Trollkyrka Loop

I absolutely loved this impromptu adventure in Tiveden. I felt like I was transported into a different world. Its rare these days for me to find a new landscape that doesn't remind me of somewhere else I've been and it firmly plans a memory when it does. It unfortunately got a little dark towards the end so I didn't have time to stop to take photos of the sheets of icicles hanging off the Trollkyrkan. I had never heard the sound of falling icicles before and it made me jump! What a perfect intimate spot for such an experience ☺️

Tiveden National Park was established in 1983, making it one of Sweden's younger parks. Several marked hiking trails crisscross the area. The Trollkyrkerundan trail is the most popular way to explore the national park. Although the park is about a two-hour drive north of Mullsjö, we're eager to experience it and make the trip. We park the car at the main entrance. Most of the marked trails start here. Besides information about the park, there are also some basic restrooms and visitor facilities. It's important to note that Sweden's right to roam is restricted in national parks. This is probably necessary, as we see during our hike that the official trails are quite worn. The Trollkyrkerundan trail is only about six kilometers long, but its constant ups and downs make it no less challenging. We find a diverse, almost untouched landscape of forest, lakes, and rock formations. The landscape was primarily shaped by the Ice Age. From the rocks, such as Oxaberget, we are treated to breathtaking views. Erratic boulders often lie scattered on the mountains and along the trail, offering fantastic photo opportunities. We can see the grooves carved into the ground by these boulders as they traveled with the ice. The forest in Tiveden was shaped by numerous forest fires. Even today, we can see the remnants and scars of these fires on the trees and in the surrounding nature. Now, the forest is allowed to develop into a primeval forest. We admire the small Troll Church (Lilla Trollkyrka). This rock once served as a well-known navigational aid for medieval seafarers. The rock is approximately 200 meters high. From here, we have a magnificent view of Lake Vättern below. We hike along the shores of Trollkyrkosjön. Lake Trollkyrkosjön has clear, shimmering green water. Here, we are lucky enough to spot red-throated divers! Next, we head to Lake Metesjön. The lake is a typical forest lake in Tiveden. It has brown water, and the pH level is so low that no fish can live in it. There's also a small rest area for visitors at Metesjön. We continue through the forest and over rocks. Finally, through the trees, we can already see the parking lot at the main entrance again. By now, the parking lot is quite full. So much for Sweden's secluded nature. Highlights of our hike: - the magnificent nature in Tiveden National Park - the view from Oxaberget - Lilla Trollkyrka (Little Troll Church) - Trollkyrkosjön (Lake Troll Church) - Metesjön

Wow, what a hike! Only about 5 km long, but almost every step had to be taken with precision. It was uphill and downhill over roots and rocks. Including breaks, it took us 4 hours. But the effort was worth it. We were almost alone and experienced a magnificent landscape shaped by the Ice Age. Deep ravines and mighty rocks alternated. And the green of the mosses, lichens, blueberry bushes, and trees simply blew us away; the colors were so beautiful.

The #3 on our list of national parks. Forest landscape with wilderness character - that's how it is described. You could stay there for a week, we decided today for the Trollkyrkorundan. It went over rock formations, which were gently rounded off by the last ice age and were partly covered by moss.

The 'Troll Church Loop' in Tiveden National Park refers to a striking rock that in the Middle Ages must have been a landmark for sailors sailing on Lake Vättern, Sweden's second largest lake. At that time, hardly any people lived along the north shore of the lake. That is why people thought it was a troll church. The trail takes you 5 km through primeval forests, up and down through the characteristic gorge valleys, over impressive rock formations and lower swamp areas. I have walked in Tiveden before, but this trail was still missing. You can find the report of the previous trip in this beautiful park on my website: 👉 https://efkesweg.be/tiveden-nationaal-park-ongerepte-wildernis-in-zweden/

The trail is very lonely early in the morning (9am). Also on weekends in high season. I didn't meet anyone there for almost an hour. Most impressively anti-clockwise, then you are very quickly surrounded by very deep jungle.

Beautiful walk through the woods, large rocks and lakes.

https://www.nationalparksofsweden.se/choose-park---list/tiveden-national-park/