Helgum by the Water

Helgum is located on the Faxälven River and Helgumssjön; its proximity to the water shapes the area. When planning a stay, there are different interests to choose from: a hike on the Finnåleden, the Helgumssjön runt cycling loop, the bathing area in Helgum, birdlife around Visjön, and the church and local history. These activities have different profiles: Finnåleden is a hiking trail, Helgumssjön runt is a cycling loop, while local history offers its own points of interest. This lets you choose what to explore in Helgum based on the themes you want to shape your stay.

Water, Trails, and Nature

Meåforsen on the Faxälven is the river’s last stretch of rapids without hydropower development. This distinctive feature adds a specific aspect of the river to Helgum’s location on the Faxälven and Helgumssjön. You can reach the bathing area in Helgum from the parking area at the railway crossing in the town center via a short forest path. The wetland around Visjön is home to a rich variety of birdlife. If you want to focus on landscapes and nature, these local features offer different points of interest: the river, the bathing area, and the wetland with its birdlife.

Hiking and Cycling

Finnåleden, also known as Flottarleden, is a 23 km hiking trail in Helgum. It follows the old log-driving route from Runeåberg on the border with Jämtland to Visjön in Helgum. The name Flottarleden refers to its historical use, and the endpoints mark its route. There are many wind shelters along Finnåleden; signs provide information about various historic buildings and other sights. The terrain is not uniform throughout: some sections are easy to walk, while others are very hilly. When planning, the combination of trail length and changing terrain is therefore more relevant than a single general assessment of the route.

Another type of tour is the Helgumssjön runt cycling loop: it is 42.9 km long and is easiest to start in Helgum. Compared with the 23 km Finnåleden, these are two different activities with different distances. The distances are not estimates of travel time; when planning your day, also consider the type of tour and the terrain information for Finnåleden.

The Helgum floodlit trail runs through forest and across a clear-cut area; the route ends at a parking area with a picnic table by the football field. The two trails can be distinguished by different features: Finnåleden is 23 km long and follows the old log-driving route; for the floodlit trail, the forest, clear-cut area, and endpoint are key landmarks.

Church and Local History

Helgum Church is a stone church built by Pål Pehrsson. The construction work could have been completed as early as 1790, but the church was not considered fully finished until 1795. The buildings at Helgums Hembygdsgård were built between 1866 and 1870. This gives two distinct timeframes: the church’s completion at the end of the 18th century and the construction of the Hembygdsgård buildings in the 19th century. For those interested in cultural history, these dates provide specific points of reference for different building phases in Helgum.

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