Paddle in Sweden
There are not many other countries that can offer the canoeing and kayaking tourists as much as Sweden. Where else are there thousands of kilometers of coast, thousands of lakes and tens of thousands of islands to discover from a canoe or kayak. Not to mention the countless water-ways on streams and rivers, that are perfect for canoe trips.So it's not suprising that there are as much as 18 000 km to paddle to discover all the canoe routes only on Sweden's inland waters.
In this canoeing and kayaking guide we want to present paddlers abroad to Sweden's many possibilites, from whitewater-paddling in the rapids of Könkämäälv in the north to sea-kayaking along the sand-beaches of Skåne in the south.
There will also if possible be a link to a regional overview of fishing-grounds in each province map. In addition there is a nation-wide fishing guide over Sweden in English called Cinclus and the Flyfishing Magazine Rackelhanen.
Fishing in Sweden with handgear is free along the shores of the sea and the five largest lakes, Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren, Storsjön and Hjälmaren. Elsewhere special permission or fishing-license is required.
As a paddler please show consideration for fishermens along the shores and keep out of their fishing-tackle in due time or wait until the waterway is clear. Your consideration will surely be appreciated by the fishermen.
Finally, never fish from the canoe in (rapidly) flowing water, where paddling and manoevers require 100% attention. Instead, why not take a nice soothing fishing pause at the camp site in the evening.
Canoeing and fishing
Many paddlers also are interested in sport fishing as a way of recreation or to vary the outdoor cooking. So why not combine paddling and fishing. Therefor we have added links to fishing opportunities to the right in the tour presentations under the header Fishing. Here you will find information about where to buy fishing-license (often offered by the canoe rental), which species of fish you can catch and how to do it.
White water paddling
There is a standard international rating of rapids in 6 classes (I - VI). Nevertheless the descriptions differ a bit and therefor we trust in two sources, the translation from Swedish of the former club Kiruna Longdistance Paddlers rating and
Pocono Whitewater Rafting (in blue). We hope the two slightly different descriptions do not confuse but rather complete each other.
| Class | Description | Skills |
| I | Slightly agitated, flowing water with small regular waves. Easy, small regular waves, minimal steering necessary. | Novice |
| II | Slightly roaring and splashing water, sometimes with waves breaking at their tops. Few difficulties, but route mostly recognisable. Slightly more difficult with small drops. | Average paddler |
| III | Strongly roaring rapid with small falls and breaking waves. Difficult sections which demand good skill. Spraydeck, helmet and inspection of the rapids (in advance) recommended. Numerous, irregular waves with drops and holes. | Experienced paddler |
| IV | Roaring and stoney rapids with strong whirlpools. Falls with high, foamy stoppers. Sections which demand very good skill. Spraydeck, helmet and inspection of the rapids necessary. Very difficult with cross-currents, fast water, and large, irregular waves. | Very experienced |
| V | Like class IV, but stronger currents and higher falls. Very strong stoppers, dangerous back-tow. Mostly white water. Extremely difficult with exploding waves, fast and powerful currents, cross- currents, large drops and heavily obstructed river beds. | Experts |
| VI | Like class V, but even stronger currents and stoppers. Big falls. The limit of navigability. Ultimate limit of navigability. | Experts |
The degree of difficulty changes with the waterflow and is usually adapted to the most difficult conditions. However as the water level and flow tend to exceed the extremes quite often nowadays due to climate change, the rating cannot always be taken for granted.
Rating the navigability
As it's almost impossible to derive the levels I-VI for all the rapids and rivers of Sweden and the difficulties vary depending on waterlevel, we use an approximate system to decide the type or character of the tour when it comes to white water paddling. It emanates both from the qualities of the river and the paddler and a reasonable balance between the number of portages/lining and rapid runnings.We estimate that almost every paddler (perhaps except first time paddlers) can manage degree I rapids. And that the experienced paddler can master I-II and some degree III rapids. And finally that the experienced white water paddler can master I-III and some degree IV-V rapids. Here is our ranking:
| 0 | No rapids or no rapids possible (portage-s neccessary) to run. |
| 1 | Some rapids, so low in frequency that you easily can portage past if you prefer not to try. |
| 2 | Several rapids and too many to portage past all. Some of them could be run by the experienced paddlers and some should be lined or portaged past, but the number of portages should be reasonable. |
| 3 | More or less continuous white water only passable for the experienced and fully equipped white water paddler. |
The character of the water-ways in the Facts of the tour-box is described as white water paddling if it is ranked 2 or more (2-3). This ranking is also used to describe the degree of white water in the long-distance tours.
As paddlers we should also bear in mind:
National parks
Examples of national parks you may visit by kayak are the remarkable rock peak Stenshuvud on the east coast of Skåne and the archipelago idyll Ängsö, northeast of Stockholm.
Nature reserves
Animal protection areas
Here and there along the coast there are seal sanctuaries. Those are also announced on posted signs. Access to these areas is usually prohibited during breeding season (may-july) or sometimes even for the whole year.
The right of Public Access
The right of public access is not a strictly legal right, but rather an old common law or privilege in Sweden. You are welcome to stay nearly everywhere in the Swedish countryside. But you must be careful not to disturb or destroy and to follow the special rules of protected areas like nature reserves and bird protection areas.
+Do not approach or rest at private bridges or sites.
+Do not trespass onto homesites or farmland when portageing.
+Leave no traces of your stay on the campsite when you depart.
+Do not stay more than one or two nights at the same location.
+Groups should spend the night at designated campsites.
+Follow local and general fire restrictions.
National parks are the strongest form of nature protection to preserve valuable natural environments. They lie on state-owned land and consist of large un-touched areas representing different types of Swedish landscape.
Natur reserves can also include environments with strong cultural influences. They can vary in character from small sites of geological or botanical interest up to large areas with great variation.
The right of Public Access is restricted in some ways in National parks and nature reserves. There are usually signs that specify local regulations.
Bird sanctuaries are often located in areas near water. Especially during breeding season access is off limit where signs are posted (se below).