Ljusne paddeltur

A paddle among great history and small islands

Of course, it's impossible to describe canoeing routes in Söderhamn without including Ljusne. This busy industrial town that supplied Sweden and the whole world with sawn timber, iron, plywood, board and chain now lives a quieter existence at the mouth of Ljusnan and with the sea close by. Here, people want to paddle and honor the many powerful day's work done by women and men. Hence this little trip among the memories of the mill town's glory days.

Drive to Ljusne village. Put in the kayak on the north side of Ljusnan. You can also stop at Ljusnefors Camping on the south side of the river, by the old cabins. At both places you will find suitable parking spaces and many good launching sites. You will be in the company of the many salmon fishermen who are always here.

Aim for Lillgrytan on the south side of Ljusnan. Lillgrytan and all the other small islands here have all been important for the rafting of timber down to the saws by the sea. The large Ala saw is still in operation, but not the rafting. You paddle in a veritable rafting museum, with crumbling quays and lots of iron rings in stones. Lillgrytan also has a small lighthouse that you can climb up into. And - there's also a newly built footbridge that connects the small island to the mainland. Here on Lillgrytan you can camp and have a fantastic view of the Southern Bothnian Sea.

As you paddle around all the small islands with all the seabirds, you will come to the old logging cabin on Granholmen. You can also go relatively unprotected to Vallvik harbor, which combines a modern facility with old memories from the past. You can read about Vallvik in the tour "Vallvik-Storjungfrun-Trollharen, Jungfrukusten".

Yes, this little tour is suitable for an evening paddle or as an overnight trip. It is relatively easy, but beware of the flowing water in the river channel. If you want to avoid it, put in at the campsite. The trip is not very long, about five or six kilometers back and forth, but it takes you, as I said, a hundred years back in time.

Back in Ljusne again, you can go up Vårdberget and look out over the sea, and then you can visit the fine art gallery in the old factory premises, and visit Snodda's grave, and have a coffee at the kondiset in the middle of the village. And the fantastic industrial museum is not to be missed.

Tour overview

Type of paddling: Exercise kayaking and sea kayaking

Paddling experience: Beginners

Length of the trip: About 5-6 km

Sights: History, cultural environments