Bikepacking the Lelångenleden, west Sweden’s 112-mile cycle trail

Imagine red cottages with white trim by a glimmering lake, a band of birch and spruce beyond, and two half-naked men lunging from a tiny sauna cabin into cold shock. One screams; the other ducks his head under, pops up, shivers and does it again. My friend John and I are learning that cold-water swimming and stripping off in nature are Swedish obsessions as we start the Lelångenleden.

The 112-mile (180km) route links trails from the Bohuslän coast north of Gothenburg, through the lakes of Dalsland and into the deep coniferous forests of Värmland. Promises include traffic-free gravel, a stretch along the embankment of the discontinued Lelången railway and lake towns that could be plucked from an Astrid Lindgren story.

We split the route into three sections of about 40 miles, cycled up to five hours a day and planned our trip using West Sweden Trails; our gravel bikes and bikepacking gear came from the Dalsland Experience.

Sweden, West Sweden

lelångenleden, bikepacking, gravel bikes, dalsland, värmland, bohuslän, gothenburg, lelången railway, cold water, sauna