In my opinion running is about freedom and surrounding yourself with nature. I have spent my life running and the one thing that keeps me coming back for more is that sense of freedom.
If you’re a runner, then I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Well, imagine that feeling and then put yourself in some of the world’s most beautiful nature. As you can imagine, it’s completely unforgettable.
In this post, I’m going to be taking you through my three-day adventure around the Gimsta nature reserve (only in Swedish) near Stockholm. My Brother and I visited in August of 2023 and nothing I have done since then has even come close to that adventure.
The Dream
After what seemed like a lifetime spent sitting negotiating on my business trip, I finally managed to take my camping gear and leave for the nature reserve. It was my first time in Stockholm, and it was a beautiful place, but nature was where I wanted to be.
Grimsta Nature Reserve
The plan was to camp out in the Grimsta nature reserve for three nights. During the day we could run and explore to our hearts’ content. In Sweden they have this law called, Allemansrätten, which lets you camp out anywhere up to three days. However, this doesn’t include nature reserves and national parks. Those areas, you’re only allowed to camp in the designated spots.
I wanted to combine the wonders of traveling with the joy of nature and exercise. That’s why this was such a perfect trip. Not only was I able to do what I love all day, but I was able to explore the beautiful nature of Sweden while I was at it. So, I highly recommend trail running in Sweden.
DAY 1 – A Dream Come True Turned to Facing Death
After what felt like eternity in Stockholm working, Danny and I (my brother) were finally able to get in a taxi and make our way to this paradise on earth. To start this adventure, we slowly started to make our way into Grimsta nature reserve. As we walked, we started taking in nature and the refreshing coastal air.
We were in disbelief that this kind of paradise existed on Earth yet in all our years of existence we had never seen anything like this before. The beauty was almost like something out of a dream.
Set up Camp
We started our adventure by pitching our tents in a secluded spot about 1 km (.6 mi.) off the Blackeberg – Hässelby Beach Loop.
Once we had set up camp, we got into our running kit, and we set off. Our plan was to run the whole loop which would have been about 10 km (6.2 mi.). That was the plan, in reality we decided to go off the trail and explore.
This should have been an easy to moderately difficult route. However, our large detour and then getting lost made it very tough. Usually when a run is that tough and that long It’s significantly less enjoyable and yet that run was just sublime.
Lost While Trail Running In Sweden
We got slightly lost which meant that three hours and 30 km (18.6 mi.) later we were nearly there. I enjoyed it even though it caused me to have some really sore muscles the next morning. After a day of running and looking at the beautiful sunset. We started to head back to our campsite for some much-needed rest and a very large meal.
Unexpected Encounters
We suddenly stopped. Both of us looked back then looked at each other. Both of us stood dead still. Trembling with fear. Was that? No. It couldn’t be. It was 3 wolves. We didn’t know what to do. Should we run? Of course not. They would catch us in seconds.
So, what can we do? “DO NOT RUN! Wolves are natural hunters; they will be more likely to chase us if we run,” said Danny. I replied, “what can we do then?”. By this point the wolves had seen us. They didn’t move a muscle. Just looked at us, with a curious smile in their eyes. They didn’t seem like they wanted to hurt us.
The Wolves Approach!
A split second later, 2 of them started slowly walking towards us. They were now acting more threatening. Then out of nowhere more wolves appeared. What was once 3 wolves, was now 8. This was when we started to get more uneasy.
Knowledge From Nature Documentaries
Thankfully Danny watched a lot of nature documentaries when he was younger and remembered that when confronted by wolves, make yourself appear bigger and make a lot of noise. So, we stood up as tall as we could and tried to appear as big as possible. We then started to shout and scream like our life depended on it, because our life did very well depend on it. The wolves then scurried away into the darkness of the forest, and we were left with a feeling of relief.
We then ran as fast as we could back to our camping spot where the adrenaline wore off and we got into our sleeping bags. The second our heads touched the ground, we were asleep.
Day 2 – The Most Peaceful Day of My Entire Life
The next day, we both woke up bright and early as the sun rose. The events from the previous night are still playing on my mind. Although I was petrified, I couldn’t stop thinking about how beautiful the wolves were and how lucky I was to have been able to see them up close and still live to tell the story.
We got dressed into our running kit and we set off on another adventure. This time our goal was to go off the trail but with a plan and a map. So, we decided to just start running by how we felt. Doing the planning a route and then using a GPS watch to track and analyze it just didn’t interest us at that point.
Nature Meets Society
From there, we reached the edge of the reserve and sat there. At this point, we were where nature and modern society met. It was eye opening and highlighted how important keeping the balance of nature and the infrastructure is.
After several hours of running, I admit some walking at times we finally reached our tent. I would share all the data about the route and elevation, but we didn’t track it. Only now after many months can I understand how pure and natural that day was.
Day 3 – Time to Say Goodbye
The final day, we both woke up with sadness knowing we had to pack up the tent and leave. We looked with great sadness and saw that our time was up. It was our last hour on the reserve, so we packed up and walked into the city.
That kind of trip is only truly appreciated many months later. I still think about those adventures and then seeing the wolves that evening is something that I will never forget.
Recommendation: Grimsta Nature Reserve
For anyone looking to go on an adventure, I couldn’t recommend the Grimsta Nature Reserve in Sweden enough. It was so peaceful and pretty. It was also so good for our mental and physical health to get away from big cities for a change and experience what the natural world is really like.
More Info:
How to Get There
You can easily take a train or bus and it will take about 40-1 hour to get there. If you have a car, then it will take you about 30 minutes. If you want to start your exercise early, you can even bike there, which would take about 1 hour. Check out Google Maps to learn more about the different options.
What Kind of Gear?
When you’re planning on trail running in Sweden, don’t forget the right gear. This depends on the season. But overall, the essentials would be a day bag with snacks, a first aid kit, sunscreen, bug repellent, water bottle, running shoes, a light jacket, and a hat.
Other Outdoor Activities
Sweden is known to have a lot going on, especially in the nature. Check out The 10 Best Experiences for Outdoor Activities in Sweden. Or, if you want to learn about another great nature reserve, check out Kullaberg Nature Reserve. If you’re in Sweden, it would be nice knowing about some of the best camping that you can do there. Learn more at The Best Camping in Sweden: Hacks to Help Nature.
Best Time of the Year
The best time to do trail running in Sweden would be in Spring or Summer. Fall could also work. But you should prepare for rain and make sure that you have the right gear to withstand the rain and cold breeze. Having shoes with a good grip is a must during the fall time as well.
Adventures in Sweden
Sweden has a plethora of adventures. From meeting moose in person at a moose park, to berry and mushroom picking. There’s even the tallest mountain, Kebnekaise that you can climb. You can learn more on Adventures in Sweden page.
About the Author:
If you want to read more of our articles, me and Danny both run our own site. This is where I use my experience as a personal trainer and nutritionist to talk about the most common running injuries. We cover everything from heel pain to chest pain as well as getting medical professionals to review all our content.
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