Klarälvsbanan and Klarälvsleden connect Karlstad with the landscapes of Värmland, from the Lake Vänern area to Sysslebäck. Visit Värmland describes the two routes together as a 220 km journey: a paved former railway forms the centrepiece, with a different mix of paths and roads at either end.
The former railway from Karlstad
The 90 km Klarälvsbanan runs from Karlstad to Uddeholm on an asphalted, car-free former railway embankment. Karlstad municipality identifies the start beside Kroppkärrssjön and describes a route through Edsgatan, Forshaga and Deje, continuing towards Munkfors, Råda and Uddeholm. Rest areas and information boards provide places to pause along the way.
The surroundings change as the route heads north: Visit Värmland describes open agricultural country in the south giving way to forest. The railway itself dates from the late 19th century and was known as the Nordmark–Klarälvens Järnvägar, or NKLJ.
The Klarälvsleden connections
Klarälvsleden adds two connected pieces to the railway route. To the south, the 10 km Hammarö–Karlstad section uses cycle paths and small roads through communities, bringing the Lake Vänern area into the journey.
North of Uddeholm, Klarälvsleden continues for 120 km towards Sysslebäck on existing asphalt and gravel roads. This is a different riding environment from the car-free railway path, so consider the change of surface and road setting when choosing a bike and deciding how much of the combined route to ride.
Choosing a section and sharing the path
The combined itinerary can be approached as a longer journey or as a series of shorter outings. Visit Värmland provides an overview and separate section maps, including Hammarö–Forshaga, Forshaga–Munkfors and northern sections towards Sysslebäck. Karlstad municipality notes several communities along Klarälvsbanan and rest places with information boards.
Near the Karlstad start, a 30 km/h limit applies for the first 2.6 km through Kroppkärr and Lorensberg. The municipality also warns of children playing and restricted visibility. Riders should slow further where crossings, visibility, weather or other path users require it; on the shared path, cyclists keep to the right and pedestrians to the left.