Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Canoe Guide - Strömsholms Kanal
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Canoe Tours in Västmanland: Strömsholms Kanal
I have not canoed this route.
The Strömsholms Kanal, joining Smedjebäcken to lake Mälaren and then out to Stockholm, was built to
transport iron ore and timber. 50% of the route is on lakes and the remainder is on the canal. There are good
facilities for canoeists.
Start: Smedjebäcken. Smedjebäcken is highway 66 just east of Ludvika.
Finish: Strömsholm on the Mälaren
Portages: There are 26 locks on the canal which could involve 13 portages, or you could pass through the
locks.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 101 km
Maps: A canoe map and description is available for this route.
The route:
Smedjebacken-Söderbärke-Hugnora 12 km
Launch at Smedjebacken canoe centre in the harbour area. Paddle down Norra Barken and into Södra
Barken.
Hugnora-Fagersta-Västanfors 19 km
As you approach Fagersta paddle into the canal on the right, not under the bridge to the power station. There
are 4 sets of locks to portage before reaching Stora Aspen at Västanfors.
Västanfors-Ängelsberg-Virsbo 14 km
Pass from Stora Aspen into Lilla Aspen and reach Virsbo at the south end of this lake and portage into
Visbosjön.
Virsbo-Seglingsberg-Ramnäs 16 km
Paddle down a mixture of lake and stream to Seglingsberg where you will need to portage and paddle to the
right of the island shortly afterwards. You will need to portage at Ramnäs.
Ramnäs-Surahammar-Ålsätra 17 km
Continue down stream and small lakes to Surahammar where there is the next portage and then on to
Ålsätra for another portage.
Ålsätra-Hallstahammar-Kolbäck-Strömsholm 18 km
At Hallstahammar there is a 750 m portage past two sets of locks. The next section of the Strömsholms
Kanal is also known as the Kolbäcksän Kanal. There are portages at Sörstafors and at Mölntorp, where you
shold stay well clear of the power station on the right and finish the tour at Strömsholm. It is a few km from
Strömsholm to lake Mälaren.
Information:
Strömsholms Kanal AB
Box 506
734 27 Hallstahammar
Tel; 0220-100 11
http://www.stromsholmskanal.se/kanot/kanot_eng.html
info@stromsholmskanal.se
There is a good downloadable map and detailed route description on their website
Naturarvskompaniet
Handelsbobacken 2
Kloten
714 91 Kopparberg
Phone: +46 (0)580 31007
http://www.naturarvskompaniet.se/eng/index.html
Mikael.Nilsson@naturarvskompaniet.se
Canoe hire, transport, maps and information
The website has downloadable maps and details of the canal and other canoe tours in Västmanland.
Skantzö Bad & Camping
Box 506, 734 27 Hallstahammar
Tel 0220-240 00
http://www.hallstahammar.se/-/turism/skantzobad&camping/kanoting
Canoe hire
I have not canoed this route.
The Strömsholms Kanal, joining Smedjebäcken to lake Mälaren and then out to Stockholm, was built to
transport iron ore and timber. 50% of the route is on lakes and the remainder is on the canal. There are good
facilities for canoeists.
Start: Smedjebäcken. Smedjebäcken is highway 66 just east of Ludvika.
Finish: Strömsholm on the Mälaren
Portages: There are 26 locks on the canal which could involve 13 portages, or you could pass through the
locks.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 101 km
Maps: A canoe map and description is available for this route.
The route:
Smedjebacken-Söderbärke-Hugnora 12 km
Launch at Smedjebacken canoe centre in the harbour area. Paddle down Norra Barken and into Södra
Barken.
Hugnora-Fagersta-Västanfors 19 km
As you approach Fagersta paddle into the canal on the right, not under the bridge to the power station. There
are 4 sets of locks to portage before reaching Stora Aspen at Västanfors.
Västanfors-Ängelsberg-Virsbo 14 km
Pass from Stora Aspen into Lilla Aspen and reach Virsbo at the south end of this lake and portage into
Visbosjön.
Virsbo-Seglingsberg-Ramnäs 16 km
Paddle down a mixture of lake and stream to Seglingsberg where you will need to portage and paddle to the
right of the island shortly afterwards. You will need to portage at Ramnäs.
Ramnäs-Surahammar-Ålsätra 17 km
Continue down stream and small lakes to Surahammar where there is the next portage and then on to
Ålsätra for another portage.
Ålsätra-Hallstahammar-Kolbäck-Strömsholm 18 km
At Hallstahammar there is a 750 m portage past two sets of locks. The next section of the Strömsholms
Kanal is also known as the Kolbäcksän Kanal. There are portages at Sörstafors and at Mölntorp, where you
shold stay well clear of the power station on the right and finish the tour at Strömsholm. It is a few km from
Strömsholm to lake Mälaren.
Information:
Strömsholms Kanal AB
Box 506
734 27 Hallstahammar
Tel; 0220-100 11
http://www.stromsholmskanal.se/kanot/kanot_eng.html
info@stromsholmskanal.se
There is a good downloadable map and detailed route description on their website
Naturarvskompaniet
Handelsbobacken 2
Kloten
714 91 Kopparberg
Phone: +46 (0)580 31007
http://www.naturarvskompaniet.se/eng/index.html
Mikael.Nilsson@naturarvskompaniet.se
Canoe hire, transport, maps and information
The website has downloadable maps and details of the canal and other canoe tours in Västmanland.
Skantzö Bad & Camping
Box 506, 734 27 Hallstahammar
Tel 0220-240 00
http://www.hallstahammar.se/-/turism/skantzobad&camping/kanoting
Canoe hire