Nature reserve

Vårdkasmalen is a beautiful sloping and terraced shingle field. It lies in a dip between the top of Vårdkasberget and Bräntberget and is the second highest shingle field on Härnön in Härnösand. To the southeast the field is open and treeless, while to the west it is covered with sparse forest.

Southwest of Härnösand lies Gådeåberget, and in 2006 a fire broke out just a few hundred meters from the nearest residential area. The fire lasted three weeks, and since then the eight-hectare area has been protected by the municipality of Härnösand as the first municipal nature reserve. After the fire, the land looked dead, but there was plenty of life ready to recolonize the area. Among other things, a variety of birds have been attracted to the area, mainly woodpeckers but also wrens. The area has a path that runs around the area with lovely views and information signs along the way.

Brånsån flows from Öjesjön down to Långsjön, through two nature reserves. The stretch within the village of Älgsjö was protected as a reserve in 2006. Almost ten years later, the lower course of the river through Västerbrån's woodland was also protected. The river has a large population of pearl mussels, a natural trout population and crayfish. There are paths along the river that you can follow and a picnic area with bench tables.

On the border with Sollefteå municipality lies Bastusjöklippen, which is a south-facing mountain, where the top is 380 meters above sea level. The top of the mountain consists of rocky forest, the rest consists mostly of spruce forest with elements of deciduous trees, a few wetlands and a small bog. The spruce forest is over 100 years old and there are many threatened coniferous forest species, including black tick, patch tick and rose tick. If you go high up on the mountain, you get a wonderful view of Hornsjömoarna.