Store Mosse National Park - The silence, the expanses and the stillness in the heart of Småland
Imagine a landscape where the ground rocks gently beneath your feet, where cranes call over open bogs and where a spruce forest rises like a wall against the horizon. Here you will encounter a Sweden that is both ancient and alive - and best of all, it's just a short drive from Smålandstorpet. Store Mosse National Park is not only the largest mire landscape in southern Sweden, it is also a place that provides peace, beautiful hiking and nature experiences you will never forget.
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A place for those looking for something genuine
Spending time in Store Mosse National Park is more than just 'doing' nature. Here you experience. Here you breathe in. Here you let your phone screen rest and let the moss, the birdsong and the wind take its place. For those traveling without children, perhaps with a partner or alone, the national park offers something rare: an opportunity to land.
With Smålandstorpet as your base, you live close to the national park but at a comfortable distance from the tourist streams. After the day's hike, a sauna, comfortable beds and perhaps a glass of wine under the stars await. It is a vacation with reflection.
What makes Store Mosse so unique?
Store Mosse is the largest raised bog south of Lapland. This means that you are walking over an ancient peat layer that has grown for over 8000 years. The white moss, which is the building block of the bog, grows slowly, creating a moist and oxygen-poor environment where almost nothing decomposes. The result is a landscape that preserves time - a living archive of nature's own history.
Between the open areas rise forested dunes, known as rocknar, which form small islands in the bog. In contrast to the bog, you will also find spruce forest, pine forest and nutrient-rich marshes - where orchids bloom in early summer and where wading birds thrive.
Store Mosse is also one of Sweden's most protected nature areas:
- National park since 1982
- Ramsar-listed as internationally important wetland
- Part of the EU Natura 2000 network
- Awarded the Council of Europe's European Diploma
In other words, this is an area of both biological and cultural value - perfect for those who want to combine hiking with knowledge and tranquillity.
A teeming bird life - all year round
For birdwatchers, the Store Mosse National Park is a must-see. Kävsjön in particular, in the middle of the national park, is an eldorado for wetland birds - breeding species such as black-necked grebe, graylag goose and crane. During spring and fall, the area is a resting place for thousands of migratory birds.
From one of the many bird towers you have a view of the lake's "gungfly" - the water-soft moss mats that shimmer in green and gray. And with a bit of luck, you may see moose, sea eagles or a stealthy fox on the horizon.
Hiking trails for all levels
One of Store Mosse's great strengths is its accessibility. There are over 40 kilometers of hiking trailsmany of which are accessible for wheelchair users and strollers. But don't be fooled - that doesn't mean the experience is any less wild.
🥾 Lilla Lövö round - for those who want to enter the heart of the bog
Approximately 6 kilometers long circular trail that goes through both peatlands and forest. Boots or waterproof boots are recommended, especially during wet periods. Here you will see the typical Store Mosse landscape: open moor, rocks and old peat graves.
🌿 Svartgölsleden - short, accessible and quiet
1.3 kilometers one way - but with great experiences. The trail is boardwalked and wheelchair accessible all the way out to a viewing platform where you can sit in silence and look out over the vast landscape.
🌲 Wibecksleden - quiet walk with panoramic views
An even shorter trail of 600 meters, also accessible to everyone. Perfect for those who want to take a quiet morning walk with a coffee in a thermos and a view of the marsh's swingfly.
Naturum Store Mosse - knowledge in the middle of nature
At the main entrance to the national park, next to Kävsjön, is Naturum Store Mosse. Here you will find interactive exhibitions about the ecology, history and wildlife of the bog. The staff are happy to guide you if you want to learn more - and many guided tours also start here.
Naturum also has a shop with maps, books and nature-themed gifts. And yes - there's coffee, toilets and sheltered seating for a coffee break before or after the walk.
A place steeped in history
Although Store Mosse feels wild and untouched, there are traces of human activity. Until the 1950s, peat mining was an important source of income in the area, and the remains of peat pits and old machine houses still stand as silent witnesses.
In both the north and south, cultural environments are embedded in the landscape:
- Svänö - an old farm in the northern part of the park
- Lövö - a former farm now used by guests of the national park
Here you can walk in the borderland between nature and culture - between what once was and what still exists.
Store Mosse all year round - an experience in every season
Many people visit the national park in spring and summer - but it's far from the only time when the landscape is at its best. Here's what you can expect in different seasons:
🌸 Springtime
The cranes are returning, the ice is disappearing and the Björnekulla orchid meadow is beginning to green up. The birdsong is intense and the air is clear.
🌿 Summer
Ideal for longer walks. Butterflies, wildflowers and rare plants can be seen along the trails. Naturum has activities almost daily.
🍂 Autumn
A quiet time with golden yellow bogs and low sunlight. Fewer visitors - but just as much beauty.
❄️ Winter
The bog rests under snow and ice. Some trails can still be walked, and the silence is total. An excellent time for reflection, silence and hot chocolate in a thermos.
How to get to Store Mosse from Smålandstorpet
From Smålandstorpet it takes about 25-30 minutes to drive to the main entrance at Kävsjön. We will be happy to help you with directions and updated information about accessibility, opening hours and possible guided tours.
We can also give you tips on where to park depending on which trail you want to walk - and how to best combine a half-day on the bog with a sauna or dinner when you are back with us.
Why choose Smålandstorpet when visiting Store Mosse?
Living near Store Mosse is one thing - but coming home to a place that feels personal, relaxing and genuine is something else.
At Smålandstorpet you are met by:
- 🛏️ Tastefully decorated rooms in a natural style
- 🧖♀️ Sauna and relaxation for tired legs after the hike
- 🌌 Silence and darkness - perfect for recovery
- 🚗 Short distance to both Store Mosse and other natural gems
- ☕ Personalized service and local tips
For those looking for a place to to land on after a day out on the moors, we are the perfect option.
Discover Store Mosse - stay close to nature at Smålandstorpet
To visit Store Mosse National Park is more than grazing an attraction - it's giving yourself time. Time to walk, think, listen. Time to see both the small and the big. Staying at Smålandstorpet when you visit the bog means that the experience can continue even after the boots have been taken off.
Want to find out more about our rooms, sauna packages or nearby excursions? Or book a stay where you get nature, silence and comfort in one package?
👉 Welcome to read more or book directly at Smålandstorpet.se - we look forward to welcoming you.
