HEDSTRÖMMEN, GUNNILBOÅN

 From the sources in The Nature Reserve Malingsbo-Kloten to the lake Mälaren. Middle Hedströmmen 34 km. Lower Hedströmmen 34 km. Gunnilboån winding 36 km before it flows into Hedströmmen (at the starting point for Lower Hedströmmen)

  

Canoe trails

Rent of canoes, kayaks 

Rent of bicycles

Beaver safari

Moose safari

Canoe, bicycle tours

Adventure competitions
Hen, bachelor parties
School adventures
Canoe transport
Winter adventures
Bed & Breakfast
Road description
Photos
Bicycle, hiking trails
Nordic Discovery
Eco tourism
Bookings

 

THE WEST PART OF MÄLAREN

A turn down in Mälaren is a condition for a several weeks long paddling. All canoe trails in Västmanland are only passable downstream with the exception for Strömsholms and Hjälmare Kanal. This is because of the regulation with locks. A paddling upstream function very well in both Strömsholms and Hjälmare Kanal. The long paddlers starts with Hedströmmen/Gunnilboån, Nittälven/Garhytteån/Bottenån/Arbogaån, Rastälven/Järleån/Arbogaån or Svartån downstream and paddle the Strömsholms Kanal upstream. The long paddlers are able to paddle from A to B in 4,5 weeks time through a combination of good canoe trails

 

 

MIDDLE HEDSTRÖMMEN

* * * *

It is in the Middle Hedströmmen the river turn into an excellent paddle water. The canoe trail starts and ends with nice river paddling. In between you will pass the two narrow lakes Upper and Lower Vättern (before respective after Skinnskatteberg). In Uttersberg the small river pass outside the door to Gallery Astley. Here in the middle of the forest many world well-known artists have their art on exhibition. Among many thing you can see a few meters high and authentic tot them pole. The gallery also run a small cafeteria. Food supplies are available in Skinnskatteberg 

 

Trail description: river and lake paddling

Degree of difficulty: mid difficult

  From - to: Baggå - Karmarsbo  

Distance: 34 km, river paddling 50%

Drop: 80 m total, 2,35 m/km on average

Portages: 4 portages 100 m - 500 m

Landscape description: forest and meadows

 Fishing: pike and perch

Maps: 11FNO-SO 

 The canoe trail continues in Lower Hedströmmen via a 4  km portage between Karmansbo and Bernshammar. This stretch the canoes are rolled on good canoe trolleys along a beautiful landscape on a historical railway embankment 

Canoe trail description is included in the hire  

 Baggå - Skinnskatteberg: Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 2450 kr/245 euro per transport day  

 Skinnskatteberg - Gisslarbo: Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 2800 kr/280 euro per transport day  

LOWER HEDSTRÖMMEN

* * * *

In Bernshammar follow a nice stretch on some kilometers until the river joint Gunnilboån and Hedströmmen. The rivers flow together in the village Gisslarbo. The stretch until the end in Mälaren has the name lower Hedströmmen. South of Kolsva a few small rapids are shallow in low water. A recommended trip end is Malmön just north of the river mouth in Mälaren. An alternative is to continue the 6 remained kilometers to Köping and finish the trip in the harbor. Food supplies are available in Kolsva

 

Trail description: river paddling

Degree of difficulty: mid difficult

 From - to: Gisslarbo - Mälaren 

 Distance: 34 km, river paddling 100 %

Drop: 49 m total, 1.4 m/km on average

Portages: 6 portages 100 m - 400 m

Landscape description: meadows and forest

 Fishing: pike and perch

Maps: 11FSO, 11GSV, 10GNV

The canoe trail continues in Mälaren 

 Canoe trail description is included in the hire  

  Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 3150 kr/315 euro per transport day

GUNNILBOÅN

* * * *

One of many canoe trails that starts in The Iron Area and flow down to the valley of Mälaren. All these canoe trails pass the northern botanic limit but no river shows the contrast of nature that Gunnilboån does. A good example when the nature show the differences between wilderness and a more mellow landscape. A good rest area is located at the beginning of the river which invite to be on the spot the night before the paddling starts. The river starts in Trummelsbo which is a Swedish Klondike with a lot of trilling history. Once a small flourishing iron production society. Later an overgrown ghost town. The ruins are still there and a good message board shows photographs from the old days and gives brief history explanation (in Swedish). Let the imagination take your back in time. Join our guided tours in the ruins of the iron foundations area

 

Trail description: river and lake paddling

Degree of difficulty: easy

  From - to: Trummelsbo - Gisslarbo  

Distance: 36 km, 40% river paddling

Drop: 28 m total, 0,8 m/km on average

Portages: 3-4 portages 100 m - 1 km

Landscape description: wilderness/forest

 Fishing: pike and perch

The rain and wind shelter in  Trummelsbo has a firm fire place and dry toilet

Maps: 11GNV-SV

The canoe trail continues in lower Hedströmmen via a 1 km portage from Gisslarbo

Good canoe trail description with map is included in the hire  

Trummelsbo - Gisslarbo: Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 2800 kr/280 euro per transport day   

Continuation in Hedströmmen: Gisslarbo - Mälaren: Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 3150 kr/315 euro per transport day  

THE WEST PART OF MÄLAREN

* * *

  For approximately thousand years ago Mälaren was lively operated by the Vikings. The round bottom long ships sailed along the popular trading routs between Köping, Västerås, Sigtuna, Birka and old Uppsala. The big Viking tombs Stöbohög and Anundshög remind us about a historic time of greatness. We serve the stretch between the two big Viking tombs. From the river mouths of Arbågaån and Hedströmmen to the river mouth of Svartån. A turn down in Mälaren is a condition for a several weeks long paddling. All canoe trails in Västmanland are only passable downstream with the exception for Strömsholms and Hjälmare Kanal. This is because of the regulation with locks. A paddling upstream function very well in both Strömsholms and Hjälmare Kanal. The long paddlers starts with Hedströmmen/Gunnilboån, Nittälven/Garhytteån/Bottenån/Arbogaån, Rastälven/Järleån/Arbogaån or Svartån downstream and paddle the Strömsholms Kanal upstream. The long paddlers are able to paddle from A to B in 4,5 weeks time through a combination of good canoe trails. Mälaren is a big but relatively shallow lake with plenty of narrow straits and long bays but also big and open water. On the big islands you will find nice walking paths and rest areas 

Trail description: lake paddling 
Degree of difficulty: easy 
From - to: Köping/Kungsör - Västerås
Distance: 40 - 50 km, 100% lake paddling 
Drop: 0
Portages: 0
Landscape description: forest and meadows
Fishing: pike and perch
Maps: 11HSV, 10HNV, 11GSO, 10GNO

The canoe trail continues in Strömsholms or Hjälmare Kanal

Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 3500 kr/350 euro per transport day  

 Links to the canoe trails in Bergslagen

 

1) The Nature Reserve Malingsbo/Kloten *****

11) Strömsholms Kanal ****

2) Middle Hedströmmen ****

12) Rastälven ****

3) Lower Hedströmmen ****

13) Järleån ****

4) Gunnilboån ****

14) Northern Svartälven ****

5) Nittälven *****

15) Upper Mångsälven ***

6) Garhytteån/Northern Arbogaån ****

16) Lower Mångsälven ****

7) Bottenån/Borsån/Southern Arbogaån ****

17) Southern Svartälven ****

8) Arbogaån/Southern Arbogaån ****

18) Malingen - Ludvika ***

9) Hjälmare Kanal ***

19) Farmenleden/Jernleden ***

10) Mälaren ***

20) Svartån ***

 

 

 

Paddle any of the province 20 canoe trails and get the canoes transported to the starting point and picked up from the finishing point without extra cost. Included are life jackets, paddles, canoe trolleys, trail information, waterproof phone cases and if the logistic allow a free ride of the driver back to the car at the starting point. For groups - free transport of hired equipment. Tour leader/Guide: 400 kr/40 euro hour/group 

UPPER HEDSTRÖMMEN -THE WHITE WATER ALTERNATIVE

 

 

Hedströmmen has its sources in the Kloten lakes and is from the beginning a small brook. The brook falls 100 meter between the lakes Långvattnet and Malingsbosjön and is this early not for paddling. Along the stretch Malingsbo - Baggå is province only alternative for good rapid paddling. This stretch is only passable when the water level is very high and is only for experienced rapid paddlers. For paddlers who want to learn how to paddle rapids, we recommend our professional guide service. Upper Hedströmmen is under normal circumstances shallow and rocky and fits better for sport fishing then for paddling 

 

 

Trail description: river paddling

Degree of difficulty: difficult

 From - to: Malingsbo - Baggå 

Distance: 16 km. 100% river paddling

Drop: 50 m totalt, 2,8 m/km on average

Portages: 2-3 portages 20 m - 150 m

Landscape description: wilderness 

 Fishing: brown trout and rainbow trout 

Maps: 11FNO

The canoe trail continues in Middle Hedströmmen

Canoe trail description is included in the hire  

  Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 1800 kr /180 euro

  Canoes and transport are to be booked from the break-up of the ice to freeze-up (approximately April - November)

For exact price information on the river you wish to paddle. Please write to Mikael.Nilsson@naturarvskompaniet.se

 

 

Trackless excursions

The paddler is a guest in the nature and is required to show responsibility and care. Not to harm and not to destroy. To be in the Swedish nature is a right but it is also a duty to behave well. The paddlers only track should be the whirlpool from the paddles

 
 

BOOK PADDLING ONLINE/MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PADDLING

Nordic Discovery - Naturarvskompaniet

Mikael.Nilsson@naturarvskompaniet.se

Handelsbobacken 2

Phone: +46 (0)580 31007 

Kloten

Cell phone: +46 (0)70 2551984

714 91 Kopparberg

 www.nordicdiscovery.se 

Sweden

www.naturarvskompaniet.se

 

  GPS coordinates: Latitude 59 53'43,17 "N  Longitude: 15 17'18,35 "E