Dalsland · Nordmarken · Sweden
Canoe the Dalsland lakes
Hundreds of connected lakes between Bengtsfors and the Norwegian border, with free wild camping on rocky islands. Everything you need to plan a multi-day canoe trip, checked for the current season.
Read the complete guide →Dalsland at a glance
- Lake system
- 1,000+ km of waterways
- Typical trip
- 3–8 days
- Season
- mid May – mid Sept
- Overnight
- Wild camping, nature card
- Central base
- Gustavsfors (Lelång)
- Nearest airports
- Oslo · Gothenburg
Plan your trip
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How do you plan a canoe trip in Dalsland? The complete guide for 2027
Base, dates, route length, nature card, locks, gear and travel: everything you need to plan a multi-day canoe trip in Dalsland in 2027.
Where should you start a canoe trip in Dalsland?
Why your base decides a Dalsland canoe trip: middle versus edge of the lake system, every rental base compared, and where we would start.
When is the best time to canoe in Dalsland?
Month by month: water temperature, daylight, mosquitoes, crowds and rental availability for canoeing in Dalsland, plus when to book for July.
Can you wild camp on a canoe trip in Dalsland?
Allemansrätten, the DANO campsites and wind shelters, the nature card, and the fire rules and fire bans for camping on a Dalsland canoe trip.
Do you need a nature card to canoe in Dalsland–Nordmarken?
What the DANO nature conservation card is, who needs it, what it costs per night, where to buy it and what the money pays for.
Which canoe routes can you paddle in Dalsland, from 3 to 8 days?
Canoe routes of 3, 5 and 7–8 days in the Dalsland–Nordmarken lakes, with lakes, rough distances, locks and portages, from a base between Lelång and Västra Silen.
How do you canoe through the locks of the Dalsland Canal?
Lock fees for canoes, the 10-trip clip card, 2026 opening hours, the Håverud aqueduct and what to do when a lock is closed.
Latest updates
Can you wild camp on a canoe trip in Dalsland?
Allemansrätten, the DANO campsites and wind shelters, the nature card, and the fire rules and fire bans for camping on a Dalsland canoe trip.
Which canoe routes can you paddle in Dalsland, from 3 to 8 days?
Canoe routes of 3, 5 and 7–8 days in the Dalsland–Nordmarken lakes, with lakes, rough distances, locks and portages, from a base between Lelång and Västra Silen.
Do you need a nature card to canoe in Dalsland–Nordmarken?
What the DANO nature conservation card is, who needs it, what it costs per night, where to buy it and what the money pays for.