The Halden Canal

Invites you to the good experiences!

The Halden Canal is hidden deep inside the forests in the border region, well worth a visit! These idyllic and exciting waterways, running parallell to the national border to Sweden, stretches from Skulerud in the north to Tistedal in the south, a length of almost 80 kilometres. Here you may paddle or use a boat throught idyllic lakes and impressive locks - in a stunning landscape peppered with interesting heritage sites.

The Halden Canal is a special cultural heritage, and in recent years the canal has been set in good condition so that you can now travel from north to south and pass through three lock points and five lakes on the journey. There are many great experiences in and along the canal. And here you can swim, fish, eat, experience art and culture, live and experience the great nature!

The history
The Halden Canal is the older of the two canals in Norway (the second one is in Telemark). Halden Canal was built between 1852 - 1860. Brekke locks are furthest south, finished in 1924. Brekke comprise 4 locks with an overhead clearance totalling 26.6 m. The 3 locks at Ørje have an overhead clearance of 10 m. All locks can be passed by boats that are up to 24 m length, 6 m wide and 1.6 m deep.

At Ørje locks there is a memorial to the canal builder Mr Engebret Soot (1786 - 1859). Close by Ørje locks lies the old Ørje Brugs area and the Halden Waterways' Canal Museum. A steamship actively in use from 1862 carries the name of the canals builder - "DS Engebret Soot". The ship is restored and can be chartered for cruise on the canal. Throughout the history as many as 25 steamships have trafficated the canal. Today 6 of them are still to be seen in the canal. The history of the Halden Canal is interestingly described in the Canal Museum (Haldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum), as is the cultural relics in the area and the nature in and around the canal.