HIKING CLOSE TO COPENHAGEN: 5 EXCITING AND NATURE-IMMERSIVE HIKING TRAILS

It can sometimes be difficult to find time (and maybe money) to go on a trip, especially if you live in the city. At the same time, many of us living in the city really need to escape the traffic and noise from time to time. Fortunately, there are plenty of beautiful natural areas in and near Copenhagen, offering everything from walks that take an hour to hikes that last several days, or even weeks. Additionally, many nature campsites have been established with options for overnight stays in tents and/or shelters. Since you are almost never far from civilization in Denmark, there are also many hiking routes that offer accommodation at hostels or hotels, allowing for a slightly more luxurious trip.

Below are five wonderful hiking trails in wild nature, all easy to reach if you come from Copenhagen or the surrounding area – even if you don’t have a car.

AMARMINOEN

Amarminoen offers plenty of unspoiled nature and exciting animal species. The route passes through beautiful natural areas, including forests and coastal meadows. You can also take the metro to the starting point.

This hike is a 27 km long trail that starts at DR City near Islands Brygge and ends at Prins Knuds Dike in Dragør. Starting at DR City, the route first takes you through the lovely Amager Common, which is home to many interesting plants, amphibians, birds, and much more. Then the trail goes over the southwest tip, where you might spot a kitesurfer among the waves. The route continues over Kalvebod Common, which offers many fascinating bird species, as well as Denmark’s largest planted birch forest, Pinseskoven, where small birds especially reside. After Kalvebod Common, the trail leads you through Kongelunden, which houses many beautiful oak trees. The last stretch before reaching Dragør runs along the coast, where you can climb one of the many birdwatching towers to observe the many interesting bird species living here, or you can use one of the many bathing piers for a swim.

There are metro stations at both ends of the route, making it super easy and convenient to hike. You can start the hike from either DR City or Dragør, and you can also choose to walk just a small part of it if you don’t have the opportunity to cover the full length. The route can be done in one day or split over two or more days. There are plenty of campsites along the way with both tent sites and shelters, as well as fire pits. Additionally, the entire route is marked with drop-shaped pictograms, so it’s easy to find your way.

THE CLOVER TRAILS ON WEST AMAGER

If you don’t have the chance to hike the entire Amarminoen but want to experience Kalvebod Common, the Clover Trails on West Amager are perfect for a shorter hike – or several. There are four routes in total: green, blue, red, and black, each offering four different and exciting experiences.

The green route (2.5 km) goes through sheep pastures and past the Himmelhøj nature playground. The blue route (5 km) takes you past Pinseskoven (like Amarminoen), where you might spot a fallow deer. The red trail (7.5 km) leads you over Storehøj and then along boardwalks through the reed beds. The black trail (12 km) stretches through Pinseskoven and along the new dike built in 2012. If you’re really curious, there’s even an option to be guided by Sebastian Klein via your phone.

All the hiking routes start at the Amager Nature Center and are circular, so you start and end at the same place. The nature center is located next to the Vestamager metro station, making it incredibly easy to get there (and back). There are plenty of tent and shelter sites in the area. You can also find fire pits and picnic huts. This makes it an ideal area for easy and cozy trips in all weather, from summer and sun to cold and rain. Additionally, the routes are marked with clover pictograms in the four different colors, making it easy to find your way. This applies to all clover trails in Denmark.

THE CLOVER TRAILS IN DYREHAVEN AND JÆGERSBORG HEGN

Another set of clover trails near Copenhagen can be found in Dyrehaven and Jægersborg Hegn, which are adjacent to each other. Here you’ll also find four routes with color codes, just like all other clover trails in Denmark.

The green trail (2.6 km) takes you along paths and boardwalks around Bøllemosen, where you can find everything from cranberries and blueberries to carnivorous plants (sundew), but be careful as the bog is deep and people who venture off the boardwalk sometimes get stuck. The blue trail (5.2 km) passes Bøllemosen and goes around Jægersborg Hegn, past beautiful bogs, Tuemose plain, and Skodsborg pond. There are plenty of opportunities to find mushrooms here, both edible and poisonous. The red route (7.5 km) leads you along and over the Mølleå River, after which you walk through the charming Raadvad. The black and longest route (16 km) takes you over the Mølleå River to Jægersborg Dyrehave. Here you first pass the beautiful Eremitage Palace and then go through forests with old oak trees, along meadows, and even past Dyrehavsbakken amusement park. In Dyrehaven, there are plenty of chances to spot fallow deer, roe deer, sika deer, and red deer, but don’t get too close.

All four routes are circular, as they all start and end at Skodsborg station, which takes about 20 minutes to reach by train from Nørreport station. There are several tent sites along the routes and elsewhere in the area, so you can easily make it a multi-day trip. There are also many fire pits and picnic shelters along the way, so you can go out in all kinds of weather without too much hassle. There are even some dining options (restaurants, inns, etc.) along the red and black routes. Additionally, the routes are marked with clover pictograms in the colors corresponding to the routes, making it easy to find your way.

THE SKJOLDUNGE TRAILS

The Skjoldunge Trails are fantastic and beautiful hiking routes close to Roskilde, passing over coastal meadows, through forests, and along lakes and streams. They are located in the Skjoldungernes Land National Park, named because it is believed that the Skjoldungers lived in the area. The Skjoldungers are descendants of King Skjold, who was the country’s first king.

The hiking trail takes you through the Bidstrup forests near Hvalsø, over hilly landscapes, through villages, and across manor landscapes. Along the way, you can experience many cultural-historical relics from ancient times, such as old stone fences, burial sites, water mills, hollow roads, and burial mounds.

The trail system totals 40 km and is cross-shaped, with the longest stretch about 30 km and the other about 10 km. If you want to hike the long route, you can start in either Hvalsø or Roskilde and finish in the other town. It’s easy to take the train to the starting point and then take the train home from the endpoint. From Nørreport station, it takes about an hour to Hvalsø station and about 45 minutes to Roskilde station. There are also plenty of opportunities for overnight stays along the way, either at one of the many tent and shelter sites or at hostels or hotels. The route has posts with pictograms that say ‘skjoldungesti’ for easy navigation.

THE FJORD TRAIL

This combined cycling and hiking trail measures a full 275 km in length and stretches around Isefjord and Roskilde Fjord in Northwest Zealand.

The Fjord Trail really offers a bit of everything, from beautiful nature and wildlife to charming old villages. It takes you through forests, over hills, to bogs, and along the fjords’ shores. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities for swimming in the fjords. The route also passes through towns and villages, as well as by churches, estates, and water mills. There is truly something for everyone. Additionally, it has been a priority that the route is traffic-safe, so it mostly leads you through nature and away from roads as much as possible.

The route is divided into stages, so you can either hike the entire way or just part of it. If you hike the whole route, you can start and finish at the same place. There is no official starting point, but if you come from Copenhagen, it’s very easy to take the train to Roskilde station and start the hike from there. It takes about 45 minutes by train from Nørreport station to Roskilde station. If you hike the entire loop, you must take the ferry between Hundested and Rørvig, where you can also bring a bike or car.

There are plenty of accommodation options along the Fjord Trail. You’ll find hotels, inns, and hostels, as well as campsites and nature campsites with options for staying in shelters or tents. You can find your way by following the blue signs indicating the route number, 40.

It is extremely important for the sake of nature (and others using the trails and campsites) that you do not leave trash on the trails, campsites, or anywhere that is not a trash bin. This also applies to food scraps, even if they are compostable. Therefore, take your trash with you and dispose of it when you find a trash bin. Also, make sure to familiarize yourself with the rules and guidelines established for the specific area you are visiting. This way, we can all contribute to preserving our fantastic natural areas.

Have a great trip!

Written by Amanda Kjersner