Favorite day trips
Silkeborg - Silkeborg
Same start and end location
Period: April 1 to September 30
Sailing time: Totally up to you...
You meet us at the Port of Silkeborg where we guide and advise you on the best possible experience. You decide how far and for how long you want to sail. From Silkeborg Harbor, you can experience the beautiful nature, the impressive houses and buildings, as well as the city life from the waterside on the Gudenåen. If you have plenty of time and have set aside the whole day, you can reach Avnsø/"Brillerne", Paradisøerne, Slåensø or Himmelbjerget.
It is possible to take breaks in many places along the Gudenåen and Silkeborg Lakes, where you can have lunch at e.g. Ålekroen or Traktørstedet Ludvigslyst or go for a walk in the fantastic surroundings before you, full of experiences, sail back to Silkeborg Harbor again.
Silkeborg - Sminge/Svostrup/Kongensbro
Period: April 1 to September 30
Sailing time: 3/3.5/5 hours and 11/12/21 km
Following the river Gudenåen from Silkeborg towards Kongensbro is an amazing experience where you experience nature at its most beautiful. You'll meet us at Silkeborg Harbor where we'll guide and advise you on the best possible experience. Once you're on the water, you'll pass through Kammerslusen, which is the only lock on Gudenåen and definitely worth a visit. The price is DKK 25 per canoe or kayak during normal opening hours.
Along the way you'll pass Sminge Sø (a small lake), an important birding location, after which the Gudenå reunites and you'll arrive at Sminge Rasteplads (pick-up point - 11km. 3 hours sailing) on your left, where there are toilets, tables/benches, and walking distance to a bird tower (which you've already sailed past), so you can look out over Gjern Bakker. Directly opposite Sminge Rasteplads is Sminge Teltplads, which is a lovely free campsite, but you can't pick up canoes/kayaks here.
About 800 meters further on, you'll arrive at one of the old barge taverns, Svostrup Kro (pick-up point - 12 km. 3.25 hours). You can have lunch here, or plan to be here before evening and enjoy dinner here!
About half an hour further on, you have a view of the old Augustinian church, Tvilum Church. Here there is a nice jetty and a path that leads you up to the church, where there are also toilets and tables/benches.
After sailing for about 1 hour, you'll see a white sign on your right telling you that Teglgårdsparkens Nærkøbens & Grill is located here - another distinguishing feature is that there's also a fire pit in the meadow. This is the place where you can stock up or just take a rest and let the kids play on their fantastic large playground while the adults enjoy the atmosphere - a place where everyone feels welcome. There are also restrooms here.
Not long after Teglgårdsparken, Søhøjlandets Familiecamping will be on your right. It's not a rest area, but if you want to end your trip with an overnight stay, we highly recommend this hearty place where nature, animals and people meet. So if there is time to end a canoe/kayak trip with an overnight stay, and especially if you have children with you, we highly recommend ending your trip here, where we are happy to pick up canoes/kayaks.
Otherwise, continue the journey to Kongensbro Teltplads. Upon arrival at Kongensbro Teltplads, you can stay for the night. The campsite is located just before the large bridge on your right. Canoes/kayaks can of course be dropped off here. Easy and simple - order and have dinner and/or breakfast delivered from Teglgårdsparkens Nærkøb & Grill (phone: 27 84 78 81 - check their opening hours) - please order no later than the day before so they know it will be delivered. Kongensbro Kro is just across the street and offers a breakfast buffet, lunch or dinner.
Kongensbro Teltplads: accommodation - toilet - water - fire pits - firewood can be purchased (paid by mobilepay) - table/bench set - electricity - 3 shelters (which can be pre-booked by phone: 86 80 30 03 or in the comment field when you book your trip, or send an inquiry - the price is DKK 100 per shelter)
The route can be shortened by starting from Silkeborg Langsø v/Ege Alle by ½ hour.
Åstedbro - Voervadsbro
Period: June 16 - September 30
Sailing time: 5.5 hours and 20 km
You'll experience the narrow course of the Gudenå River and it's important to be in the moment as you sail along, enjoying nature and each other's company.
After 2 hours of sailing you have Gudenå Camping on your right hand side. It's a lovely site with good facilities and a cafeteria for your convenience. Please note that it costs DKK 10 per person to use the site, which is settled at the reception.
After Brestenbro the water is deeper and the river a little wider. At Bredvadmølle there is a rest area with a toilet, which you find by turning right just before Bredvad Bro.
When you arrive at Vestbirk Lake after about 2 hours, just keep going straight ahead, but keep to the left, because here you'll find Vestbirk Camping. It's a very open space and you are very welcome. Don't miss the opportunity to buy some provisions for the children or even for the adults in their cozy grocery store, where there is also a grill bar for hungry souls. We can also pick up canoes and kayaks here.
This stretch is one of the most beautiful stretches of the river. After Vestbirk Camping, keep right and sail through a small canal (remember to keep right). You'll pass through the upper part of Naldal Lake and into Vestbirk Lake, where you'll pass through a canal again. You'll reach Vestbirk Hydroelectric Power Station, which is definitely worth a visit. The old power plant is a small technical marvel that is still working. At Vestbirk Hydroelectric Power Station, the canoe must be "carried" across with the designated canoe carts.
When you arrive at Voervadsbro Teltplads, you don't have to rush home. You can spend the night here, and dinner doesn't have to be over a campfire. You can visit the restaurant: Det Lille Røgeri. It is located 5 min. walk from the campsite - make sure to book a table. In the restaurant, which is also a shop, you can eat your fill of delicacies such as smoked trout, country salt, Serrano ham and much more. In the shop you can buy Italian specialties, smoked trout and homemade fish cakes in addition to a few groceries.
Voervadsbro - Ry
Period: June 16 - September 30
Sailing time: 5 hours and 17 km
This stretch is one of the river's most beautiful experiences. You sail through jungle-like vegetation, narrow passages and wide rapids. It is important to stay in the channel where the river is deepest, otherwise you risk getting stuck with the canoe. Just before you arrive at Klostermølle, you will sail on Klosterkanalen. When you arrive at Klostermølle campsite, after about 2 hours, you will need to pull the canoes onto the shore as there is a canoe carry-over. Remember to use the designated canoe carts for this. Klostermølle is worth a visit in any case. Here is an old dam that was first established by the monks back in the 13th century at Vor Kloster. You can also see an old drying barn for cardboard production, an exhibition about history and nature, as well as a bird tower with a beautiful view of Mossø.
Walk down between the Klostermølle buildings towards the damming of Gudenåen and a salmon staircase. At the northern end of the drying barn there is access to a bird tower with a view of the Gudenåen outlet into Mossø, Klosterkæret. A description of the history of the area can be found in the buildings by the salmon ladder.
Here you'll also find the path to Sukkertoppen, which is 108 meters high. From the top there is a magnificent view towards Mossø, and Salten Langsø can be seen behind the forest to the north.
If you wish (if you are a larger group, you must contact the campsite about your arrival) to stay at Gammel Rye Teltplads, you must sail left along the narrow Salten River to reach the campsite. Here there are seating areas with tables/benches and toilets.
The stream then winds beautifully through the landscape. At Emborg Bro there is a picnic area with toilet and covered tables/benches
If you want to see Øm Kloster Museum, keep right at the river's outlet in Gudensø. Here there is a landing stage from where there is a marked path to Øm Kloster. The museum is magnificently located in the beautiful East Jutland Lake Highlands by the ruins of Denmark's illuminated medieval monastery. The museum consists of a large, atmospheric ruin park where the foundations of the medieval monastery and five medieval graves can be seen. In the ruin park is a monastery garden with 80 different cultivated plants that were used in the Middle Ages as medicinal plants, edible herbs or otherwise used in the household.
After you pass Holmens Camping, which is also a lovely place to buy provisions or satisfy your hunger, you'll cross into Birksø. To cross Birksø, keep to the left in the stream. A channel has been established here for a short crossing - remember to use the designated canoe carts, which will typically be on the other side. If you turn right after this, you'll arrive at Ry Boat Harbor, the rowing club and Skimminghøj Teltplads, where you can choose to stay overnight or simply end the trip and enjoy a wonderful nature experience on the water. We pick up canoes and kayaks in Ry at Skimminghøj Teltplads.
