Mullsjö: Ironworks history, forests and hiking trails

A historic ironworks, ancient woodlands and marked routes reveal different sides of Mullsjö. You can explore cultural history, choose trails through the forests, or plan activities on the water and in the snow. When choosing a hotel, it is worth first considering the focus of your trip: cultural sites, hiking and cycling, or nature experiences in different seasons.

Ryfors, forests and nature reserves

Ryfors brings together industrial history and several cultural attractions. The old ironworks dates back to 1742 and includes an active forge, a concert hall in the former water channel building, and a bowling alley that is now open for visitors to play. These different uses give the historic site more than one dimension: blacksmithing, music and bowling all sit side by side.

Spruce and pine trees define the forest in Ryfors Gammelskog Nature Reserve. Many trees are 150 to 200 years old, and some pines are more than 300 years old. Marked trails, a car park, rest areas and information boards are part of the visitor facilities, as is an accessible toilet. The blue trail is more accessible, but it is not fully wheelchair-accessible because of a cattle grid and some steeper inclines.

Nyckelås Nature Reserve has a different character: its unusually large deciduous woodland for the region is home to rare species, springs and limestone-rich rocks. Trails run through the reserve down to Nässjön and the Tidan. There are two car parks for hikers and an approximately four-kilometre marked trail that runs partly along narrow forest paths and through hilly terrain.

Cultural sites and collections

Näs Herrgård is a listed building and is located right beside Nässjön. The estate includes one of Sweden’s two surviving 17th-century gatehouses. The folklore museum Sägnernas hus explores traditional beliefs about trolls, giants, forest and water spirits, and many other beings. Tavelhult Hembygdsmuseum offers a hands-on experience of its collection: the open museum has around 10,000 numbered and registered objects that visitors are allowed to touch.

The Museet svenska trägubbar in Mullsjö is also devoted to a distinctive collection. Around 1,300 Swedish-carved wooden figures by some 250 carvers and artists are on display; the collection is considered the largest of its kind in the world. The museum is open from April to October on the first weekend of each month. Visits are available by prior booking outside this period.

Hiking trails and routes

The trails vary in length, terrain and theme. The seven-kilometre Eriksgatuleden follows sections of medieval riding trails and runs within Sweden’s largest continuous system of hollow ways, which is part of the old Eriksgatuleden. Another cultural heritage hike is the five-kilometre Kulturled Gyljeryd on Gyljerydsmon. It passes important sites from the area’s early history and impressive traces of the Ice Age.

The six-kilometre Ryforsleden forms a yellow-marked loop along good trails and easy roads. The purple-marked Stråkenleden is listed as a ten-kilometre route taking around three hours. It follows good forest trails through easy-to-walk, partly hilly moraine terrain. For a longer outing, Mullsjö Runt is a 22-kilometre route starting at MSOK-Stuga and passing through open pine heath, by lakes and along waterways. The terrain is partly flat and partly hilly. The nine-kilometre Knipesjöleden also starts at MSOK-Stuga and runs through a landscape close to the lake, with extensive spruce forest and sections of cultural landscape. It follows forest paths and easy trails across flat and hilly terrain.

Cycling and longer hiking routes are also available. A 33-kilometre cycling route runs through Mullsjö and Sandhem and alongside forests, meadows and lakes. A 29-kilometre section of the Södra Vätterleden follows the Stråken through a culturally rich landscape with easy-to-walk plateaus and pine heath. The trail is also part of the Smålandsleden trail system.

Water and winter

Stråken is a relatively narrow, sheltered canoeing route about 23 kilometres long. Glacial sand ridges, pine forest and the closeness of nature shape the landscape; several rest areas and wind shelters provide landmarks along the way. Check the current access conditions locally before setting out on a canoe trip. In Mullsjön, you can fish for perch, pike, roach and tench. Fishing permits and boat rentals are available through Landhs Konditori.

For winter sports, Mullsjö Skidcenter offers seven downhill runs, as well as a ski shop, ski school and restaurant. Mullsjö Ski and Orienteering Club (MSOK) also has a four-kilometre artificial-snow ski trail that is lit until 10 pm. When there is enough natural snow, a longer cross-country ski trail is also available. This makes it easy to plan different kinds of outings for your trip while keeping the cultural and nature trails in mind.

Discover more destinations: Mullsjö, Sandhem, Nässjö, Värnamo, Tranås, Månsarp, Gislaved, Marieholmsbruk.

For the main travel overview: Jönköping.