Dalsland canal with motorhome - Guide with tips

The Dalsland Canal by motorhome, how does it work and what is there to see along the way? Last summer we went on a canal trip with the motorhome and after the Göta Canal and the Trollhätte Canal, we were keen on another canal. It was the Dalsland Canal!

Why follow the Dalsland Canal by motorhome?

The Dalsland Canal is a very charming and cosy canal that runs through a beautiful landscape with wild rapids and red cottages. There are not as many pitches as along the Göta Canal, but on the other hand, it is less crowded with motorhomes. A beautiful part of Sweden to discover!

What is the Dalsland Canal?

The Dalsland Canal is a canal that connects Lake Vänern with parts of the lake system in Dalsland and south-west Värmland. The canal passes the famous aqueduct in Håverud, which is the biggest tourist attraction along the route.

The canal was built in 1864-1867 under the direction of Nils Ericson. The total length of the waterway is 250 kilometres, of which 12 kilometres are dug or blasted canals. There are a total of 17 lock stations and 31 locks. The difference in level between Stora Le and Lake Vänern is 58 metres, and up to the northernmost lake in the system, Östen, there is a further ten-metre difference in level. For boats in the canal, there is 17 metres of clearance, a maximum depth of 1.8 metres, a maximum length of 22.75 metres and a maximum width of 4.05 metres.

Where does the Dalsland Canal go?

The Dalsland Canal runs from Köpmannebro on Lake Vänern via the Dalsland lakes Råvarpen, Laxsjön and Lelång into south-west Värmland via Foxen, Töck and finally Östen. There are also car routes, such as the Snäcke Canal. Here is a (very rough and approximate) map showing how the canal runs.

What is the route when following the Dalsland Canal by motorhome?

When driving along the Dalsland canal with a motorhome, you have to make some detours sometimes, but you can often get close to the locks. We did not drive all the way and ended our trip in Bengtsfors, which was mainly due to the end of our holiday. If you want, you can continue to Lennartsfors and Töcksfors. Here you can see the route we drove:

What is the best time of year to travel the Dalsland Canal by motorhome?

The route that we drove can of course be driven at any time of the year. However, if you want to experience the Dalsland Canal by boat, you have to stick to the times when the canal is open for boat traffic. The exact times can vary from year to year, and you can read more at the channel's website. In 2020, the main season lasted between 8 June and 16 August.

Dalsland canal with motorhome - pitches and campsites

There are both pitches and campsites along the canal. There aren't nearly as many of them as along the Göta Canal, for example, but we still felt that it was a little easier to find space. Here are some tips:

• You can find tips on pitches and campsites further down in this post. You can also find pitches using, for example, the CamperContact app.
• The aqueduct in Håverud is very popular, so it's a good idea to arrive early (or book) if you want to get a place at Håverud's campsite.

Dalsland Canal by motorhome - from Kaufmannebro to Töcksfors.

Here is a guide with tips on things to see and do, for those who want to travel the Dalsland Canal by motorhome. We present the suggestions from Köpmannebro to Töcksfors, but it is of course possible to travel in reverse order as well!

1. Köpmannebro and Upperud

Köpmannebro can be described as Lake Vänern's gateway to the Dalsland Canal. Here is the canal's first and largest lock. If you continue a bit further along the canal, you come to the locks at Upperud.

• See and do: See the locks in Köpmannebro and Upperud, visit the Upperud 9:9 hiking centre and the Dalsland Art Museum.
• Pitches/camping: There is a parking space in Spångens guest harbour in Upperud. In Mellerud there is Kerstins camping and Vita Sandars camping.
• Read more: Köpmannebro and Upperud - the start of the Dalsland Canal

2. the aqueduct in Håverud

The aqueduct in Håverud is a spectacular construction in Dalsland where road, railway and canal intersect in the air. The 33.5 metre long sheet metal channel for boats is known for its special construction.

• See and do: Experience the aqueduct in Håverud, take a canal boat ride between Håverud and Bengtsfors, and visit the Glassworks, Tomtemuseet and Kanalmuseet.
• Pitches/camping: Håverud Camping is located in the centre of Håverud.
• Read more: Aqueduct in Håverud - spectacular by the Dalsland canal

3. Dals Långed

Dals Långed is charmingly situated along the Dalsland canal. There is a school for crafts and arts and crafts, which contributes to the village's spirit of progress. There are also several locks here.

• See and do: See Mustadfors Lock Station, Dals Långed Lock Station and Långbron Lock Station, visit Baldersnäs Manor and Lästvik Manor and see the Högsbyn rock carvings.
• Pitches/camping: There is a nice serviced site in Dals Långed, opposite Steneby School. There should also be a free camping site in Baldersnäs, according to CamperContact.
• Read more: Dals Långed - charming by the Dalsland canal

4. Billingsfors and the Höljeruds Rapids

Billingsfors is a lock station and not far from here are Höljerudsforsarna and locks 18-20. To visit the latter you have to take a walk through beautiful nature.

• See and do: See lockage at Billingsfors lock station and take a nature walk around Höljerudsforsarna, the charming 18th, 19th and 20th locks.
• Pitches/camping: There are no pitches or campsites here, as far as we know.
• Read more: We have written about our visit in the post on Bengtsfors (below).

5. Bengtsfors

In Bengsfors there is a lock and it is also nice by the water. We thought that the greatest benefit was to visit Gammelgården's open-air museum and Halmen's house.

• See and do: See the lock in Bengtsfors and visit the Gammelgården open-air museum with the Straw House.
• Pitches/camping: There is a car park at Gammelgården, Majberget and another one by the water (Ställplats Bengtsfors).
• Read more: Bengtsfors in Dalsland - locks, museums and canal boats

6. Lennartsfors

We never visited Lennartsfors, as our holiday was coming to an end and we needed to return home. Here is a lock staircase that is said to be the second most impressive in the canal, after the one in Håverud.

• See and do: See the Lennartsfors lock staircase with three locks.
• Pitches/camping: There should be a parking space right next to the guest harbour in Lennartsfors. At the lake Västra Silen there are the campsites Ekeby camping and Årjäng Camping & Stugor Sommarvik.

7. Töcksfors

The Töcksfors canal is 112 metres above sea level, making it the highest canal in Sweden with a connection to the sea. We also did not visit Töcksfors, which is close to the Norwegian border.

• See and do: See Töcksfors locks
• Pitches/camping: Töcksfors camping