Nature is especially important to many people right now. It's great to be outside, but there are also rules that we need to follow and they can be different in different nature areas. Bring the dog or go camping? Here we have gathered several good tips and important things to think about before you head out.
An important first step is to check in advance what applies in the area you want to visit. In this way, it will be both more pleasant for you and better for nature.
Five things to consider before heading out into nature
- Check out the area you are going to visit. Then you can get information about the visitor pressure and maybe choose a different day or time for your visit to avoid crowding.
- What applies in the nature area that you intend to visit? Are there any special rules in addition to the right of public access? Check before you head out!
- Discover new areas: Think about whether you can choose an area other than the one that is most popular. Now might be a good time to discover new places? Check out tips on the County Administrative Board's website.
- How are you going to get to the nature area? Can you cycle or walk to avoid possible congestion in the car park?
- Are you going for coffee? Think before and bring a bag to put rubbish and food scraps in so you can take it home.
If you are going to visit a nature reserve or a national park
In Dalarna there are over 360 nature reserves to visit. The nature is varied with everything from rolling mountains, miles of forests and teeming marshes to flowering hay meadows and pastures.
Dalarna also has three national parks: Töfsingsdalen and Fulufjället in the north and Färnebofjärden in the south.
- By protecting nature, it can be experienced by you and others, both now and in the future. For nature's sake, there are special rules in the protected nature.
- Different areas have different rules. There may be special regulations on, for example, campfires, camping, dogs and cycling.
- Check out the area before you head out. Maybe there are a lot of visitors right now and you need to choose another day or time to avoid crowds?
- Discover new areas! If there are more nature areas near you, can you choose a different area than the one that is most popular at the moment?
- If the parking lot is full – choose another nature area! Maybe you can bike or walk to an area instead of taking the car?
If you want to sleep outdoors
The right of public access makes it possible for you to camp for a few days out in nature. Here are some tips for the best outdoor sleepover:
- Check out the area where you intend to camp. In some areas, it may be prohibited.
- Set up your tent on rugged ground. You are not allowed to camp on pasture or agricultural land that is used or on plantations.
- Do not camp near homes.
If you want to ride a bike
According to the right of public access, you are allowed to cycle in nature, but remember to do it in a way that does not damage the ground. Here are some tips for cycling in nature this summer.
- Do not cycle across someone's plot or over forest plantations with tender seedlings that can be damaged.
- Avoid cycling in places where the ground is wet or sensitive, such as rocky outcrops with mosses and lichens and meadows and marshes.
- The right of public access does not apply to electric bicycles.
Cycle on excellent bike trails
In Dalarna, there is the cycling network Biking Dalarna, which brings together 17 cycling areas with over 100 km of marked bike trails, from Säfsen in the south to Idre Fjäll in the north. Their trails are specially created for cycling and have common trail markings to make it easy to find.
Read more about Biking Dalarna and their cycling areas.
If you want to make a fire
The right of public access does not give a self-evident right to make a fire in nature. Check any fire bans before lighting the fire. It is primarily the municipality and krisinformation.se that provide continuous information about fire bans.
If it is allowed to make a fire, keep in mind:
- The best place to light a fire is on already prepared fire pits.
- Only light fires in places where the fire cannot spread or damage plants, animals or soil, such as on gravel or sandy ground.
- Do not light fires on moss, peatland, earthy woodland or rocks.
- Always have water close at hand.
- Take the disposable barbecue and rubbish home.
If you bring your dog
Between March 1 and August 20, you need to keep an extra eye on your dog when you are out in nature. It is to protect wild animals and birds during the most sensitive time when they have young.
Tips on more websites
More information about outdoor life and how we best take care of nature can be found at:
