There are places that feel older than everything else. Odensjön is one of them. You walk through the open pastures of Nackarpsdalen, in under the beeches, and suddenly there it is – an almost perfectly round lake, dark and still, wedged between steep walls of rock. It is easy to understand why people throughout the ages have told stories about it.
Facts about Odensjön
- Where: in Nackarpsdalen, in the southern part of Söderåsen National Park, just north of Röstånga.
- Shape: almost circular.
- Depth: more than 20 metres.
- Type: spring-fed lake, with clear, cold water.
- Surroundings: scree slopes rising around 30 metres above the surface and continuing far down below the water.
- On the shore: a shelter and a floating jetty.
How was the lake formed?
The round shape and the steep walls make many people think Odensjön is a crater lake left by a meteorite or a volcano. It is not that simple. Söderåsen lies along the Scanian diagonal, a zone where the Earth’s crust has been stretched and compressed for millions of years. The bedrock has been pushed up into a ridge and broken apart, and during the Ice Age the ice sheet and meltwater ground the cracks into valleys. Odensjön lies in such a hollow, and it is fed by spring water. Exactly how this particular round basin was formed is still debated, and perhaps that is part of its charm.
The legends of Odensjön
The name says most of it: the lake has long been associated with Odin (Oden in Swedish), the highest god of Norse mythology. The story usually told is that Odensjön is bottomless and has a connection to the god and his sacrifice. Odin famously gave one of his eyes for wisdom, and the dark, round lake has been called an eye in the mountain. No one knows how old the legends really are, but when you stand at the edge on a still autumn morning and watch the mist lift from the surface, it is not hard to imagine people of long ago doing the same – and wondering.
That and much more – about the hollow ways, the steam train that turned Röstånga into a tourist resort, and the shots and laughter that once echoed through Nackarpsdalen – is what I talk about in the audio guide to Söderåsen. It follows exactly the path from Röstånga towards Odensjön. The first two stops are free and the full tour costs 49 SEK.
How to get to Odensjön
The easy way: the Odensjön path
Start from the tourist information in Röstånga, where there is parking and public transport nearby. The Odensjön path is 1.2 kilometres one way and takes around 20–30 minutes. It runs through Nackarpsdalen with meadows, pastures and beech forest and is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs, but starts with a short downhill slope. You return the same way.
The view from above
The best picture of Odensjön is taken from above. The Odensjön viewpoint trail (2.6 km, approx. 45 min) and the Nackarp loop (4.3 km, approx. 1.5 h) climb up to the edge of the scree slopes, where you see the whole round lake below you. Take care at the edge, especially with children and when it is wet.
From Skäralid
If you are at naturum Söderåsen in Skäralid, you can walk Skåneleden south to Röstånga, about 7 kilometres and two hours, passing Odensjön on the way. Good if you want to see both parts of the park in one day.
Swimming, fishing and fika
In summer Odensjön is a popular swimming spot, and the clear water feels fresh even in July because the lake is deep and spring-fed. Hardy swimmers bathe all year round – a winter dip here is something quite special. Never swim alone when it is cold, and remember that it gets deep quickly. Fishing is allowed, but you need a fishing permit. By the lake there is a shelter for your fika, and in Nackarpsdalen there are barbecue sites and a dry toilet. Bring your own firewood or charcoal, as collecting wood is not allowed in the national park.
Best time to visit
Early morning, at any time of year. The lake then lies smooth and silent and you often have it all to yourself. In autumn the gold of the beeches is mirrored in the water, and in winter the lake may lie under a thin film of ice between the dark cliffs. Summer afternoons are lovely for swimming but considerably busier.
Experience Odensjön with a guide
My name is Olle Andersson, I am a certified guide and I live in Röstånga, a short walk from the lake. Join me on a guided tour in Söderåsen, and I will show you Odensjön, the paths around it and the places that are not on the map. Would you rather go on your own at your own pace? Take me along in your ear with the audio guide – and see what you think of the legends once you are standing there.