car exhibitions on Tuesdays, countryjam, dance with dance bands, midsummer celebration and more. Just a few steps away from the center of Säter, on Spikholmen by Ljusterån, the folkpark is one of the first things you see when you´ve gone down in the valley.
Read more about Folkparken in Säter here: säterdalen.com
The Children's Valley
The Children's Valley is a popular playground placed in a nature environment for children of all ages. Here you´ll find long slides, climbing frames, swings and nice grass areas perfect for a picnic.
Ljusteråns meandering water makes you want to play water games and is perfect for cooling down hot feet in the summer. It´s placed next to Dalstugans restaurant and ice cream shop.
There is also a playground called "Little Säter", where some of the well known wooden houses from Säter town have been built in miniature, perfect for role play.
Just a short walk along the river there is a pretty chalet where you can play, jump in the hay and enjoy delicious bubble waffles.
Unique nature
Säterdalens canyon system and it's steep slopes are unique for Sweden. The high ferns, dense bushes, herbs and rich amount of birds gives you a kind of tropical impression. The dense leafy woods open op to make place for hilly meadows and pastures.
Säterdalen is one of the main examples of a current living canyon landscape in Sweden. Along the walls of the canyon grows a jungle looking leaf forest with high biological values and a large biodiversity.
The nature reserve in Säterdalen was formed in 2001. The main reason for the reserve is to keep the biological diversity, cherish and keep the valuable nature and also to handle the needs for outdoor recreation. The best way to explore Säterdalen is to walk along the trail that goes by the beaches of Ljusterån.
The rules in reserved area are:
- It's not allowed to damage dead or living trees and bushes, dig up plants, collect moss, lichen or mushrooms.
- Thanks to the exemption from prohibition that applies cycling and riding in the nature reserve, it's possible to travel in some places in the unique environment with a bicycle or on horseback. If you do, then take a good look at the map to stay on the right tracks.
- It's not allowed to use motor driven vehicles on bare ground (read the trail driving law).
- During the period of March 1-August 20 dogs needs to be kept under supervision so they don't run around loose in places where there are wild animals. During the rest of the year dogs are supposed to be under supervision to prevent that they chase the wild animals, when they're not used during hunting season.
How it became a canyon and what happened then?
Geology: from the ice age to today
Säterdalen is one of the main examples of a current living canyon landscape in Sweden. The canyons grow all the time and develop through a bunch of natural factors. After the last ice age a large amount of material was conceived in the bottom of the valley where Dalälven flows today. Through these easily eroded soils the Ljusterån and Hyttbäcken have digged themselves further down. So the results that we see today is from a thousand years of water operations. In the present Säterdalen has got 35 lateral canyons and the deepest ones is about 50 meters under the surroundings.
Water power and coin mill
During a long time Ljusterån have been used as a power object. Many forges and older factories have been located in the valley. 1619 a gar mill was places in the valley to clean the ore of the copper from Falu copper mine. The first copper coin mill in Sweden was located in Säterdalen. Left-overs from ponds and bases are still there, even after all the water mills that have been used earlier.
Gruvkonsten "Säterkonsta" was during the 1700's was considered one of Dalarnas seven wonders. Gruvkonsten transferred power through a water wheel to Bispbergs mine. The art house with the 8,6 meter in diameter big wheel and a part of the rod was recreated during the year 1998, but further renovation is needed to make it fully functional.
Folkparks entertainment
Over a hundred years Säterdalen has been a place of entertainment.. In 1890 Dalsällskapet was created and here they had lectures, gimmicks and all sorts of music entertainment. 1903 the first outdoor festival was arranged and about 6 000 people came, most people arrived by train or bike. Some years after that the "Säterspelen" was introduced with theatre games, circus and a funfair. The theatre "The gods in Valhalla", about Vikings, was very popular in 1908. In 1913 there was a visitor record, 20 000 visitors were paying to see "Bröllopet på Ulfåsa" with Gösta Ekman as one of the actors.
Dalstugan is designed by Magnus Dahlander and was made in 1920, here there's still serving in summertime. The current chalet was built in the end of the 60's. In 1931 a new music pavilion was inaugurated on Dalslätten, that now is in the a part of the big stage (Stora scen). Dance, concerts and a famous midsummer celebrations attracted people before and still does. Through the years a countless amount of artists performed there. Among all the celebrities there are names like ABBA, Jerry Williams, Monica Zetterlund, Povel Ramel, Ted Gärdestad and the world champion of boxing Muhammed Ali.
Practical information
How to get here
Säterdalen is located in the county of Säter, just a couple of hundred meters from the center of the town.
Between the town and the valley there´s highway 70 and the railway.
By car: Highway 70 and turn in at the roundabout with the big blue axe, cross the railroad tracks and turn left on Kungsvägen. After a few hundred meters you will find the upper parking lot for Säterdalen on your right hand side.
By train: It´s a short walking distance from the train station, just follow Kungsvägen a couple of hundred meters.
From the town by foot: From the city center, follow Torggatan passed the grocery store Ica and down the hill, turn right to walk under the road, and then right again once you are out of the tunnel. Follow the street a few hundred meters and you will see the sign for Säterdalen on your left.
Parking
By the entrance there´s Gruvplan, a big gravel area that's used as a free parking lot. Here you can walk down the hill to Säterdalen. By Gruvplan there's also an information spot and a small playground.
There's also a parking lot further down from Gruvplan but with a limited amount of parking spots . Take note: It's not allowed to park on the road down to Säterdalen.
At the parking lot further down there's also special parking spots for hcp-vehicles/disabled.
Entrances
If you walk by foot from Gruvplan, the train station or the town, for your own safety choose to walk under the entrance sign in wood that says "Säterdalen". Regular traffic is not allowed here but it's used by cars with hcp-permit and deliveries and also by vintage cars on their Tuesday meetings. The road to the parking lot down in Säterdalen is less appropriate because there is more traffic. Both of the roads down to Säterdalen are quite steep so take care.
Dogs
In Säterdalen your dog shall be kept on a leash. Everyone is welcome, but all dogs shall be leached to respect other visitors and the wild animals that live in the valley.
Toilet
Toilets are placed in a building at Spikholmen, behind the serving at Dalstugan. Here is also a toilet that is accessible for disabled persons and a changing table. By the chalet there's an aoutdoor toilet.
