Vänern – The Sea of Värmland
Vänern is like the sea – yet not – instead you are met with a lake rich in culture, experiences, and archipelago life. Vänern offers sea-like environments with bare cliffs and skerries, large sandy beaches, and shallow bays. It features 22,000 islands, islets, and skerries. Other types of environments include species-rich coastal meadows, deciduous swamp forests, and large bird and wetland areas.
Some of the rivers flowing into Vänern include the Klarälven, Upperudsälven, Byälven, Norsälven, Tidan, and Lidan. From Vänern’s outlet, the water continues via the Göta River to the sea.
Activities at Vänern
In Hamnen i Borgvik, there is a beautiful view over the northern Vänern archipelago. Here you have the opportunity to rent kayaks and canoes for the more adventurous. Take a trip in Borgvik Lake and Grums Fjord, which is a lake system connected to Vänern. If you’re lucky, you might see beavers and birds of prey as you silently paddle through the calm waters. For the more experienced, a kayak trip on the open waters of Storvänern with deserted islands in nature reserve areas is recommended, with or without a guide.
In Kristinehamn’s archipelago, you can enjoy sandy beaches and bathing cliffs as you paddle around Vålösundet past the Picasso sculpture and out towards Vålön/Kalvön/Sibberön.
To Säffle’s pleasant and well-kept guest harbors, you can easily travel by boat to explore Vikingaleden. Take a trip with the Lurö Boat from Säffle out to Lurö or Läckö. The Lurö archipelago is known far beyond Sweden’s borders for its beautiful nature and unique fauna. On Lurö, an island in the middle of Vänern, you can hike along cliffs, on paths, and among lush trees, and stay overnight at the guest harbor inn. You can also see traces of Lurö’s rich history in the ruins of the monastery church and brick kilns, cultivation piles and net sheds, meadows, and a small schoolhouse.
Beaches at Vänern
The most famous beaches are Bomstad and Skutberget, but there are countless bays, islands, and beaches along Vänern.
Fishing in Vänern
Vänern is the lake with the most fish species in Sweden. Vänern offers great fishing waters and here it’s free to fish with a rod. You can head out to a number of islands with tour boats or participate in a trolling charter.
In Vänern, you find excellent fishing waters with over 30 species of freshwater fish. The most common fish are smelt and then vendace. You can catch, among others, perch, pike, and zander, and here you find Europe’s best waters for salmon and trout fishing. Spring and autumn fishing are highly appreciated. Vänern is the country’s most significant lake for commercial fishing and today about 80 professional fishermen annually catch approximately 600 tons of fish.
Stay overnight by Vänern
Duse Udde Camping is a real gem in beautiful surroundings. The nature offers fine nature and bike trails, and a rich wildlife, fantastic swimming opportunities with child-friendly sandy beaches and cozy cliffs. With a fantastic view over the Väner sea, the more than a hundred years old lighthouse now serves as a cozy restaurant and café. Its proximity to Vänern makes Duse Udde a paradise for water sports such as windsurfing and fishing. The campsite can also boast its own guest harbor.
The guest harbor, campsite and restaurant at Ekenäs are popular. Here you can rent both bicycles and kayaks and you can hike along Vänern‘s shore on the 1 km long trail out to Ladholmen’s southern tip with a beautiful panoramic view over Vänern. Here is a wind shelter with a prepared barbecue area. This part of the trail is also wheelchair accessible. If you want to hike a bit further, the Pilgrim Trail stretches from Lurö in Säffle all the way up to Arvika and Eda municipalities.
Karlstad Swecamp Bomstadbaden is one of Värmland’s Rivieras and a holiday paradise located by the shores of Vänern. Here you’ll experience days filled with obstacle courses, leader-led children’s activities, hiking in nearby outdoor areas and summery entertainment evenings. Or relaxed moments with a mini spa, Jacuzzi & sauna, beach hangouts, and mushroom picking in tranquil surroundings.
At Skutberget, you are offered a facility with cabins and camping spots. The outdoor area features beach volleyball, disc golf, mini golf, soccer fields, mountain bike tracks, electric cars, windsurfing, kayaks, and other water activities. Additionally, there are barbecue areas and jogging tracks – which have been rated as Sweden’s Best exercise tracks.
The Coastal Town in the Heart of the Country
From Kristinehamn, there are many roads out to the archipelago whether you have your own boat or not. With the tour boats, you can easily reach the islands of Vålön, Kalvön (from here you can also continue to Sibberön), Alvön, and Långön. You can also travel from the center through Vålösundet and disembark at Vålösundsbryggan right next to Kristinehamn’s famous Picasso sculpture. It’s also possible to walk or cycle along the coastal promenade (Vålösundsvägen) out towards the archipelago. The kids can join in on a pirate adventure. Buy a quest bag at Kristinehamn’s tourist office and help the pirates in their hunt for the Bojort which the archenemies the scissors have stolen.
Find Your Archipelago Favorite
Take the wooden boat Stöten out to the paradise for families and Kristinehamn’s largest island, Vålön. The boat departs from Vålösundsbryggan in Kristinehamn several times a day (Tuesday-Sunday), and twice a day you can also travel all the way from the center and enjoy the beautiful Vålösundet. On the island Vålön, you will find the popular Sandvikarna with both shallow sandy beaches and a playground. If you get hungry, there are opportunities for grilling and picnicking.
If you want to stretch your legs, you can hike between the three islands, Vålön-Kalvön-Sibberön. The hiking trail is 4 km one way, and along the path, you can take a dip or look out over the Vänern archipelago. On Kalvön, you can also stay overnight at the excellent camping sites and wake up to the lapping waves.
Alvön is often called the sunbathing island, a name that fits well considering the island’s many polished and softly shaped cliffs that are often empty and just waiting to welcome sunbathers. Bring a tent and enjoy the beautiful sunset over Vänern.
Långön is a real little gem with many beautiful natural harbors. Here you can easily find your own cliff and there are several open areas where you can set up a tent. There is also a shelter next to the tour boat dock. Långön is the perfect destination for those who want to enjoy the peace and quiet on an often, entirely your own, archipelago island.