Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition
"The whole experience was fantastic! For me to pick a best part would be impossible. Highlights of the trip would be the sense of complete isolation, camping in areas where possibly no one has ever set foot before, the wildlife, world-class scenery and weather!...We have some amazing memories and photos that will stay with us forever." Thomas
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Photo: NTR
Photos: 1-4,6:NTR; 5,7:K.Johansson
Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition is a challenging self-guided wilderness canoe tour in the remote mountain region of Rogen Nature Reserve in north-west Sweden, beginning on the Swedish side of the border and crossing over to the Femundsmarka National Park in Norway to end at a choice of two finish points on the Norwegian side.
For those with previous experience of paddle tours, extensive experience of the outdoors and a good level of fitness and strength, Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition offers extended canoe touring through a stunning landscape of lakes, islands, peninsulars and bays. The area is also well-known for its grayling and trout fishing - a marvellous way to supplement your camping provisions!
Starting with a lift of around 700m to the launching point, your canoe expedition continues down to Stortandsjön ("Large Tooth Lake"). Many choose to allow a couple of days here to explore the area, perhaps leaving the canoes for a while to hike to the lakes of Bredasjön and Våndssjön.
You make your way west and into Norway, planning your own route and distance covered each day, camping wild along the way. There are also wind shelters at certain points in the park, at which you are welcome to overnight if unoccupied. These spots also have fireplaces, where you are permitted to make a fire.
We recommend that you allow plenty of time to cross from the western shore of Lake Rogen down to Femunden - this is a very challenging stretch of the tour. Between Nedre Roastan and the Röa river, the going is steep with long carries over rocky terrain but is interspersed with glorious paddling on sections of calm water.
For the last section of your canoe tour, you can choose one of two possible routes - north along Lake Feragen to be collected on the northern shore, or west through a beautiful network of small lakes to end at Röros.
There are two portages of approx. 700m and 500m required for this tour in addition to a large number of other land transports over steep and uneven terrain, and at times you will almost be climbing with the canoe. There are also many sections of rapids at which you must take the canoes and equipment out of the water with land transports of 2km or more in a single stretch.
Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition is a tough but very rewarding paddle tour in a stunning and remote area - an ideal choice for the experienced outdoor enthusiast and a tour to give a lifetime of memories!
Detailed information you will need for your experience is sent out once full payment has been received.
Meet at the canoe centre at 13.00 for information meeting. Transfer to the start point approx. 14.00. Your paddle adventure begins in Käringsjövallen with a long carry of around 700m to a series of lakes known as the West Wings. The path is well-marked and goes over stoney terrain with some boardwalks. You will normally need to walk this stretch twice - once with your rucksacks and packing and the second time carrying canoe, buoyancy aids and paddles. There is a jetty ideal for launching your canoe.
We recommend using the first day of your tour to explore the many bays of the lake system and become acquainted with the terrain, the equipment and the distance you can reasonably be expected to cover in a particular time. There are one or two lean-to shelters in the area where you can spend the night and also make a fire. This is also an excellent area for pike and grayling fishing.
From here to reach the larger Lake Rogen requires a carry of around 500m to the lake at Tandsjön, followed by shorter stretches of paddling and carrying to reach the larger lake of Rogen, offering marvellous paddling through small sections of rapids (normally max. grade 1) and flat water.
Once out onto the lake, we recommend you head west, perhaps via Käringsjön and all the small islands to Rödviken by Bustvålen and there prepare yourself for the challenges of crossing over towards Femunden. You may wish to take a day to hike to the top of one of the peaks in the area - the possibilities are endless!
This is very remote area, with large stretches of completely pathless terrain, with no walkboards and no waymarkings. We recommend allowing 2-3 days for this stretch, a landscape of long cliffs and rocky terrain.
IMPORTANT: Rapids on the Röa Älv: Under no circumstances should you paddle any part of the rapids along the Röa Älv (Röa River), a stretch of around 6km. The canoes and all equipment must be taken out of the water and carried, requiring portages of 2km or more in a single stretch. You should allow 2 days for this part of the tour. The number and length of land transports required during this section will vary depending on water levels, weather conditions and time of year. While it may be possible to paddle on some sections of still water between the rapids, if choosing to do this, you must scout ahead on foot beforehand to check carefully where to take the canoes out of the water. It is often not possible to judge when on the river when you are approaching a section of rapids. Although some stretches of rapids may begin at fairly low grade, many end in challenging whitewater and waterfalls. The river is grade 2-5. The canoes and buoyancy aids are not intended for use in these conditions under any circumstances and you must exercise extreme caution during this part of the tour.
Once at the Röa estuary, the tour continues along Femunden's eastern short towards Nordvika. The water in Lake Femunden and Lake Feragen later in the tour can very easily and very quickly become rough in windy weather. You must stay close to land when paddling here.
NB: Depending on weather and wind conditions, it can take much longer than anticipated to paddle Lake Femunden and Lake Feragen. You must plan your itinerary to include contingencies for delays to ensure you reach the end point at the agreed time.
There are two options for end points:
Pick-up at the end point in Röros at 12.00 or Feragen at 12.30 (depending on tour chosen) to be back in Funäsdalen around 14.00.
The area in which this canoe tour takes place offers excellent fishing. Using fly-fishing or spin-fishing techniques, large trout, grayling and pike may be caught. Each year perch weighing more than 1.5 kg are caught. Fishing licences covering the areas in which you plan to paddle can be purchased from the canoe centre on arrival. Fishing equipment is available to hire as an optional extra.
Start/end days Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays between 15th June and 14th September* (latest start day 14th September). There is no maximum limit to your tour duration provided your start and end days are a Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
*Note that if choosing a tour in the middle/latter part of September, you should be prepared for lower temperatures and the possibility of some early season snowfall.
Recommended duration 8-12 days. Provided weather conditions are suitable, this route can be completed in 8 days. However, we recommend you add additional days to allow for delays due to weather and wind and other variations to your planned itinerary. For average participants, we recommend 10-11 days, with drop-off/pick-up + 7 days' paddling + 3 days for hiking, contingencies, etc.
Recommended duration 10-15 days. Provided weather conditions are suitable, this route can be completed in 10 days. However, we recommend you add additional days to allow for delays due to weather and wind and other variations to your planned itinerary. For average participants, we recommend 12-13 days, with drop-off/pick-up + 9 days' paddling + 3 days for hiking, contingencies, etc.
During your canoe adventure you will need to take into account factors such as weather conditions, your varying energy levels and personal preferences, and must be prepared to be flexible and adapt your plans accordingly.
NB: Please note that, while there is a choice of possible durations for this experience, the number of days must be decided in advance at time of booking. If you change pick-up arrangements during your tour, you will incur additional charges for custom transfer. You must plan your tour to ensure that you are at the pick-up point at the agreed time.
Prices are in British Pounds. If you wish, you are also welcome to make your payment by bank transfer in Euros or Swedish Kronor. If this would be of interest, please let us know and we will be happy to provide prices.
For odd-numbered groups, the additional person will travel as part of a group of three in one canoe (with additional seat) and receive an extra buoyancy aid and paddle. It is not possible for odd-numbered participants to paddle their own canoe due to the land transports involved in this tour.
Example total prices for three persons:
NB: Please be careful with the canoe and the rest of your equipment! If some part of the equipment should break as a result of misuse or carelessness, you may be charged for the damage caused.
Maps are essential for this tour and are available to hire as an optional extra - please see below.
The tour is self-guided and you will plan your own route based on available time, level of experience and fitness, and local weather conditions. The tour cannot be done without maps, which should be hired (see Optional Extras below) or purchased independently. The maps required are:
Option 1 (end Feragen):
Option 2 (end Röros):
Maps can be purchased from www.themapshop.co.uk.
There is no food included. You must bring all food needed during the tour with you from the beginning. There is a food store in Funäsdalen. There is one cabin within the reserve near the start of the tour with a small provisions store open during July and August. However, you must not rely on this for essential provisions, as the cabin may not be open during your tour or stocks may be limited.
If you do not wish to buy maps for your tour, a map package is available to hire which includes all maps required. You will then collect this along with your other canoe equipment on arrival.
Bergans of Norway tents are available to hire, in 2-person, 3-person or 4-person sizes. Please note that, like all tents rated for example 4 persons, the tents are most comfortable for 3 adults. However, you should bear in mind that a number of challenging land transports are required for this tour and weight carried should be kept to a minimum.
The tents have inner tent and mosquito netting. The majority of tents used are Bergans Compact and Compact Lite (image below shows Bergans Compact 3-person tent). Specific models cannot be reserved in advance - the model supplied will be the most suitable for your needs subject to availability.
New for the 2012 season, Bergans Wiglo T4 4-person tents are also available.
Trangia camping stove is available to hire (stove and utensils supplied may differ from those pictured below). Please note that fuel is not included. Fuel can be purchased from the canoe centre on arrival.
Flies/lures are included.
Swimming ability required for all participants. All participation at own risk. Minimum 2 adults required. Minimum age 16.
Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition is a very challenging tour. You should be in general good health and have a very good level of fitness and strength.
Rogen is an area of wilderness. There are no roads, no shops and no medical facilities. Contact details for local emergency services will be provided with your booking confirmation documentation.
While mobile reception may be possible at certain locations, you may not have reception for large parts of your tour. Emergency communications equipment is available at one cabin within the reserve.
To participate in this tour, it is therefore essential that you have experience of and are comfortable with travelling independently in a remote wilderness environment. This includes, but is not limited to, a practical working knowledge of:
A detailed recommended equipment list will be sent with your booking confirmation.
NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing.
Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition is ideal for groups - please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Femundsmarka National Park lies on the Norwegian side, bordering Rogen in Sweden to the east and Lake Femunden to the west. The park was created in 1971 with an area of 381 square km, increased in 2003 to 573 square km.
More than 10% of the Femundsmarka park is water, with many of the watercourses running from the east into Femunden. The waters are rich in fish, the most important species being trout, Arctic char, grayling, pike, burbot and perch. It is also a very important nesting area for wetland birds.
The highest point in Femundsmarka is Stor Svuka at 1415m. Femundsmarka is Norway's most southerly area of the indigenous Sami people and has been used for reindeer husbandry since the 1600s.
Detailed information on travel options will be sent with your booking documentation. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.
You can choose to fly to Stockholm or Gothenburg airports. From here, you travel by night train + bus connection to Funäsdalen. You can also choose to fly to Oslo airports and travel by hire car (driving time 6-7 hours).
Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg (Denmark) for onward train + bus connections to Funäsdalen or by car (driving time around 15 hours).
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