Find your way
By car
When going to Himmelbjerget by car, the easiest way to get there is to follow the signs from Silkeborg towards the south to Rodelund and from here to Ry or from the main road between Aarhus and Silkeborg.
Shuttle boat
An easy and nice alternative during the summer (and the autumn break) is to catch a shuttle boat from Silkeborg or Ry. This is the classical way to visit the area and from Julsø and the base of Himmelbjerget, there is an approximately 1.2-km trail that winds its way to the top of the hill. The most romantic way is to go on Hjejlen, which is the world's oldest, original paddle steamer with a unique history. The paddle steamer was built by B&W in Copenhagen back in 1861 on the initiative of a few prominent Silkeborg people lead by the owner of the paper mill, Michael Drewsen.
Read more at hjejlen.dk (in Danish)
Public transport
Bus No 311 departs from Ry and Silkeborg to Himmelbjerget and stops at car park P1.
Plan your trip on rejseplanen.dk (in Danish)
Practical info and activities
Hotel Himmelbjerget offers accommodation.
Read more at hotel-himmelbjerget.dk (in Danish)
Previously, you could spend the night at the 150-year-old Hotel Julsø, beautifully located at the base of Himmelbjerget. Today, the hotel is closed; however, the building is home to an excellent restaurant.
There are two campsites at Borre Sø. They may be used by groups, e.g. scouts, school classes and day-care centres. Reservation is required. Contact Naturstyrelsen (Søhøjlandet) on telephone No: 72 54 30 00 or by email at SHL@nst.dk. There is also a primitive campsite at the marl deposit near Bøgedal to the west of Himmelbjerget.
You may also camp at Skyttehusets Camping, which located on the shore of Borre Sø.
Read more at skyttehusetscamping.dk (in Danish)
The campsite is within easy walking distance of both Sønderskov and Himmelbjerget.
In 1992, Himmelbjergegnens Natur- og Idrætsefterskole (“The Nature and Sport Continuation School of the Himmelbjerget Area”) took over the old family farm, Knøsgården. You may stay overnight here and there are numerous outdoor activities.
Click on himmelbjergegnens.dk (in Danish) or call telefone no.: 86 89 83 99.
FDF owns Sletten, friluftscentersletten.dk (in Danish) – telephone no.: 86 84 60 28.
Himmelbjergtårnet - opening hours:
Weekend and Easter holidays: 10:00 - 17:00
May and June: Daily 10:00 - 17:00
July: Daily 10:00 - 19:00
August - 15 September: Daily 10:00 - 18:00
16 – 30 September and the first two weekends of October and the autumn break: Saturday and Sunday 10:00 - 17:00
In the 1800s, Himmelbjerget was the venue of public gatherings. The tradition evolved into Constitution Day meetings and, today, every year on 5 June, the Danish Conservative Party organises a Constitution Day meeting on Himmelbjerget.
In the 1800s, Himmelbjerget was the venue of public gatherings. The tradition evolved into Constitution Day meetings and, today, every year on 5 June, the Danish Conservative Party organises a Constitution Day meeting on Himmelbjerget.
The car park at Svejbækvej is a good starting point for getting to the southern part of Slåensø. The north side where the outlet is may be accessed from Millingbækvej, where there is also a toilet which is wheelchair accessible.
Keep your dog on its leash
Read more about dogs in nature (in Danish)
You are permitted to cycle on forest roads and trails. Please note riding your mountain-bike in Sønderskov around Slåensø and along the shores of Borresø is not permitted. You are better off choosing the Nordskoven in Silkeborg.
Read the mountain bike code of conduct (in Danish)
Horseback-riding is permitted on paths and roads
The area may be very dry in summer, but please be careful with open fire all year. There is a bonfire site in the gravel pit at Millingbæk.
Read the general rules for bonfire sites (in Danish)
You may swim in Borre Sø, Julsø and Slåensø, but there are no facilities.
You may angle in Slåensø and parts of Borresø if you have an annual/angling license from Silkeborg Fiskeriforening (“Silkeborg Anglers’ Association”).
Read more on the website of Silkeborg Fiskeriforening (in Danish)
However, daily and weekly licences are also issued - see the website of Silkeborg Fiskeriforening for more information. Children under the age of 15 are permitted to angle without a licence in the waters of Silkeborg Fiskeriforening.
See the marked hiking routes on the map in the hiking folder (in Danish)
Many arrive by car at the car park (P1) and walk to Himmelbjerget Tower and the formidable views while others arrive at Hotel Julsø, where you find a twisted path which takes you the approximate 1.2 km to the top of Himmelbjerget some 130 metres higher up. The terrain west and north of Himmelbjerget is kept clear of trees, allowing unobstructed access to enjoy the views and surrounding areas.
The entire area is full of marked trails at the numbered car parks. There are several relatively short routes, but if you need a challenge, you can easily combine routes. However, you should be aware that the landscape is hilly and may take some stamina. Remember water on hot summer days!
• Routes marked in yellow – circular trails of between 2.3 and 7.2 km
• Routes marked in red - Longer trails, where you may have to return via the same trail
P1-P12: Søruten (“The Lake Route”) is 8.0 km
P2-P4: Bøgedalsruten (“The Beech Valley Route”) is 1.8 km
P4-P8: Mergelbanestien (“The Marl Rail Track”) is 3.5 km
• The routes marked in orange are alternative trails, the length of which has not been measured
Bines Kol and Skriver Kol
An excellent alternative to the panoramic views from Himmelbjerget is to park at P3 and walk to Bines Kol and/or Skriver Kol. The terrain is hilly and the trail is not always passable (so the walk is unsuitable for people with mobility issues and wheelchair users), but you are amply rewarded for your efforts when you arrive at the view of Julsø.
Silkeborg-Aarhus
This long hiking trail (marked in blue) passes both Slåensø and Himmelbjerget and leads from Silkeborg to Aarhus via Ry and Skanderborg. Walking the 64 km is quite the task, but you can find overnight accommodation and combine the hike with a boat trip on Gudenåen and on the lakes between Skanderborg and Ry, as well as on Skanderborg Sø.
Silkeborg-Horsens
The decommissioned railway line between Horsens and Silkeborg has gained a new clientele, namely hikers, cyclists and horseback riders who wish to experience the lake-filled highland, Søhøjlandet, of Central Jutland. Due to its past as a railway line, the trail is not hilly, but of course it is still a long journey. It may be divided, for example by using the primitive accommodations that have been set up at approximately 10-15-kilometre intervals.
Read more about the Horsens-Silkeborg Nature Trail (in Danish)
Every summer, a vintage train also covers five kilometres of the distance.
Read more at veteranbanen.dk (in Danish)
Everyone is permitted to walk along marked trails at Slåensø. Cycling is permitted pursuant to the rules of the Nature Conservation Act, which states that you are permitted to cycle on roads and paths that are suitable for the purpose. That being said, around Slåensø, you must be careful and act respectfully in relation to the many other guests. There are plenty of opportunities for mountain-biking elsewhere around Silkeborg, for example in Nordskoven, which has a specific cycling route - with different levels of difficulty.
In the past, there was a restaurant at Slåensø and in the Summer, it was a venue filled with life, happy days and parties with dancing. This also applied to the area of Salten Overgård Forest near Høgdal. In the 1700s and 1800s, this was an open-air dance floor and there were no ends to the parties. In the winter, the place turned into a skating rink. However, in 1952, the summer restaurant at Slåensø was destroyed by fire and, since then, the foremost reasons for visiting Sønderskoven and Slåensø have been peace, quiet and hiking.
3-km route around Slåensø
Start at Svejbækvej (car parks 10, 11 or 12) and walk to the east end of the lake. Along the southern shore of the lake you will see the red hues of natural ochre. It originates from the springs that feed the lake. These springs have given the lake its name because, in Old Norse, "Slagna" means to spring. Northwest of the lake you may be lucky enough to spot grass snakes bask in the sum.
3.5-km route at Borresø
The journey begins at the car park (No 13) at Sønderskovvej, and as you walk towards Borre Sø you may be lucky enough to spot roe deer. You may also pop up to Kongestolen, which offers excellent views to the opposite side, the north side, of Borresø with the heather-covered hills of Sindbjerg and Stoubjerg. Kongestolen is made up of geological strata that are older than the ice age. At the foot of the hill there is a lignite mine and lignite is known to be 10-20 million years old.
2.5-km route at Åsen
If you are in good shape, this walk can be combined with the 3-km trail around Slåensø. Start at Svejbækvej (car parks 10, 11 or 12) and you will pass H. C. Andersens Høj and enjoy an excellent view from “Udsigten” (“the Lookout"), whose surroundings are kept clear of trees.
The hiking trail Silkeborg-Aarhus also traverses the area at Slåensø. Watch out for a little blue man on the signs. Another alternative involving some distance is the Silkeborg-Horsens hiking trail - or at least part of it.
The 18th-century farm is a cultural-historical gem that can be visited by school classes, kindergartens, associations, companies and other good people.
Find out more at hogdal.dk or call 86 82 19 11 or send an email to info@hogdal.dk.
There are plenty of opportunities for combining travelling by canoe, Gudenåen and views of Himmelbjerget. There are many places which offer canoe-rentals in Ry and Silkeborg. This also applies to Skyttehusets Camping.
https://www.skyttehusetscamping.dk/ (in Danish)
Suggested outings including Himmelbjerget may be found on kanoferie.dk (in Danish)
There is an excellent, newly-constructed play universe where kinds may romp within walking distance of P1 on the way to Himmelbjerget.
There are 13 numbered car parks in the area. There is a pay-and-park (P1) at Himmelbjerget. There are tables and benches at several of the car parks where you may enjoy your picnic.