Kvarken Archipelago Nature Reserve Trails

Hiking Trails

Starting Points for Trails

• Trails which can be reached only by boat
• There are nature trails starting from the nature stations of Mickelsörarna (63˚27,6` 21˚46,6`) and Molpe (62˚53,5` 21˚05,7`).
• Trails which can be reached without boat
  • There is a nature trail starting from the former Sommarö fort in Södra Vallgrund.
  • In addition, there is a hiking trail beginning in the village of Björköby (in the municipality of Korsholm), from Svedjehamn fishing harbour to the first strait. The Bodvattnet trail has the same starting point. You also find great scenery along Västerö hiking trail on Maxmo, which can be reached by car.

Nature Trails

Mickelsörarna Nature Trail on Kummelskär Island (in the municipality of Maxmo) is 2 km long. On this nature trail, you will see different plants and biotopes of the island, and relics of antiquity. The trail starts from Mickelsörarna Nature Station .
• Sights: The view over the archipelago from the tower of the nature station, and the ruins of fishing cottages and the boat havens from the 1500s along the nature trail.
• Services: The nature station's services (such as accommodation and a guide on duty during the summer, a rental sauna), and a lean-to shelter and a dry toilet on the nature station grounds.
• Map (www.excursionmap.fi)
• Along
Molpe Nature Trail, 1 km, you will find out about the plants, birds and other animals of wooded pastures and bays. The trail starts from Molpe Nature Station (in Finnish).
• Sights: Reconstruction of the old beacon of Molpe, and the memorial of the first beacon on the Gulf of Botnia. In the old days, these wooden beacons served as navigation marks.
• Services: There is a campfire site, a dry toilet, a table and a bench. In addition, it is possible for groups to book accommodation and the sauna.
• Map (www.excursionmap.fi)
• Sommarö Nature Trail, 2 km, is located in the area of the former Sommarö fort, in Södra Vallgrund on Replot Island. During 1940 - 2000 it was used as an army depot, and by the coastal artillery. The defence forces left behind a network of roads and footpaths, the groundwork of several demolished buildings, a boat stage, gun mountings and shot chambers. One residential building and a guardroom with its outbuilding remain. The guardroom can be rented by groups for accommodation. The trail starts on the parking area of the guardroom (in Finnish).
  • Sights: A sheltered, shallow and sandy natural swimming place, a lake which has become separated from the sea, a large pine forest growing on a rock. Gun mountings and shot chambers of the defence forces. A coastal artillery memorial.
  • Services: There are two campfire sites with dry toilets, tables and benches. The
  guardroom of Sommarö (in Finnish) can be rented for accommodation of groups. On the grounds of the guardroom, there is a lean-to shelter which can be used by all visitors. There is also a boat stage near the guardroom.
  • Map (www.excursionmap.fi)

Other Trails

Björköby - Panike Trail, 13 km, is in the municipality of Korsholm. To hike the whole length of the trail, you need to book boat transport to cross two straits along the trail. The landscape along the trail has been shaped by land uplift, with shallow bays becoming gradually separated from the sea, and then becoming lakes. The trail goes across straits and through light birch forests, which are still used for pasturing. The trail is marked with orange wooden cross signs. In the village of Björköby, the trail starts from Svedjehamn fishing harbour where, in the summer, you can also book boat transport in the Café Salteriet for crossing the straits. In the village of Panike, the trail starts from Hamnskata fishing harbour, where you need to get boat transport for crossing the straits.
Sights: Wooded pastures, De Geer moraines, old birch forests.
Services along the trail: Three campfire sites, two dry toilets, and the summer café Salteriet in Svedjehamn fishing harbour.
Services in the surroundings: The rental huts Vargis (in Finnish) and Björkören (in Finnish) in Kvicksund in the village of Panike, a camping site, a campfire site and a dry toilet on Vargis Hut grounds. In the village of Panike, the nearest café and kiosk, which sells foodstuff, are located in Klobbskat fishing harbour. In Björköby fishing harbour, there is a summer café, and there is also a shop in the village.
• Map (www.excursionmap.fi)
• Västerö Hiking Trail in the outer archipelago of the municipality of Maxmo, in Västerö, can be reached by car. This trail is maintained by the municipality of Maxmo. It starts from the parking areas on Söderskatantie road and Equityntie road.
  • Sights:
  The rocks of Ryssberget and the memorial of the ship Equity (www.kvarkenguide.org ) which transported weapons in the old days
  • Services: Camping and campfire sites.
  • Map (www.excursionmap.fi)