Dals Långed: Art, Canal and Nature

Dals Långed is located on Lake Råvarpen. The Dalsland Canal runs through Dals Långed between Råvarpen and Laxsjön, passing through six locks and by two power stations. Opposite Stenebyskolan in the centre are a guest harbour and a parking area for eight cars. The municipal bathing area, Kampudden, is on Långbrohöljen. The canal route and individual places by the water are therefore some of the key landmarks for a stay here.

Canal, lakes and locks

Långbron Lock is number 15 on the Dalsland Canal and connects Långbrohöljen with Lake Laxsjön. When the lock is open, the lock café serves canal ice cream and waffles; visitors can also watch the boats pass through. The café is open in conjunction with lock operations, so check in advance whether the lock is open.

The municipal bathing area, Kampudden, is also on Långbrohöljen. The harbour, bathing area and lock offer different ways to enjoy the water: spending time by the lake, watching canal traffic, and travelling between two lakes. More broadly, the Dalsland Canal runs through Dals Långed between Råvarpen and Laxsjön. This section includes six locks and two power stations.

Art and local history

Stenebyskolan is part of the University of Gothenburg and offers art programmes in wood, metal and textiles. Every year, it also holds summer courses for professionals and curious beginners. As these courses are seasonal, it is worth checking the current course dates before your trip. This makes it possible to plan a visit around a specific course interest without conflating the different areas of study.

Steneby Konsthall also focuses on art and design: it hosts exhibitions and events centred on material-based art and design, bringing national and international creatives to Dals Långed. The venue is also a hub during the annual Dalsland Art Walk. For an art-focused trip, the courses, the Konsthall’s programme and the art walk offer different points of interest.

The church in Dals Långed is part of the town’s history. It was inaugurated in 1972 and incorporates a schoolhouse dating from the 1880s. The two dates refer to different parts of its history: the schoolhouse dates from the 1880s, while the church was inaugurated in 1972. This combination of an older school building and a later church inauguration makes the church a distinct historical subject alongside the town’s contemporary art scene.

Trails and landscape

The three Södra fitness and walking trails in Dals Långed are between 4 and 7 km long. Several of the fitness trails start at the ski hut above Ekhagsskolan and Ekhagsvallen. At 45 km, the second stage of the Lelångeleden is considerably longer and runs from Gustavsfors to Dals Långed. These distances give you a sense of the different scales to consider when planning, without specifying a walking or cycling time.

For cyclists, the route from Bengtsfors to Dals Långed follows Unionsleden, the national cycle route. The trail runs along an old railway embankment beside the Dalsland Canal. Check the surface and signage before setting off. This lets you take this specific route into account when planning, while Södra fitness trails and the Lelångeleden remain separate options with their own distances and endpoints.

The location of the nature reserves also offers a clear point of reference: Baldersnäs is immediately north of Dals Långed and is a nature reserve. About 5 km south of the town, the Ånäsebäcken Nature Reserve lies on Road 2218, known as “Route 2218 – Vackra byars väg”. Ånäsebäcken is a place for walks and exploring. Together with the information about canals, lakes and trails, these destinations offer a range of themes to consider when planning your trip: art and local history, waterways, designated routes and nature reserves.

Discover more destinations: Bäckefors, Gustavsfors, Bengtsfors, Billingsfors, Ödskölt

Go to the main travel overview: Bengtsfors.