Lake Stora Le
Stora Le is one of Sweden's clearest lakes — a long, narrow rift lake stretching seventy kilometres from Ed north into Norway. The water is clean enough to see bottom several metres down, the shores are mostly rock and forest, and the traffic consists of canoes, the odd fishing boat and loons.
Because the lake is narrow there is almost always a sheltered side to paddle, and it is hard to get lost: land is never far away.
DANO — the Dalsland–Nordmarken canoe area
The lake system around Stora Le is known as DANO — the Dalsland–Nordmarken canoe area. A network of campsites with fire rings, dry toilets and firewood stores is maintained here, built specifically for paddlers.
To use them you buy a nature conservation card; the money goes directly into maintaining the sites. The card is sold at our reception.
Wildlife
Beavers show themselves at dusk, moose with a bit of luck at dawn along the shoreline. Ospreys and black-throated loons are everyday company on the lake, and cranes pass through in spring and autumn.
The fishing is good — perch, pike and trout — but requires a fishing permit, also available at the reception.
Tresticklan National Park
A short drive west of Ed lies Tresticklan, one of the few roadless wilderness areas in southern Sweden. Old-growth forest, rift valleys and total silence — a perfect rest-day hike in the middle of a paddling week.
The seasons
| Month | What to expect |
|---|---|
| May–June | Bright evenings, few people, migrating birds. The water is still cold — stay near shore. |
| July | Warmest water and air. High season — book ahead. |
| August | Warm swimming, darker nights, fewer mosquitoes. |
| September | Autumn colours, empty campsites, reliable fishing. |
Ed — the village behind the jetty
Ed has most of what you need: supermarkets, restaurants, a pharmacy and a railway station on the Gothenburg–Oslo line. From the platform to our jetty is a five-minute walk — you can paddle wilderness without owning a car.