Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Canoe Guide - Lagaleden
Canoe Tours in Småland/Halland: Lagaleden
The Lagaleden takes the canoeist 150 km from Unnaryd through lakes Unnen and Bolmen and into the
river Lagan which flows into the Kattegatt at Laholm. The tour takes you from the dense forests of Smaland
to the Lagan river estuary. The river is popular for canoeing and there are plenty of rest places, campsite and
small towns en route.
Start: Vallsnäs Camping, Södra Unnaryd. Unnaryd is at the north end of lake Unnen about 50 km ENE of
Halmstad. The best launching point for you canoe is from the campsite and canoe centre at Vallsnas 2 km SE
of Unnaryd.
Finish: Mouth of the Lagan NW of Laholm, just north of Mellbystrand. It may be more convenient to
complete your tour at Laholm
Transport: There is a bus service from Laholm to Bolmso, which is why I started at Bolmso. I left my
canoe at Bolmso, took my car down to Laholm and then got the bus back to Bolmso to start my tour.
Distance: 150 km
Portages: about 15 portages up to 900m
Alternative start:
a) When I canoed this tour I started at Bolmsö on Bolmen
b) Instead of starting in the Unnen or Bolmen lakes it is possible follow the Lagan 130 km from Skillingaryd
to its junction with the Bolmån. The first 30 km of this route may be unnavigable at present so an alternative
is to follow the Härån 50 km from Svenarum which joins the Lagan above Värnamo.
Maps: A good canoe map is available (Tourist offices or Kanotcenter)
Accomodation: This region operates a “Kanotcheck” system. There is a small charge for using the
overnight rest places to pay for their maintenance. You should pay in advance for these Kanotchecks,
available at the canoe centres.
The route:
a) Unnen 8 km
From Unnaryd head about 7 km south down lake Unnen. Turn NE up the Kvarnsjön to a 150m portage into
lake Bolmen.
b) Bolmen 25 km
Head east and NE until you reach the main waters of Bolmen and head to the south tip of Bolmen and into
Kafjorden. There is a 75m portage at the south end of this lake followed by a 250m portage at the dam at
Skeen.
c) Bolmån 30 km
You head down the small river Bolmån for about 5 km then cross the southern end of lake Kösen to its SE
corner where you reenter the Bolmån. There is soon a 150m portage round a dam and a couple of km later
there are rapids. These are navigable but there is a 3 km portage round them to Nöttja. Assuming you
continue down downstream you will have a 75m portage at Nöttja. Eventually you come out at lake Exen. Head
south 3 km down this lake before reentering the Bolmån at its SE corner. A further 3km will see you joining
the river Lagan.
d) Lagan 75 km
After a few km the Lagan flows into the Tovhultssjön lake. At the southern end of the lake is the town of
Traryd where you must portage 250m round the dam. Here you continue down the Lagan and into a small lake
where you have a 350 m portage at the dam at the southern end. The Lagan continues to Timsfors where
there is a 950m portage round another dam. You continue down the Lagan into a lake at Örnafälla. You leave
this lake at the western end and portage 200m round another dam. There are further dams to portage at
Majenfors, Bassalt before a 1700m portage at Knared and a 900m portage south of Skogaby and two more
portages round dams north of Ysby. Your final portage is at Laholm.
This is where I finished my tour, but you can continue another 10km down to Kattegut north of the beach
resort of Mellbystrand. The camping site at Mellbystrand is about 3 km down Coast and this would be a good
place to end your tour if the conditions at sea are placid enough for you to paddle your canoe. I’m not sure
what you would do on arrival at the sea in rough conditions.
Information:
Vallsnäs Camping
SE-31083 Unnaryd
Tel: 0371-60233
http://www.vallsnascamping.se
Camping, canoe rental and maps
Bolmåns Kanot and Fridid
S-340 13 Hamneda
0372-540 45
http://www.aagarden.com
Aagard@post.utfors.se
Canoe hire and maps
Sydsvensk Kanotleasing
Ah-ha Upplevelser I Markaryd AB
Oshult 3018.285 91 Markaryd
Tel: 043-140-18
http://www.ah-ha.nu
Info@ah-ha.nu
Canoe hire and maps
The Lagaleden takes the canoeist 150 km from Unnaryd through lakes Unnen and Bolmen and into the
river Lagan which flows into the Kattegatt at Laholm. The tour takes you from the dense forests of Smaland
to the Lagan river estuary. The river is popular for canoeing and there are plenty of rest places, campsite and
small towns en route.
Start: Vallsnäs Camping, Södra Unnaryd. Unnaryd is at the north end of lake Unnen about 50 km ENE of
Halmstad. The best launching point for you canoe is from the campsite and canoe centre at Vallsnas 2 km SE
of Unnaryd.
Finish: Mouth of the Lagan NW of Laholm, just north of Mellbystrand. It may be more convenient to
complete your tour at Laholm
Transport: There is a bus service from Laholm to Bolmso, which is why I started at Bolmso. I left my
canoe at Bolmso, took my car down to Laholm and then got the bus back to Bolmso to start my tour.
Distance: 150 km
Portages: about 15 portages up to 900m
Alternative start:
a) When I canoed this tour I started at Bolmsö on Bolmen
b) Instead of starting in the Unnen or Bolmen lakes it is possible follow the Lagan 130 km from Skillingaryd
to its junction with the Bolmån. The first 30 km of this route may be unnavigable at present so an alternative
is to follow the Härån 50 km from Svenarum which joins the Lagan above Värnamo.
Maps: A good canoe map is available (Tourist offices or Kanotcenter)
Accomodation: This region operates a “Kanotcheck” system. There is a small charge for using the
overnight rest places to pay for their maintenance. You should pay in advance for these Kanotchecks,
available at the canoe centres.
The route:
a) Unnen 8 km
From Unnaryd head about 7 km south down lake Unnen. Turn NE up the Kvarnsjön to a 150m portage into
lake Bolmen.
b) Bolmen 25 km
Head east and NE until you reach the main waters of Bolmen and head to the south tip of Bolmen and into
Kafjorden. There is a 75m portage at the south end of this lake followed by a 250m portage at the dam at
Skeen.
c) Bolmån 30 km
You head down the small river Bolmån for about 5 km then cross the southern end of lake Kösen to its SE
corner where you reenter the Bolmån. There is soon a 150m portage round a dam and a couple of km later
there are rapids. These are navigable but there is a 3 km portage round them to Nöttja. Assuming you
continue down downstream you will have a 75m portage at Nöttja. Eventually you come out at lake Exen. Head
south 3 km down this lake before reentering the Bolmån at its SE corner. A further 3km will see you joining
the river Lagan.
d) Lagan 75 km
After a few km the Lagan flows into the Tovhultssjön lake. At the southern end of the lake is the town of
Traryd where you must portage 250m round the dam. Here you continue down the Lagan and into a small lake
where you have a 350 m portage at the dam at the southern end. The Lagan continues to Timsfors where
there is a 950m portage round another dam. You continue down the Lagan into a lake at Örnafälla. You leave
this lake at the western end and portage 200m round another dam. There are further dams to portage at
Majenfors, Bassalt before a 1700m portage at Knared and a 900m portage south of Skogaby and two more
portages round dams north of Ysby. Your final portage is at Laholm.
This is where I finished my tour, but you can continue another 10km down to Kattegut north of the beach
resort of Mellbystrand. The camping site at Mellbystrand is about 3 km down Coast and this would be a good
place to end your tour if the conditions at sea are placid enough for you to paddle your canoe. I’m not sure
what you would do on arrival at the sea in rough conditions.
Information:
Vallsnäs Camping
SE-31083 Unnaryd
Tel: 0371-60233
http://www.vallsnascamping.se
Camping, canoe rental and maps
Bolmåns Kanot and Fridid
S-340 13 Hamneda
0372-540 45
http://www.aagarden.com
Aagard@post.utfors.se
Canoe hire and maps
Sydsvensk Kanotleasing
Ah-ha Upplevelser I Markaryd AB
Oshult 3018.285 91 Markaryd
Tel: 043-140-18
http://www.ah-ha.nu
Info@ah-ha.nu
Canoe hire and maps
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