Description
Join us for a guided canoe tour along the Strömsholm Canal, a waterway through the Swedish Bergslagen region that was completed in 1795 and still serves as a navigable route for boats today. The canal stretches 110 km, of which 11 km are man‑made canal sections with locks, while the rest consists of natural rivers and lakes. The hand‑built canal sections are what make the waterway navigable, featuring 26 locks that raise or lower boats to the water level of the next part of the system. In total, there is a height difference of 100 meters between Smedjebacken in Dalarna and Borgåsund by Lake Mälaren.
During our tour, we paddle canoes through hand‑dug canal sections and along the winding Kolbäck River. Along the way, we share stories about the canal, the surrounding nature, and the canal’s importance for the development of the region. We will take breaks for Swedish fika and outdoor cooking over an open fire, using ingredients from local producers. We will also pass through one of the locks, where you will help operate it just as people did in 1795 when the canal was new. Toward the end of the paddle, we visit a historic smithy that was active from 1628 until 1910.
Tour Schedule:
- 8:45 – Meet at our service center in Hallstahammar
- 10:00 – Canoeing begins
- 12:00 – Outdoor lunch
- 13:30 – Lock operation
- 15:00 – Visit to Trångfors smithy
- 16:00 – Tour ends
Included in the experience: English‑speaking local canoe guide, canoe, life jacket, safety equipment, outdoor lunch and fika, entrance to Trångfors smithy.
Please let us know if you have any allergies or dietary preferences so we can prepare your meals accordingly.
What to bring: Extra clothes, rain gear, swimwear, insect repellent and sunscreen.
