Guide to paddling the Kinda Canal
Kinda kanal and its Lake System has fine paddling water for the major part of the year. Canoe jetties are found adjacent to all locks so that you can carry around the locks. During the normal high season, you are welcome to try lock passage.
The conditions are that Canadian canoes and kayaks only pass downstream for safety sake and then in groups of minimum five canoes with a lock fee of 50kr per canoe and lock. We therefore generally recommend that you lift your canoe/kayak and carry it around the lock on land. Happy travels!
Hjulsbro-Linköping
Distance: appr. 7 km
A great stretch in Linköping is the stretch between Hjulsbro Lock and central Linköping (sandy beach by Scandic City).
If you have your own kayak you can drive the car up to the kayak jetty at Hjulsbro Lock. When you have unloaded the kayak, drive several hundred meters to Hjulsbrobadet baths and park. From there you can walk back to the kayaks. If you don’t have your own kayak but want to paddle anyway you can rent one at Grebo Kayak or Linköping Kayak, who will drive the kayaks out to you at the starting point and collect them at the finishing point.
If you begin at Hjulsbro as a starting point, you can easily get there with public transport bus number 16 from Linköping Travel Centre to Hjulsbro school (17 min) and walk circa 5 minutes to Hjulsbro Lock.
Paddling begins at Hjulsbro Lock. Here the difference level is so small that the lock always stands open. Continue paddling to Hackefors Lock. Here you will pass villas with green gardens on the outskirts of Linköping. The canal feels broader here.
After 1 kilometre paddling you arrive at Hackefors Lock – northern Europe’s highest single lock.
The next stretch is from Hackefors Lock to Tannefors Locks, a stretch of 4.2 kilometres. Passing more leafy villa districts you slowly approach central Linköping.
The last paddling trip is from Tannefors Locks to the sandy beach at the Scandic City Hotel. This is a stretch of 3 kilometres. Glide past the lovely central parts of Linköping. At the sandy beach by The Scandic City there is a kayak jetty where you moor and lift your kayak out.
Note! If you want to pass through a lock along this stretch you must be in a group of at least five canoes/kayaks (Lock fee of 50 kr per canoe and lock). We recommend that you lift out your canoes/kayaks and carry them around the lock on land.
Well done!
Paddling in both the excavated canal and beautiful Lake Stora Rängen
Distance: approximately 9.5 km
Moor your own kayak at Hovetorp Locks or rent a kayak from Linköping Kajak or Outdoor Times. They can help with transporting kayaks to Hovetorp Locks and then collecting them at Vårdnäs Stiftsgård Centre when you have finished.
Come with your own car to Hovetorp Locks or take the bus (number 566) from Linköping Travel Centre for example (24 min). Go to the harbour in Hovetorp and leave from the kayak jetty. Launch and paddle first through the narrow excavated canal sections for 2.5 kilometres. After that the paddling is in Lake Stora Rängen. Passing islands with rocks and hamlets of houses and lovely gardens. Paddling on the lake is 7 kilometres. Always paddle near the shore to be on the safe side.
Once you arrive at Vårdnäs Stiftsgård Centre, pull up your kayak and breathe out. At Vårdnäs Stiftsgård it is a good idea to eat lunch or dinner or even stay overnight.
If you take the bus it is 1 kilometre to the bus stop from Vårdnäs Stiftsgård. Take bus 566 to Linköping Travel Centre (40 min).
Vårdnäs as a starting point
Distance: Free choice
Vårdnäs Stiftsgård is a good starting point for canoers who want to discover fine parts of the Kinda Canal.
From Vårdnäs Stiftsgård it is possible to paddle both north out into Lake Stora Rängen and also west and south into Lake Lilla Rängen and on to the resort of Brokind and Brokind Lock. For those who want to paddle a bit further it is also possible to paddle through/carry around Brokind Lock and paddle on to Viggeby Nature Reserve with splendid rocks as well as sandy beaches.
There are kayaks and canoes for rent at the Vårdnäs Stiftsgård. Take your own car to Vårdnäs or bus 566 from Linköping Travel centre (40 min), then a 1000-meter walk to the facility.
Rimforsa as a starting point (Lake Järnlunden)
Distance: Free choice
Lovely canoeing on Lake Järnlunden with lots of rocky islands. It’s your choice how far you go.
Rimforsa community is a good starting point for paddling in Lake Järnlunden. If you have your own kayak you can park by the harbour in Rimforsa and set your kayak in at the jetty. If you want to rent you can do so from Linköping Kajak or Grebo Kajak. If you want more luxury you can rent a kayak from Rimforsa Beach where you can stay overnight.
You can also rent a kayak or canoe from Liljeholmen Herrgård in Rimforsa, where you can also stay overnight.
You can get to Rimforsa with your own car, by bus or by train. From the Travel Centre it is a 1000-meter walk to the harbour. If you go to Liljeholmen Herrgård from the Travel Centre, the walk is circa 1700 meters.
Begin kayaking in Rimforsa through the veteran boat harbour and then on through Rimforsa Canal. Then you will come out into Lake Järnlunden. Here there are many newly built houses to see as Rimforsa is developing at high speed. The lake also has several lovely islands and rocks to make forays onto. You choose yourself how far you want to paddle.
Then paddle back to the starting point in Rimforsa when you have had enough.
Rimforsa as a starting point (Lake Järnlunden)
Distance: Free choice
Lovely canoeing on Lake Järnlunden with lots of rocky islands. It’s your choice how far you go.
Rimforsa community is a good starting point for paddling in Lake Järnlunden. If you have your own kayak you can park by the harbour in Rimforsa and set your kayak in at the jetty. If you want to rent you can do so from Linköping Kajak or Grebo Kajak. If you want more luxury you can rent a kayak from Rimforsa Beach where you can stay overnight.
You can also rent a kayak or canoe from Liljeholmen Herrgård in Rimforsa, where you can also stay overnight.
You can get to Rimforsa with your own car, by bus or by train. From the Travel Centre it is a 1000-meter walk to the harbour. If you go to Liljeholmen Herrgård from the Travel Centre, the walk is circa 1700 meters.
Begin kayaking in Rimforsa through the veteran boat harbour and then on through Rimforsa Canal. Then you will come out into Lake Järnlunden. Here there are many newly built houses to see as Rimforsa is developing at high speed. The lake also has several lovely islands and rocks to make forays onto. You choose yourself how far you want to paddle.
Then paddle back to the starting point in Rimforsa when you have had enough.
Rimforsa as a starting point (Lake Åsunden)
Distance: Free choice
Rimforsa community is a good starting point for Lake Åsunden. Choose yourself how far you want to paddle.
If you have your own kayak you can park by the harbour in Rimforsa and launch the kayak at the jetty there. If you want to rent you can do so from Linköping Kajak or Grebo Kajak. If you want more luxury you can rent a kayak from Rimforsa Beach when you stay there overnight.
You can also rent a kayak or canoe from Liljeholmen Herrgård in Rimforsa where you can also stay overnight.
You can get to Rimforsa with your own car, by bus or by train. From the Travel Centre it is a 1000-meter walk to the harbour. If you go to Liljeholmen Herrgård from the Travel Centre, the walk is circa 1700 meters.
It’s your own choice how far you want to paddle. Paddle contentedly along, make forays onto beaches and lie in the sun or paddle long distances. If you want to you can paddle the whole way south to the end of Lake Åsunden (and the Kinda kanal) in Horn, a stretch of 30 km! The southern part of Lake Åsunden is a large lake where there can sometimes be harsher weather and bigger waves. Plan your kayaking according to the weather!
Here you can choose to paddle back to where you started or agree with Linköping Kajak or Outdoor Times that they meet you where it is best for you.
Paddling from Rimforsa community to Vårdnäs Stiftsgård
Distance:19 km
A lovely kayaking trip of 19 kilometres on Lakes Åsunden, Järnlunden and Lilla Rängen.
Begin your kayaking in Rimforsa harbour and paddle to Vårdnäs Stiftsgård. On the way you pass Rimforsa Canal, large luxury lakeside houses by Järnlunden, lovely flat rock islands, perfect for forays, the Viggeby Nature Reserve with its beautiful landscape and delightful bathing spots. You pass Brokind Lock where magnificent Brokind Manor lies. Paddle on north and you will eventually come to Vårdnäs Stiftsgård.
Note! If you want to pass through the Brokind Lock you must be in a group of at least five canoes/kayaks (lock fee of 50 kr per canoe and lock). We recommend that you lift out your canoes/kayaks and carry them around the lock on land.
Björkfors as a starting point (Lake Björkern and/or Lake Åsunden)
Distance: Free choice
The Björkfors community lies in the south eastern part of the Kinda kanal area. Here the countryside is more dramatic with steep mountains. Björkfors is a good starting point for kayaking in either Lake Åsunden or Lake Björkern. Or why not combine paddling in both lakes with an overnight stay at Björkfors Kajak & Hostel? Here you can also rent kayaks and canoes and get information on the Lake System. You can reach Björkfors in your own car or with public transport to Rimforsa or Kisa and from there order what is called “närtrafik” to be driven to Björkfors.
In west Björkfors community there is a kayak jetty in Lake Åsunden and in the more central part of Björkfors there is a kayak jetty for Lake Björkern.
Björken is a smaller lake which is circa 7 kilometres long and has no water connection with Lake Åsunden and the Kinda kanal. You can paddle to Drabo Hälsobrunn or make a beach foray at Valö Café and function rooms. There is a sandy beach and café with both snacks and meals. On certain days entertainment is on offer. There are also 2 nature reserves that you can visit if you want to combine kayaking with hiking.
Lake Åsunden has many beautiful exciting uninhabited islands that you can paddle round and visit. This is a virtual paradise for kayakers. You can paddle to Horn and Hycklinge or visit Östergötland’s largest ship barrow Gumhem. You can paddle as far as you like as it is a large lake and sits at the top of the whole lake system, Kinda kanal up to Linköping in the north.
Paddling the whole Kinda kanal from Björkfors or Horn in the south to Linköping in the north
Distance: 80 km
It is a real adventure to paddle the whole way up to Linköping. The stretch goes through Lakes Åsunden, Järnlunden, Stora and Lilla Rängen and Ärlången. In the canal are several locks that you must carry your canoes around so a canoe trolley will help. Along the trail you will pass, among other things, the nature reserves of Hackelboö, Viggeby, Brokind and Sturefors and the beautiful cultural landscapes of Brokinds, Bjärka Säby and Sturefors castle.
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