Planning a packrafting trip in Sweden? You won’t be disappointed, Sweden has endless possibilities in terms of trips in the backcountry.
Here is a list of links that can help you choosing a destination.
The facebook group Packrafting in Sweden can be also useful to find information about rivers.
(The SPA is not responsible for the information offered in these links, please do some research before ANY packrafting trip, check the water level, the weather forecast and don’t go alone on the river!)
Tools and maps:
Online river beta:
- A whitewater river guide with maps: https://www.forsforaren.se/sverige-1
- Another whitewater river map: http://kkss.se/Forsguiden/forsguiden.html
Water level prognosis:
The meteorological and hydrological institute of Sweden offers a free water level prognosis over the entire country. The calculation is based on rainfall, soil absorption and catchment area. Compared with a river gauge, the prognosis is approximate but it gives a good hint about the current water level.
Free maps:
Lantmäteriet (The Swedish Land Survey Authority) provides a range of free web maps and high quality satellite images over the entire country. You can search names or search directly on the map. You can even make you own map directory. Hitta is superior to google maps for Sweden.
http://kso.etjanster.lantmateriet.se
https://kartutskrift.lantmateriet.se
RIVERS WE LIKE:
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Voxnan
A pearl in Hälsingland Voxnan goes through a vast wilderness with plenty of rapids. Most rapids are easy class I to II/(III) and a couple hard ones (IV) which can easily be portaged. Voxnan is a great destination for longer 3-5 day trip.
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Fjätan
Fjätan is a completely unregulated river in Härjedalen and one of the many rivers that builds up the big river Österdalsälven. The river starts in the mountain marshlands and ends up in the woodlands. Total length of 86km and about 49 rapids graded I to V.
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Nittälven
Upper Nittälven in the big forest of Bergslagen is a low volume creek which is a priceless river to paddle if one catch the flow. Nittälven is weekend destination during the short spring flood or after a period with heavy downpour. Rapids I-II.
Swedish Packrafting Association 