Heritage trail: Karl Johans veg

The old route between Sweden and Norway in Verdal has been restored and is now used by pilgrims, cyclists, and hikers.

We recommend Karl Johan's Way as a great hiking suggestion in Verdal.

Karl Johan's Way stretches from Skalstufjellet in Jämtland to Ådalsvollen in Verdal and was once a national road between Norway and Sweden. In 1821, the Swedish-Norwegian King Carl Johan decided that a carriage road should be built over Skalstufjellet to Verdal, and it was completed in 1835. Nearly 200 years later, the road is still both beautiful and easily passable.

A royal route over the mountain
The route between Jämtland and Verdal has likely seen several royal journeys. Olav Haraldson traveled here on his way to Stiklestad, and it was this route that Kalv Arneson chose when he later went to bring Olav's son Magnus home from Garadarike to become the new King of Norway. And it was here that King Carl Johan traveled in his own carriage – with a large entourage – when the road that bears his name was opened in 1835.

For a long time, it was an important route for travel and goods transport between the two countries. The road stretch is 17.5 km long, protected, and well-preserved. The road is a cohesive and well-preserved stretch where several typical stone arch bridges have also been preserved.

The road surface consists of gravel and grass, and it crosses several stone arch bridges, a flagstone bridge, many dry stone culverts, and two newly restored wooden bridges. Two cast iron milestones also stand along the road. Kleiva has walls up to three meters high. Today, the road is a much-used hiking trail.

Pilgrims' Route Parts of the more than 500 km long Pilgrims' Route St. Olavsleden from Sundsvall to Trondheim run along Karl Johan's Way.

Read more about the history behind Karl Johan's Way on digitaltfortalt.no

Arrival:
Just south of Verdal center, turn off and follow Jämtlandsvegen – Fv 72 eastwards for about 35 kilometers. Park on the left side of the roa