CANOE TRAILS IN SWEDEN

Detailed canoe trail descriptions with maps. From the paddle legend Nittälven to the other 20 canoe trails in Bergslagen

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NITTÄLVEN

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FANTASTIC SPRING PADDLING IN CURRENT WATER WITH EASY RAPIDS

The river Nittälven curls through the wilderness in a beautiful pine forest. The forest is located on top of a bank of sand. At some places the river has broken through and gone straight forward instead for in the old curly way. The remains are small meander lakes

However, the gold coin has a back side. The river is impassable when the water level is normal. The whole length of Nittälven is only passable at spring or after long periods of poring rain when the water level is very high. Recommended time to paddle is from the beginning of April to around the 10th of May. Paddling along the whole length of Nittälven should not be planned after the 10th of May

The rain and wind shelters at Uvbergsbron

Nittälven curls through the wilderness in a beautiful pin forest

Photo: Roger Lundberg

	At normal and low water level the lower part of Nittälven is recommended with start 1 km south of Kolbron. From there Nittälven always is passable and the paddling down to Ljusnaren a nice day paddling. In order to extend the paddling to two days a swing down to the untouched lake Salbosjön is recommended. An other alternative is to paddle from Ljusnaren up to Havsjömossen day one and back to Ljusnaren day two A good place to finish the trip and park a car is Djäkens swimming place at number 3 on the map. Call or e-mail for current water level information The rain and wind shelter at Dansarbacken		Trail description: river paddling
			Degree of difficulty: mid difficult due to some fallen trees
			Uvbergsbron - Kopparberg 43 km, 85% river paddling
			Uvbergsbron - Ljusnaren 23 km, 100% river paddling
			Kolbron - Kopparberg 27 km, 65% river paddling
			Havsjömossen - Kopparberg 24 km, 60% river paddling
			Drop: 17 m total, 40 cm/km on average
			Portages: at high water level the first two portages offer nice white water paddling. In this case there are no portages until after the lake Ljusnaren
			Landscape description: wilderness
			The rain and wind shelters have firm fire places, dry toilets and sometimes even fire wood
			Updated map and more information in English (link), in German (link)
			Other maps: 11ENO, 11FNV
			The canoe trail continues to Garhytteån (Arbågaån Norra) via a portage on 400 m
			Good canoe trail description with map is included in the hire
			Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 2800 kr/280 euro per transport day
			Kopparberg: Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 2450 kr/245 euro per transport day

OTHER CANOE TRAILS IN BERGSLAGEN

We have described Bergslagens two paddle trails in wilderness (The Nature Reserve Malingsbo/Kloten and Nittälven). Other canoe trails in Bergslagen are different in the respect that the forest paddling sometimes pass some civilization - farms, villages and sometimes some settlement. The Nature Reserve Malingsbo/Kloten and Nittälven are recommended, but other canoe trails also offer good paddling

Nordic Discovery rent out canoes and kayaks and provide a very good transport service along Bergslagens canoe trails as follow: The Nature Reserve Malingsbo/Kloten, Hedströmmen, Gunnilboån, Strömsholms Kanal, Nittälven, Garhytteån, Bottenån, Arbågaån, Hjälmare Kanal, Mälaren, Rastälven, Järleån, Mångsälven, Svatälven, Malingen - Ludvika, Farmenleden and Svartån. All trails are easy rivers which doesn’t require previous knowledge or athletic paddlers. The Nature Reserve Malingsbo/Kloten, Strömsholms Kanal and Hjälmare Kanal represent calm water paddling. The other rivers offer lightly thrilling portions of rapids. At high water level Nittälven and Garhytteån offer the most thrilling and fun rapids. We wish you welcome to the province of Västmanland which has a lot to offer the paddlers

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

Paddle from Nittälvens sources all the way to the lake Hjälmaren. 175 km exiting paddling which should be paddled during 2,5 weeks time. The river Nittälven continue all the way down to the lake Mälaren, but change name several times. The canoe trail descriptions are as follow:

GARHYTTEÅN / NORTHERN ARBOGAÅN

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	A loved child has many names, so even the river stretch between Kopparberg and Mälaren. Don't be confused, we will try to sort out the different names as good as possible. Garhytteån/Northern Arbogaån flows between Kopparberg and Lindesberg. The stretch Bångbro to Norrsjön remains a lot of Nittälven in many respect and the paddling is excellent in high water. In high water the portage at Kvarnbron offer very fun rapid paddling for experienced rapid paddlers. Other paddlers has to do the portage. With low water the stretch is a little bit shallow and wading is necessary at some points. After Norrsjön the river change name to Storån. Storån ends in the lake Råsvalen. The next name change Bottenån take place along the river stretch from Råsvalen to Lindesberg. Bottenån is a deep river which allow boat traffic. Garhytteån/Northern Arbogaån offer varying paddling and some picturesque culture, e.g. the small museums in Kopparberg and Löa Hytta		Trail description: river and lake paddling
			Degree of difficulty: mid difficult
			From - to: Kopparberg - Lindesberg
			Distance: 42 km, 60% river paddling
			Drop: 47 m total, 1.3 m/km on average
			Portages: 5 portages 100 m - 200 m
			Landscape description: forest and meadows
			The rain and wind shelters have firm fire places and dry toilets
			To print the map (link)
			Other maps: 11FNV-SV
			The canoe trail continues to Bottenån/Southern Arbogaån
			Good canoe trail description with map is included in the hire
			Kopparberg: Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 2450 kr/245 euro per transport day
			Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 2800 kr/280 euro per transport day

BOTTENÅN / BORSÅN / SOUTHERN ARBOGAÅN

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	After Lindesberg Bottenån change name to Borsån which flows out in the lake Väringen. This canoe trail is incorrectly called Bottenån. A more correct name of this stretch is Borsån. The paddeling in Borsån offer fun paddeling along fairly lively river		Trail description: river and lake paddling
			Degree of difficulty: mid difficult
			From - to: Lindesberg - Frövi
			Distance: 24 km, 50% river paddling
			Drop: 29 m total, 1,2 m/km on average
			Portages: 3-7 portages 100 m - 700 m
			Landscape description: forest and meadows
			The rain and wind shelters have firm fire places, dry toilets and sometimes even fire wood
			Updated map and more information in English (link), in German (link)
			Other maps: 11FSV, 10FNV-NO
			The canoe trail continues in Arbogaån via a 2,5 km portage in Frövifors
			Good canoe trail description with map is included in the hire
			Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 3150 kr/315 euro per transport day

ARBOGAÅN / SOUTHERN ARBOGAÅN

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	Arbogaån flows peaceful through a pretty flat landscape with exceptions for some small rapids. The trip starts in Frövi at the lake Väringen. 7 kilometer's lake paddling continues with only river paddling all the way until the lake Mälaren. The last kilometers before Kungsör consists once more of lake paddling. Arboga offer the paddlers some culture. The stone studios, brewery and industrial museum. Arboga's original wood house settlement still exists due to the good luck with the absence of big fires		Trail description: most river paddling
			Degree of difficulty: easy - mid difficult
			From - to: Frövi - Kungsör/Mälaren
			Distance: 51 km, 80% river paddling
			Drop: 32 m total, 60 cm/km on average
			Portages: 4 portages 100 m - 2.5 km
			Landscape description: forest and meadows
			The rain and wind shelters have firm fire places, dry toilets and sometimes even fire wood
			Updated map and more information in English (link), in German (link)
			Other maps: 10FNO, 10GNV
			The canoe trail continues to Hjälmare Channel and to Mälaren
			Good canoe trail description with map is included in the hire
			Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 3500 kr/350 euro per transport day

HJÄLMARE KANAL

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Hjälmare kanal is the country's oldest channel. The channel was first built via Hyndevadsån and Eskilstunaån, Hjälmarens natural connection to Mälaren. The channel was finished 1620 but was destroyed by spring floods. Ten years late started the successful construction of a channel that instead ends in Arbogaån. The channel was ready 1639. The canoe trail goes from Arboga to Stora Sundby in Hjälmaren and is 29 km long. 13 km by this stretch is constructed channel. Easy portages along smooth paths beside the locks. Because of the regulation with locks the channel can be paddled in both directions. An appreciated condition for paddlers who desire to paddle from Nittälvens sources all the way down to Hjälmaren. 175 km excited paddling that should be spent during 2,5 week's time

	Trail description: most river paddling
	Degree of difficulty: easy
	From - to: Arbogaån - Hjälmaren
	Distance: 29 km, 70% river paddling
	Drop: 22 m total, 80 cm/km on average
	Portages: 0-5 portages 100 m - 200 m
	Landscape description: forest and meadows
	Fishing: pike and perch
	Maps: 10GNV, 10GSV
	Canoe trail description is included in the hire
	Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 3500 kr/350 euro per transport day

It also works to start the long paddling in Rastälven and paddle the 137 kilometers to the lake Hjälmaren (approximately: 2 weeks paddling). Rastälven and Järleån (which is the same river but divided in two canoe trails) flow together with Arbogaån in the lake Väringen after 71 kilometers paddling

RASTÄLVEN

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	A charming mix of small lakes and narrow river stretches. Several rapids request portages. A dirt road is often located along the rapids which makes the trolleys roll smooth and makes the portages easy. The river flows through an open and varying nature with forest, meadows, wet land and villages		Trail description: river and lake paddling
			Degree of difficulty: easy - mid difficult
			From - to: Ösjön - Nora
			Distance: 43 km, 50 % river paddling
			Drop: 58 m total, 1.2 m/km on average
			Portages: 10 portages 100 m - 3 km
			Landscape description: forest and meadows
			The rain and wind shelters have firm fire places, dry toilets and sometimes even fire wood
			Updated map and more information in English (link), in German (link)
			Other maps: 11ENO-SO, 11FSV
			The canoe trail continues to Järleån via a portage on 5 km through the spectacular nature reserve Järleån
			Good canoe trail description with map is included in the hire
			Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 3150 kr/315 euro per transport day

JÄRLEÅN

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	Järleån offer a 100 % river experience. A top quality which give the river the high rank. The canoe trail flows in a nice and canoe friendly pace. Before the beginning of the trail the river is very spectacular. The dramatic scenery begins in Hammarby and finish in Järle. Here is a very powerful stretch of rapids with murmuring waterfalls. This river stretch is unique and a very beautiful nature reserve. The canoe trail begins in the southern part of the nature reserve when the powerful stretch of rapids end. The trail ends when Järleån flows in to the lake Väringen. In Djupvikens small boat harbor, number 6 on the map		Trail description: river paddling
			Degree of difficulty: easy
			From - to: Järle kvarn - Djupvikens small boat harbor
			Järle kvarn - Väringen 23 km, 100% river paddling
			Järle kvarn - Frövi 30 km, 80% river paddling
			Drop: 15 m total, 60 cm/km on average
			Portages: 3 portages 100 m - 300 m
			Landscape description: forest and meadows
			The rain and wind shelters have firm fire places, dry toilets and sometimes even fire wood
			Updated map and more information in English (link), in German (link)
			Other map: 10FNV
			The canoe trail continues to Arbågaån
			Good canoe trail description with map is included in the hire
			Free transport of hired equipment on hires over 3150 kr/315 euro per transport day

QUESTIONS, MORE INFORMATION AND EXACT PRICE INFORMATION

Please write to Mikael.Nilsson@naturarvskompaniet.se

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

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



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