Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Canoe Guide - Ätran
Canoe Tours in Västergötland/Halland: Ätran
This tour follows the Ätran from Ulricehamn to Falkenburg on the Kattegut. It is a varied river with about
20% paddling on lakes. There are some easy rapids and you will need to portage past a number of dams
Start: Ulricehamn: Ulricehamn is on route 40 east of Borås.
Finish: Falkenburg
Transport: You can get from Falkenburg to Ulricehamn by bus or a combination of bus and train.
Distance: 160 km
Maps: I am not aware of a canoe map for the route, but I have found a route description available in Swedish.
Route extension: It is possible to start about 30km further north along the Ätran at Trädet. This section could
be unnavigable at low water levels.
Alternative start: You could start at Fegen and canoe the Fegen lakes to join the Ätran at Östra Frölunda.
Portages: About 15 portages, up to 3 km, depending on water level and whether you portage any rapids.
Difficulty: Medium. There are some easy rapids on the route
The route:
Launch at the campsite/beach at Ulricehamn and paddle 20 km down lake Åsunden and into Yttre Åsunden.
Head west across this smaller lake to enter the Ätran at a dam. There are a number of dams to portage and
rapids to inspect before shooting or portaging in the 60 km past Svenljunga to Östra Frölunda. Here the Lillån
joins from the Fegen lakes. There are further dams to portage and occasional small rapids to inspect as you pass
Ätrån, Ullared, Vessigebro to Falkenberg. It is probably easiest to end your tour at the dam on the outskirts of
Falkenberg at Hertig.
Distances and portages:
0 km Launch at Ulricehamn and paddle down lake Åsunden.
19 km Exit from lake Åsunden
21 km Portage on right at power station
25 km Portage at rapids
27 km Either shoot rapids or portage on the right
28 km Hillared
32 km Either shoot rapids or portage on the left
33 km Buttorp: Portage 300m on right at a weir
34 km Either shoot rapids or portage on the right
37 km Sexdrega
45 km Land on right to inspect rapid and weir. You can portage on right.
50 km Portage 300m on right at power station
52 km Svenljunga
63 km Axelfors: Portage 600m on right at dam.
81 km Östra Frölunda
83 km Lillån joins
92 km Portage 300m on left at rapids
94 km Mårdaklev. You could end your tour here.
102 km 3 km portage at Skåpanäs power station
117 km Ätrån. You could end your tour here. (I did)
123 km Ballforsen Power Station. Portage 80m on left
128 km Yngeredsfors Power Station. Portage 2 km on right.
134 km Atrafors Power Station. Portage. (I’m unsure of details)
140 km Inspect the rapids. You can portage 1 km on right.
143 km Vessige
157 km Hertig Power Station. Take out on the left. You could end your tour here
170 km Kattegatt near Falkenberg.
Information:
Fegenkioskens Kanotcenter
Tel: 0346-61195
Camping and canoe hire
Ulricehamn Tourist Office
0321-271-75
Route description (German)
Kanu DKV-Auslandsführer Band 4: Skandinavien
This tour follows the Ätran from Ulricehamn to Falkenburg on the Kattegut. It is a varied river with about
20% paddling on lakes. There are some easy rapids and you will need to portage past a number of dams
Start: Ulricehamn: Ulricehamn is on route 40 east of Borås.
Finish: Falkenburg
Transport: You can get from Falkenburg to Ulricehamn by bus or a combination of bus and train.
Distance: 160 km
Maps: I am not aware of a canoe map for the route, but I have found a route description available in Swedish.
Route extension: It is possible to start about 30km further north along the Ätran at Trädet. This section could
be unnavigable at low water levels.
Alternative start: You could start at Fegen and canoe the Fegen lakes to join the Ätran at Östra Frölunda.
Portages: About 15 portages, up to 3 km, depending on water level and whether you portage any rapids.
Difficulty: Medium. There are some easy rapids on the route
The route:
Launch at the campsite/beach at Ulricehamn and paddle 20 km down lake Åsunden and into Yttre Åsunden.
Head west across this smaller lake to enter the Ätran at a dam. There are a number of dams to portage and
rapids to inspect before shooting or portaging in the 60 km past Svenljunga to Östra Frölunda. Here the Lillån
joins from the Fegen lakes. There are further dams to portage and occasional small rapids to inspect as you pass
Ätrån, Ullared, Vessigebro to Falkenberg. It is probably easiest to end your tour at the dam on the outskirts of
Falkenberg at Hertig.
Distances and portages:
0 km Launch at Ulricehamn and paddle down lake Åsunden.
19 km Exit from lake Åsunden
21 km Portage on right at power station
25 km Portage at rapids
27 km Either shoot rapids or portage on the right
28 km Hillared
32 km Either shoot rapids or portage on the left
33 km Buttorp: Portage 300m on right at a weir
34 km Either shoot rapids or portage on the right
37 km Sexdrega
45 km Land on right to inspect rapid and weir. You can portage on right.
50 km Portage 300m on right at power station
52 km Svenljunga
63 km Axelfors: Portage 600m on right at dam.
81 km Östra Frölunda
83 km Lillån joins
92 km Portage 300m on left at rapids
94 km Mårdaklev. You could end your tour here.
102 km 3 km portage at Skåpanäs power station
117 km Ätrån. You could end your tour here. (I did)
123 km Ballforsen Power Station. Portage 80m on left
128 km Yngeredsfors Power Station. Portage 2 km on right.
134 km Atrafors Power Station. Portage. (I’m unsure of details)
140 km Inspect the rapids. You can portage 1 km on right.
143 km Vessige
157 km Hertig Power Station. Take out on the left. You could end your tour here
170 km Kattegatt near Falkenberg.
Information:
Fegenkioskens Kanotcenter
Tel: 0346-61195
Camping and canoe hire
Ulricehamn Tourist Office
0321-271-75
Route description (German)
Kanu DKV-Auslandsführer Band 4: Skandinavien
 |  |  |  |