The Emigrant Trail and its natural surroundings—as quintessentially Småland as it gets. Exploring the Emigrant Trail on foot or by bike can feel like taking a long breath out. And when you breathe in again, you’ll smell the scent of the forest, the vast fields, or the flowers lining the gravel road.
This is where you'll see picket fences, well-preserved stone walls, and more red houses with white corners than you can count.
The countryside around the Emigrant Trail takes you to places mentioned in Vilhelm Moberg’s world-famous novels about Kristina and Karl-Oskar. These are places that evoke the era when many people from Småland left their homeland in pursuit of the dream of a better life on the other side of the Atlantic. Korpamoen, the Åkerby crossroads, Ljuder, and Klasatorpet, to name a few.
Even if you’re not familiar with the old novels set in Småland during the 1840s, it’s the natural scenery along the trail that’s the main draw today, with the cultural history serving as an added bonus. The trail varies between forest paths, gravel roads through farmland, and shorter stretches on smaller but paved country roads. The route varies depending on whether you choose to hike or bike the trail. You’ll pass several lodging options and many lakes, perfect for a swim or a moment of rest and tranquility.
Feel free to watch the video to let your imagination wander to the natural surroundings of the Utvandrarleden trail, and you’re more than welcome to experience it for yourself—on foot or by bike.