Canoe tour Svartälven
The Svartälven tour stands out as having some of the best waters to canoe. It offers a blend of narrow passages, diverse landscapes, picturesque campsites, and the opportunity to paddle on both rivers and lakes.
7 days/6 nights (75km) or 4 days/3 nights (40km)
Starting on the border of Dalarna county in eastern Värmland, the river Svartälven is one of our best canoeing waters. The river runs south through vast areas of outstanding natural beauty. The canoe tour on Svartälven offers a diverse experience from the beginning. While the river narrows at times, it transitions into the winding river Tvärälven and further leads into several smaller lakes.
What is included in the package?
Things you can rent/buy from us
- Tent (accommodates 3-4 people).
- Sleeping bag and sleeping pad.
- Cooking equipment, including a portable stove for preparing meals.
- Food for the entire stay, which you will prepare yourself during the trip.
Things you need to bring
- Clothing suitable for changing weather, including rain gear and a complete change of clothes. Extra shoes or boots.
- If you haven’t rented a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, or cooking equipment from us, you will need to bring your own.
- Food is an important part of the outdoor experience, and fresh air can make you extra hungry. Make sure to bring enough food if you haven’t ordered our provisioning package. (You will pass through the village of Lesjöfors, where you have the option to buy food during the 7 days trip.)
- Local transfer to the starting point and pick-up at the finish point.
- Canoe trolleys for land crossings are included.
- For children, the canoe can be equipped with an extra seat.
This tour includes approximately 10 land crossings, the canoe trolley can be used on all but one land crossing. The longest land crossing is about 2km. The 4-day tour includes only two land crossings, both are short, and the canoe trolley can be used.
The tour begins and ends at different locations. You paddle independently and at your own pace throughout the journey. The local transportation between the start, finish, and our canoe center in Gunnerud is included in the package. You can use public transportation to arrive at the canoe center in Gunnerud. If you arrive by car, you can leave your car at our canoe center during the tour. Experience canoeing at its on this adventure!
How does it work?
Day 1:
- We all meet at our canoe centre in Gunnerud between 13:00 and 14:00.
- Pick-up the rental equipment.
- We provide transportation to the starting point of your canoe tour.
Day 2-4(7):
- Paddle along the river Svartälven and adjoining lakes independently and at your own pace.
- Find your own camping spots in accordance with Swedish public access rights.
Day 4(7):
- We pick you up at the finish point and transport you back to Gunnerud.
- Return the rented equipment.
- Begin your journey home or on to new adventures.
Prices and departures
Period: 21st June – 19th August 2025
Departure:
7 days: Saturdays
4 days: Tuesdays and Saturdays
Time and place for arrival: 13:00 – 14:00 in Gunnerud, 95 km north of Karlstad.
Note! It is important that you keep this time!
| Canoe tour Svartälven (SEK/person) | Adult | Children 3-15 years |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days, Basic equipment | 2420 | 1210 |
| 4 days, Basic equipment | 2020 | 1010 |
“Naturkort”: The local authorities along the Svartälven charge a fee for canoe guests. This “nature card” gives you access to prepared shelters and fire places along the route. It is included in the basic price.
Groups: 14 participants minimum. 1 person free. We reserve the right to assign groups to certain camp sites. Before and after the period specified above, you may book any starting day (provided capacity is available) if you are at least four adults.
| Additions (SEK/person) | 7 days/adult | 7 days/children | 4 days/adult | 4 days/children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancellation insurance | 240 | 120 | 240 | 120 |
| Kitchen equipment | 440 | 220 | 380 | 190 |
| Provisions | 1670 | 1230 | 1350 | 960 |
| Sleeping bag | 325 | 325 | 260 | 260 |
| Tent | 960/tent | 740/tent |
Note! When booking kitchen equipment and/or food provisions, all participants in the same booking must select these items. At least 2 people are required to order kitchen equipment and provisions.
Requirements
Adults must be able to swim. Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult in the canoe. Advance booking of the package is mandatory. Cancellation insurance can be arranged at the time of booking. Participation is at your own risk. Please read our travel conditions before booking.
You are welcome to bring your dog, but you must consider the following:
– You must keep the dog leashed at the meeting point and at the building site (if you have booked a timber raft tour). It is also important that you always have the dog under supervision on the journey, because you are traveling in an area where there are wild animals.
– If you make a longer trip (3-8 days), local transport is included. If there is another person traveling in the same vehicle who is allergic to dogs, you must be prepared to transport your dog to the start of the tour yourself.
– Some dogs are very sensitive to mosquitoes. There is not much you can do, but it is usually not a problem when you are out in the canoe or on the timber raft, but can be a concern when you go ashore for the night.
– We do not have life jackets for dogs. Bring your own if your dog needs it.
– It can be long days on the river if you travel on a timber raft or paddle a canoe when the dog must be still. But if the dog likes to swim, it is usually not a major problem.
The water can only be drunk if it is boiled. The water can therefore be used for all cooking, coffee, tea, etc. On longer trips (3-8 days) you will get freshwater containers in the basic equipment that you can fill up before you set off. You don´t have to boil the water to brush your teeth or wash the dishes. Remember to bring biodegradable washing-up liquid!
Depending on which package you have booked, there are different meeting points. NOTE! If you search Vildmark i Värmland on Google, or any other search engine, you will come to our office in Torsby. NO tours start from here! You will find information where your specific meeting point is in your travel documents that you have received when you made the booking/payment. It is usually found at the end of the travel document.
It is fine to try fishing on all our different tours, but you must have a fishing license. You can purchase fishing licenses at the starting point for all tours except canoe tours that start in Torsby (Röjdån and Rottnan). If you start your canoeing in Torsby, you buy a fishing license at “ifiske.se”. (Seach: Lekvattnets FVOF for Rottnan and Velens FVOF for Röjdån)
There are always mosquitoes. How much depends on how dry, hot, and wet it is/has been. A heavy spring flood with subsequent heat brings a lot of mosquitoes. However, it is very rare that there are mosquito’s over open water. The mosquitoes are mainly active on land and in the evening. Mosquito repellent and covering clothing are the best protection. As far as it is known, the mosquitoes in this area does not carry any infections.
You can travel by bus alternatively by train from Karlstad to the meeting point of most of our packages. It all depends on which package you have booked, and which day you will arrive to us. Should you, for example, start your canoe- or timber raft trip on a Saturday or Sunday in Gunnerud, there is no bus to Gunnerud on these days. If you will arrive to Gunnerud on a Saturday or Sunday, you can travel by bus to the bus stop “Sjögränd” (just south of Gunnerud) and we can arrange a transfer free of charge to Gunnerud (if you arrive with the bus connection that is closest to the start time of your booked trip). Notify us at the time you make your booking if you need transfer.
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