Autumn forest in Bohuslän Signature Trail

Signature Trail Southern Bohuslän

The southern part of the Bohusleden trail runs from the outskirts of Gothenburg. Despite the trail’s proximity to Sweden’s second largest city, you hike in silence through several nature reserves, past lakes rich in fish and through dense beech forests. The sections are short and there is accommodation at the end of each stage. We describe here a four day-long hike from Stensjön to Kungälv/Fontin.

Signature Trail Southern Bohuslän is one of STF’s signature trails.

Signature Trail Southern Bohuslän in short

  • Length: 52.5 kilometres in total, 8–11/27 kilometres per day
  • How much time: Four days hiking, 2–8 hours per day.
  • Number of overnight stays: Three
  • Water and food along the trail: Water and lunch can be brought at the starting point of each day.
  • Accommodation during the hike: Hotel and hostel
  • See map
  • More information about Bohusleden

Discover Bohusleden

A few kilometres after the start, you enter the Delsjö area, which is the first of a total of six nature reserves on your hike. Each has its own special character. On day two, the trail goes through dramatic ravines and rocky areas in Knipeflågsbergen Nature Reserve. There are wild animals here, such as moose, roe deer and fox. A day later, you hike through Bokedalen Nature Reserve, known for its magnificent beech forest. In spring, the beech forest is carpeted with wood anemone. The last section ends with an ascent of the hill Fontin in Fontin Nature Reserve. You can end the last day of hiking in either Angered after 11 kilometres or in Kungälv/Fontin after 27 kilometres. All the stages have one or more rest stops and most pass places where you can swim. You will be walking on footpaths or gravel roads, with shorter sections on tarmac. Bring water and lunch from the start of each day as access along the sections may be limited.

See and do along the trail
Swimming is a must as the trail often runs along lakes and by bathing places. The proximity to Gothenburg makes it easy to access all the city has to offer before or after the hike.

Don’t miss
On day two, you hike past Blacktjärn at about the halfway point. According to legend, this lake is guarded by seven different creatures. Call out over the lake and see what happens!

Sections of Bohusleden

Day 1: Stensjön-Skatås: 8 kilometres, 2–3 hours of hiking.
Stay here: Torpet Mon (Not STF accommodation, which means your membership discount does not apply and you cannot book via STF).

The start of the stage is on the north-east side of lake Stensjön. When you have crossed national road 40, you enter Delsjön Nature Reserve. The trail follows the shore of the lake Stora Delsjön for a couple of kilometres before it heads north towards the end of the stage in Skatås. There are several places to swim during the hike. There is no water or food available along this section. The accommodation Torpet Mon is a few hundred metres west of the trail when you get close to Skatås. There are restaurants within 1.5 kilometres of the accommodation.

Day 2: Skatås-Kåsjön: 8.5 kilometres, 2–3 hours of hiking.
Stay here: Partille Family Hostel (Not STF accommodation, which means your membership discount does not apply and you cannot book via STF).

The day offers an exciting section through Knipeflågsbergen Nature Reserve. Barren rock slabs and dramatic ravines surround parts of the hiking trail. The area is rich in wildlife such as moose, fox and roe deer. An optional detour from the trail (approximately 400 metres) takes you up onto Getryggen where you can see for miles and have a view of Gothenburg. At the halfway point. you pass the mythical lake Blacktjärn. Despite the terrain being somewhat hilly, with the highest point at 140 metres above sea level, the stage is easy to walk. There is no water or food available along this section. Partille Family Hostel is one kilometre north of the bathing place at Kåsjön. There is a self-catering kitchen.

Day 3: Kåsjön-Jonsered: 9 kilometres, 2–3 hours of hiking.
Stay here: Le mat Jonsered (Not STF accommodation, which means your membership discount does not apply and you cannot book via STF)

From Kåsjön, you hike on a path through mixed woodland. A kilometre or so after the start, you pass Madren, a lake with rich bird-life. There is a rest stop in the middle of the stage. The historic industrial community of Jonsered was established by the Scot William Gibson, which has given the place a particular Scottish character, which includes brick buildings. The accommodation is in one such brick building, Jonsereds Fabriker. There are restaurants in Jonsered. There is no water or food available along this section.

Day 4a: Jonsered-Angereds kyrka 11 kilometres, 3–4 hours of hiking.
Stay here: STF Stigbergsliden

The section goes through dense beech forests in Bokedalen Nature Reserve. Soon after the start, at Jonsereds Herrgård, the trail forks into two alternative paths. The section that runs along the shore of lake Aspen is somewhat longer. The trails join up again by the croft Freden. After the sound between the lakes Stora and Lilla Ramsjön, there is a viewpoint that is worth visiting. There is no water or food available along this section. You can finish the hike here and get back to Gothenburg Central Station by regional bus.

Day 4b: Jonsered-Fontin/Kungälv 27 kilometres, 6–8 hours of hiking
Stay here: STF Stigbergsliden

A longer option for day four, is to continue on to Kungälv. After Angered, the trail goes through Vättlefjäll Nature Reserve, which features plenty of wetland and lakes. The final section that takes you up to the hill Fontin in Kungälv may be feel somewhat strenuous, but is well worth a visit. There are a number of places to rest and swim. There is no water or food available along this section. After the end of the hike, local public transport will take you from Kungälv back to Gothenburg Central Station.

Recharge or relax before or after your hike at STF Göteborg/Mölnlycke/Wendelsberg and STF Göteborg/Stigbergsliden

Transport to the trail

Train to Gothenburg Central Station. Take the tram nr 5 from “Kungsportsplatsen” to “Velandergatan” where the hike starts. There is no long-stay car park at the start for those who have arrived by car. You can take a bus or train to get back to Gothenburg Central Station from the end of the stage in Angered or Kungälv.

The trail has orange markings. New signs are being put up in 2019. However, these will not be available everywhere, instead the old signs will remain.

"It felt like a good and safe first hike for us beginners. We could see how we felt each day as it was possible to end the hike after each stage."

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