Step 11 Gudenåstien

Stage 11 goes from Silkeborg city - along the Gudenå River northwards - to Svostrup. The Gudenå River here widens like a river, and the valley is characterized by the broad meltwater valley that was formed in the last part of the Ice Age. The meltwater and later the Gudenå River have "created" terraces at several levels, and the valley sides are clearly marked and in some stretches, strongly marked by erosion gorges - among others near Gjern Bakker.

On this stretch, you walk on one of Denmark's longest wooden bridges/boardwalks. You pass by Sminge Lake with a birdwatching tower - on the other side of the river, there was briefly a monastery in the early Middle Ages, Sminge Monastery. At Sminge, there are shelters and a toilet. And in Svostrup, you can both eat, drink coffee, and sleep in a bed at Svostrup Kro, which exudes barge-puller history.

The Gudenå Trail is identical to the Trækstien between Silkeborg and Randers - the trail that was mainly used for freight transport in the second half of the 1800s by men or horses from the banks pulling barges with paper, peat, and other goods.