Njurundakusten Conservation Park

Njurundakusten Conservation Park in Medelpad is mostly characterized by a long undeveloped stretch of coastline, lagoons, flower-rich shore meadows, pine forests, wetlands, alder swamp and shingles. The park features many cultural heritage values including Galtström Ironworks.

Njurundakusten Conservation Park comprises 2,300 hectares. It lies in the Municipality of Sundsvall, along the southern Medelpad coastline. It comprises an elongated and sometimes narrow area along the southern Medelpad coastline.

The park stretches from Junibosand in the north, past Lörudden and Galtström in the south, all the way down to Oxsand on the Hälsingland border. The park is adjacent to two marine nature reserves, Salen and Långören.

Coast and forest

The post-glacial land uplift in the area has meant that many bays have been cut off and transformed into fresh water environments. Other bays are gradually being cut off and are currently lagoons. The area also features flower-rich shore meadows, pine forests, wetlands, alder swamp and shingles.

Large areas of forest in the Parkshow marked signs of human activity, since people have lived and farmed the forest here for a long time.

The Park contains valuable flora and is rich in birdlife, due to an abundance of shallow bays and islands that offer important resting and breeding sites. Animals also thrive in the area, such as large and small newts, grass snakes, sea eagles, frogs and toads.

There are also many cultural heritage values such as ancient monuments, the fishing village at Lörudden and the ironworks environment at Galtström.

The park in figures

2,300 hectares in total

1,711 hectares of productive forest land

1,036 are managed to preserve or develop natural values

8% of the forests have high nature values

5% of the forests have an average age of over 90 years

What to do

Several ancient monuments, such as mounds and burial grounds from the Bronze or Iron Age
Petroglyphs with a marine theme
The fishing village at Lörudden
The preserved ironworks environment at Galtström, date back to the 1600s
Stone labyrinth
Several tracks through the park

Hiking

There are several nice trails in Galtström and the surrounding area.

In Långören, SCA and BirdLife Medelpad have prepared a path for those who want to try their hand at bird watching. The path is about 2 km long and has signs with information about birds you can see in the area. (The signs are in Swedish.) See how to find the trail in our fact sheet. Read the fact sheet (In Swedish)
Just before you get to Galtström, there is a four kilometer long forest path. Here you can see, among other things, approx. 300-year-old pines, felled pines and a wetland. Where the path starts at the parking lot, there is a newly built charcoal stack in cross-section that shows how charcoal was produced in the past. There is also a children's path with many exciting things to discover.
In Galtström's mill, you can go on a cultural walk. It is a loop where, via signs and QR codes, you can find out more about Galtström's history, iron production and life in Galtström. Read more

Veteranisation helps endangered species

SCA is hosting a research project into veteranisation on its land, which is being conducted by the Mid Sweden University. The aim is to study the best methods to accelerate the formation of wood that is normally only found in old trees, to recreate habitats for endangered species.

How to get here

The Conservation Park lies south of the Municipality of Sundsvall. Take off the road A4 at Njurunda and drive towards Lörudden. The Park stretches from Junibosand in the north, past Lörudden and Galtström in the south, all the way down to Oxsand on the Hälsingland border.

With GPS: 62 1622 - 17 498.