Sweden’s most beautiful country road

That is what it has been called, the road east of Lake Mangen. 
Here you can find beautiful stone bridges over the river Slorudsälven, fantastic views over Lake Mangen and in Åmot and Gullsbyn you can see end moraines from the Ice Age. It is a gravel road from Mangskog’s church in the direction of Åmot and if you choose to drive around the entire lake, you turn right at the southern end of the lake towards Brokerud. There is an asphalted road that takes you through the landscape with nice meadows and views of Lake Mangen.

In the footsteps of the Rackstad colony

At the turn of the last century, several artists and craftsmen gathered around the beautiful lake Racken, a little north of Arvika. The sculptor Christian Eriksson inspired many of his artist friends and colleagues from Sweden and abroad to visit Arvika, and several of them then stayed here and settled around Lake Racken, and thus the so-called Racken Colony was formed.
Nästan längs hela vägen har du utsikt över sjön och kan njuta av vackra vyer. Vid sjöns östra ände ligger Jössestugan. Här finns en parkering där du kan ställa bilen och Jössestugan är också utgångspunkt för tre fina vandringsleder;

• Gallbergsleden – 5 kilometres
  A hiking trail with steep climbs. However, the reward is a breathtaking view of lake Racken.
• Djupdalsleden – 7 kilometres
  The trail leads you through deep forests up to Djupdalshöjden, where you have a good view over the area. Orange marking.
• Sotar-Blixt leden – 11 kilometres
  The trail is named after a well-known character who used to hike in the woods between Mangskog and Arvika. You walk through magic woods, along small waters and you can enjoy nice views on several points along the trail.

After or before the tour, we recommend a visit to The Rackstad museum where both works by the artists of Rackenkolonin, but also contemporary art are displayed in a culturally historical environment.

A trip around Lake Glafsfjorden

Set yourself up for a full-day tour and jump in, and we’ll take you on an exhilarating tour around lake Glafsfjorden!
We start from Arvika and drive along road 172 towards Jössefors. Continue towards Sulvik and turn left for a visit to the nature reserve Bergs klätt. Here there is an easily accessible trail of 1.2 kilometres, but also slightly longer trails that stretch over more hilly terrain. If it happens to be spring when you do this road trip, there is usually an abundance of spring flowers. You walk towards the lake where you can take a small break. In the area there are four resting areas, two shelters and three toilets.

Then drive back to road 172 again, and continue towards Sulvik. In Sulvik, turn right towards Älgå/Glava. In Älgå you will find the local heritage centre Älgå Hembygdsgård where you can buy a coffee, and have a look at the museum that gives you an insight into the area’s history.
On the right side of the road the old nail forge Älgå Spiksmedja is situated. It is one of very few preserved nail forges in the Nordics.
After this stop you continue towards Glava. Here you can make a small detour over Semnebyn and visit the old farmhouse Källarsgården. The road through Semnebyn offers an almost idyllic experience. When you get out of Semnebyn, you continue towards Glava. Here you can make another detour and visit the former glassworks Glava Glasbruk, Here you can also find Café Hyttan, which is open in July, and at that time you can also see art and craft exhibitions in the area. If you want to discover more of the small community, you can walk the two kilometres long cultural trail.
Now the journey continues towards the local heritage centre Glava Hembygdsgård where there is a herb garden and a slate museum. If you have brought your own picnic basket, you can take a nice break here.

A few hundred metres from the local heritage centre you will find Gladisvall – a nice and peaceful mediaeval burial place. According to tradition, there has been a church here since 1131. It is also said that a monastery has been located here, because several pilgrim routes converged in Glava. The journey continues and now you drive on towards Sölje. Here you can visit both the café Sölje Gård and the local heritage centre Sölje Bygdegård.
Keep driving over the bridge Skasåsbron, which is Värmland’s longest bridge (610 metres), and enjoy a fantastic view of the lake Glafsfjorden. Continue towards Klässbol where you can visit Klässbols Linneväveri – supplier of table linen for both the Swedish court, all Swedish embassies and for the Nobel Prize banquet. If you are hungry, you can take the opportunity to eat something good in the café Kvarnen. Well-fed and possibly with a nice linen cloth in your luggage, you now drive back towards Arvika, but on the way you must not miss the tin and silversmith Schützers Tenn- och Silversmide  where you can find everything from utility items to beautiful jewellery. Once in Arvika, you can end your day by going up to the viewing tower At the viewing tower at Storkasberget. From the tower you have a breathtaking view of Arvika and can watch the sunset over lake Glafsfjorden. If you have brought your own firewood and something to grill, you can fix a well-deserved dinner at the fireplace.

Take a trip to the Glaskogen Nature Reserve!

Many roads lead to … Lenungshammar, which is the heart and hub of Glaskogen Nature Reserve.
From the church in Glava, there is a 19 kilometres long asphalted and hilly road to the info centre and the campsite in Lenunghammar. Here you pass wonderful green meadows and drive through forests and beautiful nature until you finally arrive at the lake Övre Gla and Lenungshammar.You can also choose the beautiful road that runs along route 172 via Sigfridstorp along Övre Gla to the same final destination. Make a stop along the winding dirt road for a dip in the lake, or take a break to just enjoy the view.
A third option to get to the heart of Glaskogen is the road over Glava Glasbruk and Halvardsnäs. From Glava you follow the sign to Glava Glasbruk – an idyllic, small, former glass works site. Today there is a museum with objects from the history of the glassworks, which can be booked if you are interested. Here is also Café Hyttan, which is open in July, and then you can also see art and craft exhibitions in the area. If you want to discover more of the small community, you can walk the two kilometres long cultural trail. The journey then continues via the gravel road over Halvardsnäs, where in several places you come close to the reserve’s largest lake Stora Gla. If you have time, we recommend a short hike up the hill at Halvardsnäs where there is a fantastic view!
During the summer you can enjoy a good cup of coffee and a food break in the cosy Café Carl which is located in Lenunghammar. Given that there are 300 kilometres of hiking trails in the nature reserve, there is of course always an opportunity to stop for a walk!

Through the beautiful countryside of Sweden

Experience the beautiful country road from Klässbol to Lerhol/Edane via Högerud and Ingersbyn. Drive from Arvika and choose road 175 towards Klässbol. When you arrive at Klässbol, we can recommend a visit to the linen weaving mill –Klässbols Linneväveri and a coffee break at the cosy café Kvarnen. If it’s hot and you need to cool off, you can take a dip in lake Glafsfjorden at the swimming area. When you drive back towards Arvika, you choose the road towards Högerud, Ingersbyn and Lerhol. Here you drive on an asphalted road, past green meadows and through the lovely Swedish countryside. You can also take the gravel road over Bofasterud and Prästhög to Ingersbyn as an alternative. Here, if possible, is an even more rural feeling. In Lerhol you turn left back to Arvika again. You can make a stop at Arvika Golf Club . At Arvika Golf Club there is an 18 hole course, a restaurant and a golf shop where you can stock up on golf equipment.