Hike in a nature reserve rich in flora, fauna and remains
**See traces of wildlife
The hiking trail follows along the Gullspång River. There are organized parking spaces at both entrances to the trail, the sports ground Gullmovallen and Amneholm. To get to the nature reserve's entrance at the sports ground Gullmovallen, follow the blue markings. The hiker can encounter various traces of wildlife such as beaver, moose, deer and especially during the migratory bird season you can see a richly varied bird fauna.
**Hiking trail through the reserve
From the parking lot at Gullmovallen in Gullspång to the parking lot at the boat harbor at Amneholm is 4.5 km. If you take the detour out to Amneholm, it will be another 200 m. Keep in mind that it will be double the distance if you have to go the same way back. The trail is clearly marked and there are wooden bridges over some passages. The short detour to Amneholm is an unmarked path. The area is accessible all year round.
Click on the following link to download a pdf file with information and a map.
Good advice on the route
The route is easy to walk and goes through a flat landscape. We recommend that you wear sturdy shoes and also long trousers. The grass along the trail is grazed by sheep, but the proximity to the river means that the grass is often damp.
**Unique salmon and trout population
The river's great biological value lies mainly in the unique salmon and trout population. The wild Gullspång salmon and trout are dependent on the spawning areas in Stora and Lilla Åråsforsarna. The benthic fauna in Åråsforsarna is assessed as having high or very high nature value. Both the Gullspång salmon and the trout are of national interest and very worthy of protection. Other fish species found in the river include asp, perch, pike, burbot, id, roach and eel. Lumpfish are probably the most numerous fish species in the rapids.
**The fauna of the area...
The fish fauna in the estuary is more species-rich and includes most of the species found in Lake Vänern. The bird fauna in the area is rich in species, especially down at Åråsviken. Characteristic breeding birds here are reed warblers, saw-whet sparrows, grebes and coots. In the large reedbed area northeast of St. Harsholmen there are nesting sites for species worthy of special protection, such as bittern, brown harrier, warbler and bearded vulture. Kingfishers have made nesting attempts by the river.
...and the flora
The tree and shrub layer along the banks consists mainly of alder, birch and salix species. Along some sections there are grazed meadows and pastures with natural meadow vegetation with a flora worthy of protection in places.
**Cultural-historical remains
The area is rich in cultural-historical remains, including several sites where stone axes and other prehistoric objects have been found along the banks of the river. At Amneholm, at the mouth of the river, there are remains of a settlement in the form of overgrown elevations. The hiking trail follows along the Gullspång River.
Directions
At Gullspång, from road 26, go towards Amnehärads church. Turn immediately right. There is a parking lot at the sports field Gullmovallen.
If you are traveling by public transport, get off at the bus station in Gullspång. You go west and via Gullspång's center you follow Storgatan until you reach road 26. Here you follow the pedestrian and cycle path under road 26 and up to the sports ground Gullmovallen. The distance is just under 700 m.
