Canoe tour Klarälven
Its serpentine meanderings and gently flowing water makes Klarälven the ideal canoe tour for the whole family.
7 days/6 nights (100km) or 4 days/3 nights (50km)
Our canoe tours on the river Klarälven are perfect for the whole family as it is free from rapids and power plants. You paddle along the river and choose where you want to camp along the way. We organize all local transportation for your convenience and for environmental sustainability. Arrive at our canoe center in Gunnerud by public bus or car, and we take care of your transport to the starting point. Your journey along the river leads you back towards the canoe center.
Canoe Klarälven
The package includes:
Things you can rent/buy from us
- Tent (accommodates 3-4 people).
- Sleeping bag and sleeping pad.
- Cooking equipment, including a portable stove for preparing meals.
- Food for the entire stay, which you will prepare yourself during the trip.
Things you need to bring
- Clothing suitable for changing weather, including rain gear and a complete change of clothes. Extra shoes or boots.
- If you haven’t rented a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, or cooking equipment from us, you will need to bring your own.
- Food is an important part of the outdoor experience, and fresh air can make you extra hungry. Make sure to bring enough food if you haven’t ordered our provisioning package. You will pass through some villages, where there are options to buy food in the small local grocery stores.
- Please note that if you wish to stay at campgrounds, you will pay for this directly to the respective campground.
- Local transport to the starting point.
- Can be combined with short hikes along Klarälven’s tributaries.
- For children, the canoe can be equipped with an extra seat.
The Klarälven river runs the length of Värmland, from north to south. Moreover, its serpentine meanderings make it a major feature of the Värmland landscape. In addition, its waters flow gently, while the surrounding landscape ranges from steep valleys to flat, cultivated land.
If you choose the 4-day package, you can actually make the tour without staying in a tent. For instance, there are campsites with cabins at reasonable distances along the river where you can book your accommodation. Once you have made a booking, you will receive travel documents with information about the campsite locations. Then, you simply contact the campsites yourself to confirm your accommodation.
How does it work?
Day 1:
- We meet at our canoe centre in Gunnerud between 13:00 and 14:00.
- Pick-up the rental equipment.
- We provide transportation to the starting point of your canoe tour.
Day 2-4(7):
- Paddle along the river Klarälven independently and at your own pace.
- Find your own camping spots in accordance with Swedish public access rights.
Day 4(7):
- Arrive back to Gunnerud.
- Return the rented equipment.
- Begin your journey home or on to new adventures.
Note! If you choose the 4 days package, you can complete this without having to stay in a tent. There are campsites with cabins at a suitable distance along the river, where you can book your accommodation. We will inform you about these campsites, and you can then contact them directly regarding your overnight stay.
Prices and departures
Period: 21nd June – 16th August 2026
Departure: Thursdays and Sundays
Time and place for arrival: 13.00-14.00 in Gunnerud, 95 km north of Karlstad.
Note! It is important that you keep this time!
| Canoe Klarälven (SEK/person) | Adult | Children 3-15 years |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days, Basic equipment | 2140 | 1070 |
| 4 days, Basic equipment | 1850 | 925 |
Groups: 14 participants minimum. 1 person free. We reserve the right to assign groups to certain camp sites. Before and after the period specified above, you may book any starting day (provided capacity is available) if you are at least four adults.
| Additional eq. (SEK/person) | 7 days/adult | 7 days/children | 4 days/adult | 4 days/children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancellation insurance | 290 | 145 | 290 | 145 |
| Kitchen equipment | 440 | 220 | 380 | 190 |
| Provisions | 1690 | 1240 | 1370 | 970 |
| Sleeping bag | 330 | 330 | 280 | 280 |
| Tent | 960/tent | 740/tent |
Note! When booking kitchen equipment and/or food provisions, all participants in the same booking must select these items. At least 2 people are required to order kitchen equipment and provisions.
Requirements
Adults must be able to swim. Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult in the canoe. Advance booking of the package is mandatory. Cancellation insurance can be arranged at the time of booking. Participation is at your own risk. Please read our travel conditions before booking.
Faq
Can we fish in Klarälven?
Yes! Fishing permits are sold at check-in in Gunnerud. There are many types of fish in Klarälven, but the most common are perch, pike, trout, and grayling. Make sure the fish is large enough if you intend to keep it — otherwise release it back into the water. More information is available at: www.ifiske.se
Can we see wildlife while paddling Klarälven?
There is a good chance of seeing beavers at dusk and dawn. However, they have excellent hearing, so you must remain quiet. If you’re lucky, you may also see moose coming down to the river to drink — or even swimming across from one side to the other.
Can we shop along Klarälven?
Yes. If you paddle 7 days/6 nights, there are four places where you can shop. If you paddle 4 days/3 nights, there are two places where you can shop. There are also 5 campsites with kiosks or small grocery selections in their receptions along the southern stretch, which both tours follow. The last town you pass is Ekshärad, where there are several grocery stores, restaurants, and fast-food options.
What characterizes Klarälven?
- Calm flowing water throughout the entire paddle
- No portages
- Never far to shore
- Usually not very windy, as the river flows through a valley
- Clear, fresh water
- Lots of sand along the shores and in the river
- Possibility to camp on sandy islands (if the water level allows)
- Special meandering bends
Are there campsites along Klarälven?
There are only a couple of places with wind shelters, outdoor toilets, and prepared fireplaces. One overnight stay at Klarälvens Camping is included in the package.
What our guests say about us
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Klarälven – the artery of Värmland
The river Klarälven in Värmland was once the main transportation route for an industry that has faded into history – log driving. For centuries, logs from the vast forests along the Swedish and Norwegian boarder were transported by the river’s current to sawmills and pulp mills further down south. Sometimes the entire river could be filled with tree trunks, and it was a popular test of courage among the children and youth of the region to jump from log to log, to get from one side of the river to the other.
Throughout history and into today, various work professions and ways of life are closely connected to the river Klarälven. In addition to log driving, the river served as a vital transportation route for people and goods. A pilgrimage trail followed the riverbanks of the Klarälven through the whole of Värmland, facilitating trade and communication with nearby villages and towns. Fishermen and farmers relied on the river for their livelihoods.
Today, when canoeing on the river Klarälven, you can still see the rivers significance to the region. Luckily, you can enjoy paddling down the river without having to contend with floating logs. Enjoy the tranquil, reflective surface of the water as you glide along in your canoe.