Halden Canal: Ørje round the south of Rødenessjøen

Put in at the public boat ramp in Ysterudvika, on the west shore of Rødenessjøen a kilometre from Ørje, and paddle north up the west side of the lake between farmland and forest. Turn after about 3 km, come back down the east shore and look into the sheltered side bay before returning across the southern basin to the ramp. Below the lake, in Ørje, the canal's three hand-worked locks of 1860 lift boats about 10 m, and the old groundwood mill beside them houses the canal museum: worth a walk after the paddle.

It is 6.4 km round; allow about 1½ hours in a canoe or kayak and 1¾ on a paddleboard. The grade is Moderate only because it is all open lake: the line keeps to the shores and there is no lock to pass.

Paddling the lake is free under Norway's right of access. You may pull up on outfield shores for a short stop, but ask before using private jetties. Motorboats and the canal's passenger boats use the lake in summer on their way to the locks: keep near the shore and well clear of the lock approach and the falls beside it. Rødenessjøen is long and lies north to south, so a north or south wind soon builds waves. Wear a buoyancy aid and check the conditions before you set off.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap waterways (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.