Olsäter: Klarälvsbanan and Local History

Olsäter is marked by distinctive routes and traces of history: the Klarälvsbanan runs through the village, the former river crossing tells the story of the transition from ferry to bridge, and an inn once served as the starting point for coach connections in several directions. Other features include a playground near the school, the annual Lustenrundan art event, and Övre Ulleruds kyrka in the nearby area.

Klarälvsbanan and the area around the school

The Klarälvsbanan is Sweden’s longest paved, car-free walking and cycling route, running between Karlstad and Hagfors and passing through Olsäter. If you would like to include walking or cycling in your trip, it offers a direct connection to the route in the village. Forest and nature, as well as the Klarälvsbanan cycling route, can be found around Olsätersskolan.

There is also a playground near the school. Its facilities include a roundabout, spring riders, a swing set with a double-decker swing, a toddler swing, a sandbox, balance beams, and a tree-stump playhouse. There is also a picnic table; the ground is covered with wood chips.

Ferry crossing and historic routes

Until 1935, traffic across the river at Olsäter was handled by ferry; that year, the present-day bridge was built. The history of the crossing gives the village a concrete connection to river traffic before the current bridge was built.

A former inn also points to Olsäter’s regional connections. It had been there for a long time, possibly as early as 1636. Coach services from there ran to Bogerud in the north, Ås in Ö. Emtervik, Nordsjötorp and Deje in the south, and Älvsbacka in the east. While these services connected several directions, the ferry history concerns traffic across the river.

Övre Ulleruds kyrka and Lustenrundan

Övre Ulleruds kyrka is located in the nearby area of Olsäter, between Deje and Olsäter, west of the Klarälven. The church houses a medieval cross and a 13th-century baptismal font. A runic inscription appears on the font’s basin.

The church’s construction is also connected to the surrounding area: timber for Övre Ulleruds kyrka was felled in the forests of Rud and Olsäter and floated down the Klarälven to the building site. This brings the forests as a source of timber and the river as a transport route together in a shared historical context.

The Lustenrundan art and creative trail takes place annually on the last weekend of August. In 2025, one of the event’s Olsäter exhibition venues was a barn belonging to the Lööf family. If you are planning your trip around the art tour, check the dates and exhibition venues for the relevant edition.

Getting there and parking

A 2020 timetable showed service line 650 running to Olsäter. Line 600 ran along Riksväg 62; its nearest stop was at the turnoff to Olsäter. Check the current timetable and departures before travelling.

There is a parking area at Olsäterskorset on Riksväg 62, near a bus stop. If you plan to use the parking area when travelling there, check the current parking situation.

Discover more destinations: Forshaga, Deje.

Go to the main travel overview: Forshaga.