Outdoor activities
Kolarbyn is an ideal base camp for you to explore the Swedish nature and take part in local cultural events. Enjoy outdoor activities at your own such as hiking, fishing, mushroom picking or sauna bathing. The Bergslagen forest is wilderness wonderland, richly forested with hundreds of lakes and teeming with wildlife.
Swimming
Kolarbyn has its own beautiful little lake, Skärsjön, with exceptionally clear water, a natural sand beach and round rocks shaped during the last ice age. The temperature is usually okay for swimming during July and August when the water temperature rises just above 20 degrees Celsius. During the rest of the year we recommend you to heat up in the sauna before plunging in to the cold water. The lake is usually covered by a thick layer of ice from December to mid-April.
Sauna
Kolarbyn Ecolodge even has a sauna floating on the lake. It is wood heated and has space for up to 10 persons. Heat up the sauna oven with fire wood at your own. After about 15 minutes it is hot enough and ready for use. To cool down, just plunge into the lake for a refreshing swim.
Berries and mushrooms
Welcome to Blueberry heaven! The surrounding forests is literally covered by blueberry (bilberry) plants so feel free to fill your buckets. Typically, the season runs from the end of July through most of August and September. Between August and October there is also plenty of lingonberries (cowberries) and various types of edible mushrooms available. Chanterelle is by far the most popular mushroom and often referred to by Swedes as the gold of the forest. So, bring a big basket and a mushroom reference book. Fry the chantarelles in an iron pan with butter and a little salt over the open fire and eat on bread.
Hiking
Kolarbyn offers some good self-guided trails. We provide maps to explore a number of hiking trails in the nearby forests where you are almost guaranteed not to meet any other people… actually you are more likely to meet with wild animals. Bring a packed lunch and set off on the trail.
BBQ at the bonfire
Kolarbyn has several fire places hidden between the trees, and one has a view over lake Skärsjön. You cut your own fire wood. We provide pans, cutlery and other primitive but usable kitchen supply in the little storehouse. The nearest supermarket is in Skinnskatteberg just 3 kilometers away. Lunches and dinners are only provided as part of our tours.
Fishing
Kolarbyn is located by lake Skärsjön which is ideal for Pike and Perch fishing. A fishing permit valid for a number of nearby lakes is SEK 80, valid for the whole family and can be purchased at the Kolarbyn reception at check-in. In the nearby village of Skinnskatteberg (3 km) you will find a sport- and fishing outfitter with a wide selection of fishing equipment as well as permits to hundreds of nearby lakes. The surrounding area offers lots of excellent fishing waters, for example the Hedströmmen river, the Malingsbo-Kloten nature reserve and a big number of other good lakes and ponds. Professional fishing guides are available at request.
