Halden Canal
Let the waterway take you through idyllic lakes, impressive lock systems and beautiful cultural landscapes. Breathe out, relax and experience art, culture, history and the beautiful nature! The Halden Canal is the oldest of the two canals in Norway, and measures 80 kilometers from Skulerud in the north to Tistedal in the south. The canal is a great tourist attraction with its beautiful and partly untouched nature, and invites great experiences for young and old! The Halden Canal is a special cultural monument, and in recent years the canal has been put in good condition, so that you can now travel from north to south, and pass through three lock sites and five lakes. There are many great experiences in and along the canal.
Experience the waterway
The journey on the canal is an adventurous journey in a living cultural monument. Be impressed by the large lock systems, beautiful cultural landscapes and a diverse and exciting wildlife. The historical journey with one of the canal's steamboats takes you back to a bygone era. Lower your shoulders and let your resting heart rate drop as you hear the sound of the lapping sea and the quiet, regular thud of the steamboats.
With your own pleasure boat you can enjoy the 80-kilometer long Halden Canal at your own pace, and the journey takes you through 5 lakes, three lock sites and endless nature experiences. Go ashore a full 39.5 meters higher or lower than the quay you boarded.
If you feel like bringing your pleasure boat up into the canal, we can help you with a boat lift or you can use many of the launching ramps along the canal. There are 13 guest piers along the canal from Skulerud in the north to Tistedal in the south.
Experience the lock sites
At the lock sites you get up close to the people who live there. Here by the canal, lock masters and canal operators have lived and worked for generations, and it is impressive to see how they maneuver the large lock gates so that the boats can pass. In Strømsfoss you can shop and have fun at the cozy café Møllerens Hus and in Ørje you can enjoy a good meal at Båtcafeen during the summer season and at Bakergården the rest of the year. Ørje also has Norway's largest collection of steamboats at the Canal Museum. At the Canal Museum you can learn more about the history and wildlife around. Also stop by the tourist information office, which is open in the summer, and get good tips and ideas for what to do while you are in the area.
Sluseanleggene er betjent i sesong - fra siste lørdag i mai til siste søndag i august. Åpningstider og priser for slusing er som følger i 2023 sesongen:
Fixed lock times
Ørje locks: 10:00, 15:00 and 19:00 - NOK 290,-
Strømsfoss lock: 10:00, 13:00, 16:00 and 19:00 - NOK 240,-
Brekke locks: 10:00, 14:00 and 17:00 - NOK 340,-
Always report about locking in advance on tel. 69 81 12 00. It is recommended that locking be reported the day before. Outside of lock times and before and after the season there is a double fee. Locking outside of lock times cannot be guaranteed if requested on the same day.
IMPORTANT INFO REGARDING BREKKE LOCKS:
Brekke locks are open for normal lock operations in the 2023 season, but please note that the water level in Femsjøen is lower than normal due to less water than normal as a result of the reconstruction of the dam in Tistedal. Boats that go deeper than 1.60 should be careful in the Brekkeelva and at the entrance to the lower lock chamber. Furthermore, all boats are recommended to drive between the fairway posts (red/green)
Season card
A season card can be purchased for the use of small boats/leisure boats in non-commercial activities. The season card costs NOK 1300 and entitles you to free use of the locks during lock times. The card must be linked to a specific boat, and the lock must be booked in advance.
The season card is sold in the online store at www.haldenkanalen.no, at the lock facilities and at the Canal Company's office (Storgt. 55, Ørje). Call in advance, tel.: 69 81 12 00. The card is also sold at the Tourist Office of Visit Indre Østfold on the pier in Ørje. Open every day 11:00 - 17:00. 15 June - 15 August.
Key card
Key cards for the service houses give access to showers at Skulerud, Ørje, Tistedal and Østre Otteid. Furthermore, key cards provide access to facilities for suctioning sewage from boats; at Skulerud, Tistedal and Østre Otteid. Purchase of key card, NOK 400.
Key cards can be purchased in the online store at: www.haldenkanalen.no, at the lock sites or:
Visit Indre Østfold: 45 45 34 45 - Tourist information on the pier in Ørje. Open every day 15.6-15.8 at 11:00 - 17:00.
Skulerud: Arve Dahl, tel. 928 26 610
Ørje: O.Mosbæk & Co in Ørje city center
Kanalselskapet, Storgt. 55, Ørje, tel. 69 81 12 00, info@haldenkanalen.no
The service houses open on May 1 and close on October 31. During that period, the card is valid. The card must be purchased again next year.
Experience nature
Along the Halden Canal, you travel through scenic areas. You can either enjoy the silence or experience more action-packed activities. There are plenty of opportunities for sport fishing and other nature experiences. You can rent a canoe in several places, or choose to bring your own.
If you embark on a paddle trip from north to south, you will truly be close to nature. Open your senses and enjoy the sight, smell and sound of the wind rustling in the treetops or the waves slowly lapping against the shore. Large lakes, narrow canals, open meadows and beautiful forests await you. And if you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of both beaver and osprey. Educational and unique experiences along the way will definitely leave a mark.
Accommodation
There are many accommodation options in the canal. For example, you can rent one of the coastal cabins along the canal, stay in a guesthouse, stay at a campsite or hotel. You will get the closest to nature if you choose to stay out in nature. A total of 18 shelters are at your disposal. They are free and for free use - first come, first served.
