Varied nature in southern Sweden
Söderåsens National Park is a gorgeous place – lush beech forests, dramatic cliffs, babbling streams and what locals cheerfully call “Skåne’s Grand Canyon”.
It’s a brilliant day trip from Helsingborg and Malmö, especially for hikers looking for easy nature escapes in Scania (Skåne), Sweden.
Best of all, entry is completely free, so it’s ideal for budget travel, weekend hiking and outdoor adventures in southern Sweden.
While living in Scania for four months, we set out to explore some of the region’s best hiking trails and national parks.
When Victoria’s mother visited in September, we drove to Söderåsen National Park to spend an afternoon hiking, walking forest trails and enjoying autumn nature in Sweden.
We can easily imagine coming back here again.
Our home for four months in the summer of 2020
Read more
Map of Söderåsen National Park
Söderåsen National Park is located in Scania in southern Sweden, about 30-40 kilometres east of Helsingborg.
There are two entrances to the park; a main entrance with a visitor centre in Skäralid and a southern entrance with a tourist office in Röstånga.
Everything you need to know about Helsingborg in Sweden, including what to do, where to stay and our best tips
Read moreHiking in Söderåsen National Park
Söderåsen National Park covers 1,625 hectares and we would have loved to explore every hiking trail.
If we had all day, we would definitely take one of the longer trails or several short ones.
However, we didn’t have that many hours before sunset, so we went with the Kopparhattsrundan (the yellow-marked loop) – a short, family-friendly trail of about 4 km.
The wooden pathways make it very accessible for hiking and it was a delight to walk through the lush forest along the stream.
We visited in the afternoon in September, and as the sun was setting slowly, we had perfect light on the trails.
The forest was still green with a few falling leaves, reminding us that autumn was just around the corner.
The Kopparhatten viewpoint was the undisputed highlight of Kopparhattsrundan with panoramic views over the beech forest and the Skäralidsdalen rift valley below.
On a clear day, you can see for miles. It’s sometimes called Skåne’s Grand Canyon, and standing up there, you’ll see exactly why.
It’s the highest point in Söderåsen National Park, and the landscape was dramatically beautiful.
The highest point in all of Scania is just outside the park on the Söderåsen ridge.
We really think Söderåsen National Park is a wonderful place to visit, and we can’t wait to come back to hike some of the other Söderåsen hiking trails.
All you need to know about Malmö, Sweden, including what to do, when to visit, where to eat and where to stay
Read more
Discover the best hikes, viewpoints, practical tips and where to stay
Read more
Practical information
Söderåsen National Park is free to visit and open year-round.
We think it’s one of the best free things to do in Scania!
Read more about safety and rules in the park here.
The Naturum visitor centre at Skäralid is the perfect first stop for maps, trail info and a coffee.
They can also provide more information, activities, exhibits or guided tours. Check out the opening hours here.
What to see and do on a day trip to Lund, Sweden + how to get there
Read moreWhere to stay near Söderåsen National Park
- Budget: Söderåsens Skafferi
- Value for money: First Camp Röstånga-Söderåsen
- Luxury: Villa Söderåsen
Search for the best hotels near Söderåsen National Park here.
Our personal pick of the best hotels in Malmö across four lovely neighbourhoods – from budget bunks to luxury.
Read moreWhat to bring to Söderåsen National Park
- Travel insurance (adlink). Never travel without it!
- A good camera – here’s a guide to the gear we use.
- Sunscreen (adlink) if you visit in the summer.
- Hiking shoes or just regular sneakers. We wore sneakers, and the pathways were very easy to walk on.
- Water and snacks if you plan to hike for several hours.
What camera, drone and accessories we use to capture life on the road
Read more
All you need to know about visiting the tennis capital of Sweden
Read moreMinimise your impact
To minimise your impact on nature, follow these guidelines:
- Bring your own drinking water in a refillable bottle. You can fill up your bottle of water at the visitor centre in Skäralid.
- Avoid single-use plastics, including straws.
- Dispose of waste properly.
- Take only photos, leave only footprints.
- Be considerate of other visitors.
- Respect wildlife.
Thanks for reading
Thank you for reading our guide to Söderåsen National Park, and particularly the Kopparhattsrundan.
What do you think about Söderåsen National Park and hiking in Scania, Sweden?
If you’ve been there before, we’d love to hear about your experience – whether you explored the Söderåsen hiking trails, visited the Skäralid valley viewpoints, or spent time in the beech forest and dramatic canyon landscapes.
If you haven’t been yet and are planning a day trip from Helsingborg or Malmö, feel free to ask us anything in the comments. We’re happy to help.
Our favourite travel resources:
- Booking.com for hotels and apartments.
- Momondo for the best flight deals.
- AirHelp for flight delay compensation.
- GetYourGuide for great tours everywhere.
- Airalo for reliable eSIM.
- Discover Cars for transparent car hire.
- SafetyWing for travel insurance. We also like True Traveller. Compared here.
Christmas in Malmö 2025: Where to Find the Best Christmas Markets & Christmas Shopping
Planning a visit to the Christmas markets in Malmö? Here's all you need to know about visiting the capital of Scania in December
-
Måkläppen Nature Reserve: Travel Guide to Spot Wild Seals in Southern Sweden
How to get to Måkläppen Nature Reserve and see the seals in Falsterbo
-
Where to Stay in Malmö: The 4 Best Areas & 10 Best Hotels
Our personal pick of the best hotels in Malmö across four lovely neighbourhoods – from budget bunks to luxury.
