Munkedal: Hiking Trails, Water and Culture

In Munkedal, striking landscapes meet hiking and cultural attractions. The Kynnefjäll plateau is crisscrossed by parallel rift valleys with waterways and long, narrow lakes. Nature reserves, rivers and lakes, as well as historic sites, offer different ways to plan your stay according to your interests.

Hiking between plateau, forest and valley

Several hiking trails cross the Kynnefjäll plateau from Kasebo. They vary in length and difficulty; some connect to the Bohusleden. This trail runs through Munkedal Municipality in several stages and is suitable for both day hikes and multi-day tours. You can choose between individual trails and longer hikes, with routes varying in length.

In the Strömmarna Nature Reserve, you can hike among potholes, through deciduous forests and along wooded escarpments, or go canoeing. Wildlife you may spot there includes osprey, peregrine falcons, beavers and lynx. Kviström is an easily accessible hiking area with a well-developed trail network. From there, you can enjoy a view over the Örekilsälven valley; there is also a waterfall about 15 metres high. Its flow depends on the season and precipitation.

A range of activities are also available at Kärnsjön: the lake lies in the Örekilsälven valley and is one of the largest and deepest lakes in Bohuslän. It offers good opportunities for swimming, fishing and hiking around the lake. The Örekilsälven is Bohuslän’s second-largest watercourse and is among the best salmon-fishing waters in southern Sweden. Salmon fishing takes place there from April to September; as the season and regulations may change, check the latest official information in advance.

Waterways and cycling

At Lake Vassbotten near Kaserna, you can rent canoes and kayaks from the Friluftsfrämjandet canoe centre from May to September. Rentals are seasonal; check availability before travelling. The Flottarleden starts at the same canoe centre. The route runs for more than 40 kilometres to Dalsland.

The municipality lists Kynnefjäll as an area for cycling. Munkedals Skid- och Cykelklubb also has a mountain bike trail at Stale in Munkedal. Alongside the various hiking trails, there are therefore dedicated options for cyclists.

Munkedal Municipality has access to the sea via the Gullmarsfjord. Together with the Saltkällefjord and Färlevfjord, it surrounds Tungenäset. This fjord landscape offers a different perspective on the area’s lakes and waterways.

Discover history and culture

Munkedals Hembygdsmuseum has been open since 1964. Its extensive collection tells the story of life in the Munkedal region in earlier times. Gamla Bruket is also connected to the history of the area: it is a historic part of Munkedal’s paper mill site. There, the Munkedalsslöjd association offers courses in crafts and bookbinding, among other things; the course selection may change over time.

In Hällevadsholm, Thomas Thorild Square, designed by Lukas Arons, commemorates Thomas Thorild’s ideas about people’s freedom to shape their own lives and destinies. The Stenehed burial ground includes at least 40 prehistoric sites. The site is also known for a long, slightly curved row of standing stones that increase in height from north to south. According to a survey conducted in 1980, the row may have been laid out as a kind of astronomical calendar; this interpretation is a historical hypothesis.

Lökebergsristningen features numerous rock carvings across an area measuring about 30 by 10 metres. The motifs include around 150 ships, human figures, quadrupeds, footprints, a spruce-like tree, ring crosses and cup marks. The variety of motifs makes the site another destination for anyone interested in traces of the past.

Torreby Castle was built in 1887 as a red-brick summer palace in the romantic Neo-Gothic style. The architect Adolf Emil Melander designed it after English models. Today, the castle serves as a restaurant and clubhouse for Torreby Golf Club; check its current use before visiting. Two circular routes start there: one is 8 kilometres long and runs around Trebeneberget, while the other covers 2.5 kilometres around Flaggberget. Lunch or coffee is then available at the castle; the restaurant is seasonal, so it is worth checking current availability.

The Munkedals Jernväg offers another historical perspective. The 5.6-kilometre narrow-gauge railway runs between Åtorp and Munkedal harbour, and heritage trains operate on it. Operating days and departures are seasonal; check the latest dates before travelling. When planning a hotel stay, you can first decide whether to focus on hiking trails, water and outdoor activities, or cultural and historic sites.

Discover more destinations: Hedekas, Valbo-Ryr, Munkedal, Dingle, Hällevadsholm, Åmål, Öckerö, Mariestad

Back to the main travel overview: Västra Götaland.