Klackberg is a settlement just north of Norberg in the historical province of Västmanland. It is an area with a long mining tradition that today has a focus on winter sports, especially alpine and cross-country skiing.
A Short History of Klackberg
The first mention of the mines here dates back to 1303. The mountain was then mentioned as Mons Ferri, “The Iron Moutain”. The industrial mining began in the 1880s and many of the industrial buildings were built between 1880 and 1920. The mining continued until 1967. The iron ore was initially transported across Lake Noren. To increase the efficiency a railway to Kärrgruvan was constructed in the 1890s. When the mines closed in 1967 some of them had reached an impressive depth. The mine Storgruan was 325 meters deep, while Gröndalsgruvan was 354 meters deep.
Things to Do and See in Klackberg
The area is famous for its nature and its historical mines. There are several mines to explore here as well as many outdoor activities to take part in. In the summer it is cycling and hiking which are the main activities, while in the winter it is skiing.
Storgruvan
Storgruvan is a mine that was built in 1881 and it eventually reached a depth of 325 meters. Above ground, there is still the tower that housed the elevator and other equipment needed to bring workers up and down the mine entrance.
Gröndalsgruvan
Gröndalsgruvan is another mine with just small signs above ground. It was built in 1886 and reached a depth of 354 meters when it was closed in 1967. Its tower still stands above ground.
Blå Grottan
“The Blue Cave” is a part of the old mines and dates back to the 18th century. It was a transportation tunnel for the mine Granrotsgruvan. The passage passes by the water-filled mine Sprinegruvan. It is the blue water of the latter mine that has given the cave its name.
Klackbergsbacken – Alpine Skiing
Another option when visiting the area during winter is alpine skiing. There are two slopes here with a total altitude difference of 70 meters.
Engelbrektsspåret – Cross-Country Skiing
Engelbrektsspåret is a cross-country skiing trail that when completed with the help of snow guns reaches a total length of 10 kilometers. When the real snow comes the different trails here reach a length of 30 kilometers.
How to Get to Klackberg
- Flights: Borlänge Airport (BLE), or Dala Airport, can be found 64 kilometers to the north, and Stockholm Västerås Airport (VST) 86 kilometers to the southeast.
- Car: Klackberg is on g a countryside road north of Norberg.
- Bus: Buses from VL connect Norberg with the surrounding region, this is where you will find the best bus options.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 177 kilometers (2 h 5 min)
- Gothenburg – 401 kilometers (5 h 1 min)
- Malmö – 620 kilometers (6 h 46 min)
- Linköping – 234 kilometers (3 h 6 min)
- Kiruna – 1181 kilometers (13 h 33 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
