Outdoorlife in Västerås

Outdoorlife in Västerås

Västerås offers a wide range of outdoor activities, and we at Aktivt Uteliv Björnögården are proud to be located on Björnön, a true outdoor haven! However, there are plenty of activities to enjoy in various locations. We’ll provide you with tips in this post.

This post is for those who are new to Västerås and are looking for tips on various outdoor activities that can be enjoyed in the area, year-round!

The Right of Public Access (Allemansrätten)

Outdoor life in Sweden is based on the Right of Public Access, which allows us to move around freely in the swedish nature. The Right of Public Access is unique to Sweden, which we are incredibly happy about. The foundation is “Do not disturb, do not destroy,” but there are some things that are good to keep in mind, such as:

• If you’re going to make a fire, it’s best to use established fire pits. Fires should not be lit on moss, peat bogs, soil-covered forest land, or rocks. Make sure to have water nearby, prevent the fire from spreading, and take all trash with you.

• Do not disturb residential or vacation homes.

• If you’re on water, you can go ashore almost anywhere, except on private property or bird protection areas. Private properties usually have signs by the water, and bird protection areas are marked on the map.

• Always leave your campsite as you found it or even better. All trash must be taken home.

• If you’re camping, you need to check the rules for the specific area where you plan to camp. Some protected areas do not allow camping, such as Björnön, and camping is not permitted on grazing or agricultural land.

• Between March 1 and August 20, it’s important to keep an eye on your dogs, as many young animals are sensitive during this time.

The Right of Public Access applies to most areas, but nature reserves and national parks have their own rules that you must check.

Hiking

There are plenty of hiking trails in the Västerås municipality. Here on Björnön, we have one short hiking trail, Naturstigen, and also many exercise trails. Other popular hiking trails around Västerås include Ängsö, Asköviken, Frösåker, Gäddeholm, Rocklunda, and Badelundaåsen.

The trails are generally dry and easy to hike, so a good pair of simpler hiking shoes goes a long way in Västmanland. Dress according to the weather and bring a backpack with snacks and perhaps an extra layer.

There are also many beautiful hiking trails in neighboring municipalities, such as Sala and Surahammar. The longest hiking trail is Bruksleden, which start in Västerås, stretching 250 kilometers through Västmanland to southern Dalarna.

Once you’re out on the trails, they are marked with orange markings on trees and sometimes with large stones. At trail intersections, there are signs indicating the directions and distances to various locations.

Don’t have hiking boots or a backpack? We have them available for rent! We also offer tents, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, and outdoor stoves for those who want to try camping. Talk to us, and we’ll help you with preparations and equipment!

External link to Bruksleden.

External link to Trails of Västmanland.

Canoeing and kayaking

A fun way to explore new places is by canoe or kayak. Västerås is located in the Mälardalen region by Lake Mälaren, which offers wonderful experiences during the summer and early autumn.

At our location, you can rent canoes and kayaks for durations from two hours to a whole week. Between Björnön and the mainland lies Hässlösundet, a roughly 4.5 km long passage that is remarkably sheltered from wind. Only smaller boats with lower speeds are allowed in this area. Many people paddle back and forth in the passage, while others choose to paddle around the island, which is approximately 11 kilometer and about 2-3 hours. You can find ten different tours that you could do here.

We also organize guided kayaking tours and courses in English. The tour is conducted in English and provides an incredible chance to forge new friendships within Västerås’ international community. This opportunity is open to all individuals who have moved here to work for any of the international companies and want to embrace the beauty of the great outdoors. Read more about the tours here.

A canoe has room for two adults or two adults with one or two (small) children, along with supplies for the day. They are very stable on flat water, but it’s important for the two paddlers to work together effectively and not venture into conditions they can’t handle. In rough conditions with wind and waves are kayaks much safer. We have both single and double kayaks available in various forms for different skill levels. If it’s your first time going out on the water, we would recommend a canoe or a double kayak, where you can have the company of someone else.

For those interested in longer overnight tours with camping, the islands Ridön, Norrskär, Måholmen, and Aggarön offer excellent options. Additionally, we provide rentals for tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, and outdoor stoves for individuals who do not have their own equipment.

Important safety considerations:

• Never paddle alone if you lack experience in self-rescue or risk assessment. Paddling with a partner is not only considerably safer but also more enjoyable.

• Always inform someone about where you’re going and when you expect to return.

• Do not paddle in conditions you’re not comfortable with.

• Always wear a PFD (personal floating device)/life jacket.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us! Together, we have over 90 years of paddling experience.

Watch our instruction video for canoeing here:

Mountainbike

In Västerås there are many excellent mountain bike trails suitable for both beginners and experts. Near our store, we have a 3 kilometer long trail called Björnen, graded as a Blue route. You can also start from us and ride Lugnetslingan, a 17 km Blue route, or Dyboslingan, a 15 km Blue route, both in Gäddeholm. These trails vary from gravel roads to forest paths.

In addition to the trails around us, there are some more challenging trails on Rocklunda leading up to Lista Kärr.

In the neighboring towns of Surahammar, Köping, and Fagersta, there are numerous mountainbike trails that are well worth a visit. You can find more information about the trails on the website Trails of Västmanland.

At our outdoor store located at Björnögården, you have the option to rent a mountainbike for a few hours or even multiple days, with a helmet included. We also sell brand-new mountainbikes if you prefer to make a purchase. If you require guidance to get started, you can enroll in one of our beginner mountainbiking courses.

Ice skating on lake Mälaren (Nordic Skating)

During the winter, Lake Mälaren freezes, providing ideal conditions for ice skating. Västerås stands out with its exceptional feature of having 18 kilometers of interconnected plowed tracks on the ice. When a track is plowed, it signifies that a heavy machine has been used without causing the ice to break, ensuring that it is entirely safe for skating.

From Björnögården, you can skate on our track in Hässlösundet to Gäddeholm (9 km round trip), or you can skate from the track to the bridge, cross the road, and then skate on Västeråsfjärden, which offers another 9 km of track between Lillåudden and Björnön.

For those who are less experienced in ice skating, we suggest using ice hockey skates, while those with more experience can consider trying the longer ones called Nordic Skates (långfärdsskridskor in Swedish). Another option for ice skating is a “spark,” which is a type of sled equipped with runners. We provide rentals for all of these types of equipment at our store.

Important safety considerations:

• Never go out on the ice unless you are certain it is safe. Clear ice should be at least 10 cm thick.

• Do not leave the plowed tracks unless you have the experience or equipment to assess the safety of the ice. The ice can be perfectly safe near the tracks, but weak and unsafe just a few hundred meters away!

• Never be alone on the ice.

• Always carry ice picks and other safety equipment on the ice.

• Remember that new ice, ice with snow cover, slushy ice and sea ice can be weak.

Cross-country Skiing

You can go cross-country skiing every winter here in Västerås. Sometimes on natural snow, but always on artificial snow.

Despite being located relatively far south, we’re fortunate to have excellent tracks for cross-country skiing. There are two artificial snow tracks in Västerås: Rocklunda skidspår and Vedbobackens skidspår.

The track at Vedbobacken is 2,1 km long in it’s full length and goes all the way to the top of Vedbobacken. If you prefer flat terrain, you can turn around before the hill, that makes the distance 1 km. At Vedbobacken you can go skiing in the end of november. They store snow during the summer, which allow them to quickly create a 400 meter long track as soon as the temperature drop toward zero.

Rocklunda starts their snow cannons when temperatures and forecasts are favorable and usually open in the beginning of January. When at its longest, the artificial snow track is 2.5 km, offering moderately hilly terrain. If you’re new to skiing, you can try the flat track on Apalbyplanen. In snowy winters, longer tracks are also prepared.

In addition to these two tracks, you can also ski on the Surahammars Golfklubb (about 5 km) in snow-rich winters or on the ice near us, where we create a ski track along the ice skating lane. Another fine artificial snow track is Sätra Brunn, 2.5 km in length and more hilly.

If you don’t have your own equipment, we offer rentals for durations ranging from 2 hours to a week.

If you need more tips, feel free to get in touch with us!