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Canoeing with children in Oslo

When the child is a year or two, there is no reason not to take them on a canoe trip. Some argue you can also bring babies, but it´s up to you whether that feels safe or not - some considerations around this at the bottom of the page. Take precautions, use lifejackets, paddle along the shore and enjoy the ride! Here are tips on where to rent canoes in the Oslo area and some advice for a successful canoe trip. Enjoy!

Canoe rental around Oslo

Vangen Skistue
Vangen Skistue in Østmarka rent canoes between 1 May and 1 November. Their website does not provide specific information about canoe rental, but you get some info here and otherwise I recommend making a phone call in advance.
Prices are as follows:
- 250kr for a day
- 350kr for 24 hours
- 600kr for a weekend

Access by car: drive to the parking lot of Bysetermåsan and walk the 3 kilometer trail to Vang (1hr).
Access by public transport: take bus 501 towards Enebakk-Lillestrøm from the Oslo Bus Terminal, get off at Fjell (half hour bus ride), walk 45 minutes on the road to Bysetermåsan and an hour on a trail on to Vangen.

Cafe open 10-15 Monday-Friday and 10-16 Saturday and Sunday. Accommodation for groups only.

Bjørnholt
Bjørnholt is located in the middle of Nordmarka at the end of Bjørnsjøen. Cafe at the barn Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 18:00. You can also spend the night here.

Prices for canoe rentals are 300kr for a day or 350kr for 24 hours.

Getting there: By car to Hammeren in Maridalen. See here for directions. You can also take bus 51 from Nydalen to Hammeren. From Hammeren there is a 8km route to Bjørnholt.

Kikutstua
Kikutstua is a very nice cabin in Nordmarka where you can both eat and sleep. Price for canoe rental is 350kr per day. Please contact them directly for canoe rentals.

Mariholtet
Mariholtet also rents out canoes, but if you´re bringing children, they have to able to swim.

    Comments? Suggestions?

Keys for a successful canoe trip

Here is some good advice among others from Eivind Eidslott, taken from UT.no:
  • First and foremost: Remember lifejackets! For the whole family! Here´s the latest test on lifejackets for kids.
  • Paddle along the shore. You do not want to fall over 1,000 meters from shore in freezing water with your kids!
  • Canoeing is one of the most fun activities you can do outdoors with children. Use common sense - and the canoe trip will be a success.
  • There are many campsites and activity groups that rent out canoes. Check with the tourist office or perhaps the local scout group can lend you a canoe for the weekend?
  • If you want to buy a canoe, there is a decent second-hand market out there - for both regular and folding canoes. You should expect to spend a couple of thousands NOK.
  • Folding canoes are compact and easy to transport. However, they require some time and adaptation when put together. Practice doing it beforehand!
  • You should always bring/wear rainwear and rain boots on the trip - convenient for both adults and kids.
  • You can tie your kid´s paddles to the canoe with a small rope - in case he or she drops the paddle in the water.
  • Bring your fishing gear and the canoe trip will be an even greater experience. Bring your camping gear too - and set up a tent camp that would make even Davy Crockett envious!

Bringing a baby on the canoe trip?

A quick google search show that a lot of people bring their babies on canoe trips. A couple of considerations:
  • I can´t seem to find any formal guideline for how old a kid should be, but at the very least you need a lifejacket that fits.
  • Parents should obviously be experienced paddlers.
  • Many babies don´t like the lifejacket, which makes for a miserable trip. You can try and practice in a pool. They often enjoy it better when they´re a year old or more. 
  • For those who are not scared of bringing babies and small children, many people advice to put the baby unstrapped in a car seat in the middle of the canoe. 
  • Another good piece of advice is to wait until late summer when the water is warmer. 
  • And remember: Paddling with kids is not without its pitfalls. Diaper changes, pacifier cleaning, cry arbitration and crib packing will compete with everything else you need to do on such a trip. But it might just be worth it!

Find some more advice here from Outdoor Adventure Canada.