Gudenåstien

The Gudenå Trail follows Denmark's longest watercourse and only river from its humble source in Tinnet Krat to its mouth in Randers Fjord. Along the way, the Gudenå Trail passes through Søhølandet with several magnificent views. The Ådal was created by the meltwater rivers that formed when the ice melted over 10,000 years ago. Everywhere there are traces of interaction with humans - from the Stone Age to today.

Experiences along the way

The Gudenå Trail offers nature and cultural experiences. Highlights include the spring at Jutland's water divide/ridge, where the Hærvejen runs between the springs of the Gudenå and Skjern Å; Uldum Kær, which is Denmark's largest; The Recovered Bridge and Vestbirk Hydropower Plant; Klostermølle with several thousand years of history and the viewpoint Sukkertoppen; Øm Klostermuseum; Himmelbjerget; Slåen Lake, which is Denmark's purest; The Boat Trail with the old barge-dragging inns and a view of Tvilum Klosterkirke on the opposite bank; Høj Stene - a huge reconstruction of a ship setting from the Iron Age; Tange Lake and Gudenåcentralen; Busbjerg with a beautiful view; Langå Egeskov and the protected bridges and Gudenåenge with rich birdlife. Along the way, there are several towns with plenty of museums and culture, including Silkeborg and Randers.

18 stages and signage

The Gudenå can be divided into three stretches: The southern from source to Klostermølle/Mossø (the river), the middle between Klostermølle and Silkeborg through Søhøjlandet (the lakes), and the northern from Silkeborg to Randers (river and delta). The four maps of the Gudenå Trail follow this division.

The Gudenå Trail is divided into 18 stages, making the journey easier to overview - find the stages here. The Gudenå Trail is marked with red dots and arrows and the Gudenå logo.

It can be wet!

The Gudenå Trail lies at the bottom of a river valley that drains an area the size of Funen. This means that it can be wet - and sometimes flooded. Stay informed at oplevgudenaa.dk/oversvoemmelse. And be particularly aware of the QR codes that have been set up along the way - they indicate that the upcoming stretch may be wet, AND that this is WHERE you have the opportunity to choose an alternative route. Users have created a Facebook group Farbargudenaa, where you can write and ask other users of the Gudenå Trail and share your own experiences and observations.