The bicycle map “Längs Strömsholms kanal” (Along Strömsholm’s Canal) chooses to present the bike track from Borgåsund in the south to Smedjebacken in the north. To create some balance, this guide will take you from north to south.

We takeoff from the Harbor Office (Hamnkontoret) in Smedjebacken and go by way of Kyrkogatan, Hamngatan and Vasagatan/Smedjegatan across Kolbäck’s river and the railway. Then we turn left onto Flatenbergsgatan. We go through Backbyn into the foot- and cycle path that, via Rastahyttan, leads to Vanhäll. There we turn left onto the old main road between Smedjebacken and Söderbärke.

Just ahead of Söderbärke we connect with Bergmansvägen, via a newly constructed cycle path. When we have crossed Bärkevägen we connect with the cycle path along Kopparvägen. We turn right and are on the old main road heading south. This road brings us along South Barken to a railway crossing at Hugnora.

We carefully cross the railway and continue along the old road that little by little connects with road 66 at Läsarbo. Here we have to go on road 66 almost five km, there is no alternative. But be in good spirits! The road is wide and straight, admits good sight and has proper verges.

After that we turn left towards Hedkärra, where we pick Otivägen passed the golf course and via the cycle path from Oti we arrive Västanfors’ folk museum. On the way there, we cross Eskiln’s camp space. Now we have accomplished about forty km.

From Västanfors the route goes by way of cycle paths out onto Knutsvägen that merges into Ängelsbergsvägen. That road brings us via Ombenning’s village to Ängelsberg with its’ facilities. From Västanfors and there it is 14 km. Now we are on the most wooded and hilly part of the “main track”. But here and there you come close to water and opportunities to swim.

Across Västervåla and Gammelby in the outskirts of Virsbo, we arrive in Seglingsberg. There we turn right across the railway and follow an old village road across Färmansbo to Brattheden at the north approach to Ramnäs. We pass among others Ramnäs Conference and Ramnäs’ sports ground and turn right towards and passed Schenströmska Herrgården.

When we have passed the industrial area, we turn right and go across the canal. Then we turn left towards Högbyn. We cross road 66 carefully and reach, through small nice villages, road 252. There we pay a visit before we turn left on a cycle path towards the center of Surahammar.

From Ängelsberg we have biked 35 km. We move on via the central parts of Surahammar onto the old road between Surahammar and Hallstahammar.

At the north approach to Hallstahammar we choose the road across the dam at Trångfors’ power station. We pass the forge of Trångfors and glide passed Skantzsjön to Skantzen, the geographical residence of Strömsholms Kanalbolag (The Canal Company). Now we have covered 15 more km.

We pass Näslund and Näs Gård and continue, through a cow gate, beneath road E18 and end up in Lyckhem, where we connect with the cycle path towards Kolbäck. Along the river and across a little, unnamed creek we arrive in Kyrkbyområdet (The Church Village area). Here we face a challenge as we set out up the Kyrkby ridge and gradually reach the golf course in Mölntorp.

An old village road leads to road 252 which we carefully cross and via Sofielund area we pass Strömsholm’s stable hill. We finish our trip in Borgåsund after about 120 km of pedaling.

Alternative tracks

If we want, instead of choosing the “main track”, we can go on the east side of either of the two Barken seas. This direction has much more woods and it leaves partly the real canal stretching. But we will have a lot of contact with water and small nice villages.

We takeoff from the harbor in Smedjebacken and go via a cycle path that leads us on the south side of the cemetery and Herosvallen, across Frejgatan. Then we turn right out onto the big road towards Säter. After less than three km we turn right into Vibberbovägen and pass among others Gladtjärn and Vibberbo. At our destination in Korsheden we once more turn right and glide little by little into Söderbärke.

Now we have accomplished the first ten km. Here we can connect with the “main track” or choose to continue on the east side of South Barken . If we go on the east side we will pass a couple of villages, for example Vad. Just ahead of Fagersta we turn right towards Semla. By way of a car road in the woods, we reach the street system in a district called “The Other Side”.

We leave Herrgårdsvägen and go via a footpath called Linjan. Observe! This is a cycle path of great natural beauty, but it’s also narrow and it is not suitable to bring a cycle cart. And so we connect with the “main track” at Västanfors’ folk museum. The east stretching is a couple of kilometers longer than the west.