A day trip canoeing on the Gudenå: Tørring-Åstedbro
Canoeing on the Gudenå is a fun and climate-friendly activity for everyone. The southernmost stretch from Tørring is quite beginner-friendly and offers many turns where you can practice your technique. The trip goes through peaceful nature in Denmark's biggest wetland, Uldum Kær.
Memorable trip on Denmark's only river
A perfect distance for beginners and families with children is Tørring to Åstedbro. It takes approx. 4-4,5 hours to paddle the distance. With big children onboard, you may be able to go all the way to Gudenå Camping in Bredstenbro in 6-6,5 hours.
We will guide you to a good day trip in the canoe.
Step 1: Book your canoe(s)
It is quite easy to rent canoes for the trip. Contact Tørring Canoe Rental to book. They have all the practical stuff covered. And they will even pick up the canoe for you in Åstedbro.
We recommend that you rent the canoe some time in advance if possible. There are limitations to how many people can sail on the Gudenå per day - and annually. Therefore, you risk that it is not possible to rent a canoe if you try to book last minute.
On this southernmost part of the Gudenå river, you are only allowed to sail from June 16 to December 31 - the reason for this is to protect an important nature area.
Surrounded by Denmark’s largest marsh area is Tørring, which is probably best known for being the natural starting point for the canoeing trip on the Gudenå river. But the town and the area contain an exciting and unique nature that is suitable for much more than just canoeing.
Your canoe journey along the Gudenå River begins in Tørring. At the town's canoe rental, you can hire the canoe for your trip and have it picked up at the end point. The experienced staff is ready to assist you, provide necessary gear, and ensure you have a great experience on the Gudenå River.
Step 2: Off to Tørring
Tørring is a popular starting point for canoeing trips on Gudenåen. This is where the river gets wide enough for you to sail in it. If you arrive by car, you can park at Tørring Canoe Rental - and it is possible to leave the car here until you return. If you wish to use public transportation, you can get on a regional bus from Horsens or Vejle. Find departures on Rejseplanen.
You are allowed to sail on the Gudenå from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Your time of departure depends of course, on when you expect to be in Tørring, and whether you wish to get a ride back to Tørring with the Gudenå Bus. It has one daily departure - we will get back to that.
The Gudenå Bus operates daily along the southern part of the Gudenå River during the summer holidays, providing canoeists and hikers the opportunity to be transported back to their vehicles after their canoe trip.
Step 3: Get in the canoe
Start by reporting to the reception at Tørring Canoe Rental. They are ready to inform you about safety and techniques, and will gladly give you tips and tricks. If you never tried canoeing, then do not worry. This southern stretch is narrow, with calm and shallow water, so you can safely get comfortable with the canoe. You will now be sailing north. The first couple of hours, you will sail through Uldum Kær, Denmark's largest wetland. After a couple of hours, you will get to the end of the world (yes, that is actually the name of the place), where you can get on land on your left hand. This is a logical place for your first break. If you wish, you can go for a walk and explore Uldum Kær. In that case, we suggest that you have lunch here. Alternatively, you can wait until you get to the campsite Aale Teltplads after one more hour of paddling.
There are quite a few turns and bends on this stretch, and you, and you will likely bump against the edges a few times. But do not worry - the canoe is quite stable, and you can easily use the paddle to push your way back on track. Besides, it is quite a fun and good way to learn the techniques.
The last stage of today's trip is to the final destination Åstedbro. On this stretch, the Gudenå opens up a bit and becomes wider. At this point, you will be much more comfortable in the canoe and can likely reach higher speeds here.
The whole trip from Tørring to Klostermølle is 15 kilometres long, which is perfect for a day trip. This distance is doable for most people - even families with children. You may want to take turns sitting in the front and rear of the canoe to relieve the body. The person in the front acts as the engine, and the person in the back steers through turns.
You will find the campsite Åstedbro Teltplads on your left hand just after passing under a bridge.
Step 4: Back to Tørring - or just back home
Pull the canoe to shore and leave it at the camp site. The canoe rental will pick up the canoe here, so make sure that you ask them in advance where they prefer that you leave it. In any case, make sure that you pull it so far up the lawn that it will not be in the way for the next canoeists.
From June 29 to August 11 and all weekend days in August you can get a free ride back to Tørring with the Gudenå Bus. It departs at 4:54 pm from Åstedbro every day. You can see the bus sign if you go to the road (Nørresnedevej 139-140). Since the bus only has one daily departure, we recommend that you start the trip from Tørring quite early. The trip takes 4-4½ hours, but you should start quite early before noon, just to be safe.
Alternatively, you can get on bus 116, which connects Horsens and Herning. This also stops at the camp site, but does not go to Tørring.
Frequently asked questions about canoeing
I cannot swim. Can I go canoeing on the Gudenå?
If yo can not swim, then you should avoid the parts of the Gudenå where the water level is high.
For those who can not swim or feel unsafe in the water, we recommend the stratch from Tørring to Åstedbro. Here the stream is narrow and the water level low. Often so low, that the canoe almost hits the bed. You can easily touch bottom on this whole stretch, and there are not many waves that can make the canoe tip. On the other hand, there are many turns which makes the route quite technical. It is quite fun to navigate around the winding stream - and then you forget the insecurity or hesitation.
Do I need to purchase a lot of equipment before a day in the canoe?
No, that is not necessary at all. In theory you can come as you are for a canoeing day-trip. The only thing you must remember is water and food. Paddling can be quite hard, and you are going to need some fluid.
And remember the sunscreen. The author of this text forgot it once. Never again!
The canoe has space for storage, and you can easily bring a couple og rucksacks and a cool box. There is a small but real risk that the canoe tilts. Therefore, it is a good idea to bring drybags for the most important things (smartphone, wallet etc.).
Also cinsider your choice of footwear. You could get water in your canoe - and you might also have to get out of the canoe and push it. Therefore, we recommend bringing spare clothes. Especially dry socks.
Can I use a kayak or SUP board on Gudenåen?
Yes, absolutely. The rules for permits that apply to canoes also apply to kayaks and paddleboards.
It is possible to rent kayaks at Tørring Canoe Rental.
Do I nee a permit for canoeing on the Gudenå?
If you rent a canoe, then you do not need to worry about permits. The canoe rental has this covered.
If you bring your own canoe to the area, then you must purchase a guest registration.
If you are a citizen in Horsens or Hedensted Municipality, you can register the canoe as local, and you do not need a guest registration.
Are you only permitted to sail in one direction?
Yes. You are not allowed to sail upstream from Klostermølle to Tørring. Therefore, you must follow Gudenåen northward. Sailing downstream is also a bit nicer.
For this reason, during the summer holiday, you can get on The Gudenå Bus, which sails canoeists from Klostermølle to Tørring with several stops every day. The bus is your way to get back to the starting point.
How many is there room for in a canoe? Can we bring the kids?
There is room for two adults in a canoe. If you have two children (max. 30 kilo), there is also room for them.
Bigger children can paddle, but prepare to be the engine if you share a canoe with a child. And take into account how patient the child is, since a day trip can be quite long.
How far can I canoe in one day?
Naturally, if you are preparing a canoeing holiday, it is nice to know how many days you need to spend on the journey. A day trip in a canoe is about 15-20 kilometres. It is of course individual and depends on preferences as well as who is canoeing. If you are in doubt, ask the canoe rental. They are always ready to guide and assist you.
How long is the Gudenå?
If you ask your good friend Google, you can get a bit confused. some sources say 149 kilometres - others 176... or 160. It all depends on what you refer to as the Gudenå. For example the first narrow stretch after the sources of the Gudenå and its outlet in Randers Fjord.
The strech that you can navigate in a canoe is 140 kilometres. And the one-way traffic stretch in the Coastal Land between Tørring and The Monastery Mill is 41 kilometres.
Tørring – Åstedbro: 14 km
Åstedbro – Bredstenbro: 6 km
Bredstenbro – Vestbirk Hydropower Plantrk: 7 km
Vestbirk Hydropower Plant – Voervadsbro: 7 km
Voervadsbro – The Monastery Mill/Lake Mossø: 6 km
The Monastery Mill/Lake Mossø – Ry: 10 km
More guides for canoe trips
Would you rather start with a canoe course?
Some feel safest in the company of an experienced guide when they go canoeing for the first time. Outdoor Connection offers courses, tours, and fun activities in the canoe on Gudenåen.
