The Trail Way - The Mountain Way
Join us for a majestic journey to Rabothytta in the Okstindan mountain range, the roof of Northern Norway. You'll be following in the footsteps of the mountaineers and pioneers who first explored and summited these peaks and pinnacles. With local food and pastries in your backpack, you'll be guided on a journey through vast and wild nature, to the peace and quiet found deep within the mountain wilderness. Great natural experiences meet compelling storytelling in this package tour from The Trail Way.
In this three-day package from The Trail Way, you’re guided on a fabulous journey to Rabothytta, Norway’s most awesome tourist cabin, set within the mighty Okstindan mountain massif. The adventure begins at Bjerka rural museum, with local history and food traditions, and in the long, bright summer evenings up north, you have plenty of time to set the pace of the trip yourself.
Day1: Bjerka Bygdetun and the hike to the Rabothytta cabin
The journey starts when you disembark the train at Bjerka Station, where a rental car awaits you. Here, you’ll find maps and all the information you need for the trip and the experiences ahead. The first stop is Bjerka rural museum, just a few minutes’ drive from the station.
At Bjerka Bygdetun, you’ll be given a tour of the farm buildings dating back to the 1500s. You’ll see how the unique local flatbread “kamkaka” is baked, and you’ll taste it along with more delicious local food, which you’ll take with you in packed lunches for the journey ahead.
Fjellområdet opp mot Rabothytta sett fra luftaBroadstone / Visit Helgeland
Rabothytta is situated 1200 meters above sea level, among ancient glaciers and the highest mountain peaks in Northern Norway. The nature is rugged, but the trek to the cabin is far easier than one might think. A road goes all the way up to about 700 meters in elevation, so the trek to the cabin takes just a couple of hours. The path is well-marked, though the terrain can be rough at times, so good hiking boots and weather-appropriate clothing are a must. This is a high-mountain trek, and the weather can change quickly, so have wind- and waterproof clothes on or in your backpack. About halfway to the cabin, you’ll pass the old stone shelter, built as an emergency refuge for hunters and mountaineers. This is a great place to have lunch if you’re not saving it for when you arrive at the cabin.
Rabothytta is an unmanned DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association) cabin, but during the summer months, there’s a host to welcome you, and who almost always has the waffle iron ready for arriving guests. Here, you share the living space with other hikers, but there’s plenty of room and a spacious atmosphere, just like in the mountains around.
Remember, it stays light all night in the summer here in the north, so you have plenty of time.
Day 2: Discovering Okstindan
Take this day at your own pace. You can wake up early to enjoy a coffee in the mountain’s tranquility. Or sleep in until you hear the coffee maker and waffle iron start up. It’s lovely to sit in the sun or by the window with a book, but we recommend taking time to explore the area.
If you book in advance, you can take a guided tour on the glacier this day. It’s an exciting challenge where you walk with crampons in a rope team, led by a professional glacier guide. You can also take hikes in the nearby area, for example, further into the mountain to the Lønna lake and the charming stream running down towards Leirskardalen below. This is a truly beautiful natural area, and a trip here is highly recommended if the weather is good.
Day 3: The Journey Back
Since the trek down from the cabin is even easier than the way up, and you don’t need to catch the train until 4 PM, you have plenty of time today. You could, for instance, have a long breakfast and enjoy the morning at the cabin, or outside in the sun if the weather is good. Or you could head down early and have more time in the surrounding villages.
Fjelltoppene i Okstindan sett fra KorgfjelletKristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
An alternative is to drive up to Korgfjellet, have lunch at Korgfjellet Fjellstue (Mountain Lodge), and take a short walk along the paths outside. From here, you get a great view of the Okstindan mountains you just came from, giving the trip a nice perspective when you see the mighty mountains from afar.
Another option is to take a drive to the quaint fjord village of Hemnesberget, where you can watch the boat life and have lunch at one of the local cafes.
Practical information
Cellservice in the mountain
There is no cell service along the gravel path and the trail leading to the Rabot cabin, but there is service at the cabin itself.
Equipment
You must bring your own clothes, backpacks, and other hiking gear suitable for the high mountains in the summer. You can find a recommended list of what to pack on the Hinorth website.
Rental car
At least one person in the party needs to have a license to drive a car. The car will be ready at the station when you arrive and must be returned at Nordvik, near the station, no later than 15:30 on the day of departure.
Food
At Bjerka bygdetun you will receive dinner, lunch, and breakfast for all days. The food is pre-packaged, so you can take it with you in your backpack
Day1: Bjerka Bygdetun and the hike to the Rabothytta cabin
The journey starts when you disembark the train at Bjerka Station, where a rental car awaits you. Here, you’ll find maps and all the information you need for the trip and the experiences ahead. The first stop is Bjerka rural museum, just a few minutes’ drive from the station.
At Bjerka Bygdetun, you’ll be given a tour of the farm buildings dating back to the 1500s. You’ll see how the unique local flatbread “kamkaka” is baked, and you’ll taste it along with more delicious local food, which you’ll take with you in packed lunches for the journey ahead.
Fjellområdet opp mot Rabothytta sett fra luftaBroadstone / Visit Helgeland
Rabothytta is situated 1200 meters above sea level, among ancient glaciers and the highest mountain peaks in Northern Norway. The nature is rugged, but the trek to the cabin is far easier than one might think. A road goes all the way up to about 700 meters in elevation, so the trek to the cabin takes just a couple of hours. The path is well-marked, though the terrain can be rough at times, so good hiking boots and weather-appropriate clothing are a must. This is a high-mountain trek, and the weather can change quickly, so have wind- and waterproof clothes on or in your backpack. About halfway to the cabin, you’ll pass the old stone shelter, built as an emergency refuge for hunters and mountaineers. This is a great place to have lunch if you’re not saving it for when you arrive at the cabin.
Rabothytta is an unmanned DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association) cabin, but during the summer months, there’s a host to welcome you, and who almost always has the waffle iron ready for arriving guests. Here, you share the living space with other hikers, but there’s plenty of room and a spacious atmosphere, just like in the mountains around.
Remember, it stays light all night in the summer here in the north, so you have plenty of time.
Day 2: Discovering Okstindan
Take this day at your own pace. You can wake up early to enjoy a coffee in the mountain’s tranquility. Or sleep in until you hear the coffee maker and waffle iron start up. It’s lovely to sit in the sun or by the window with a book, but we recommend taking time to explore the area.
If you book in advance, you can take a guided tour on the glacier this day. It’s an exciting challenge where you walk with crampons in a rope team, led by a professional glacier guide. You can also take hikes in the nearby area, for example, further into the mountain to the Lønna lake and the charming stream running down towards Leirskardalen below. This is a truly beautiful natural area, and a trip here is highly recommended if the weather is good.
Day 3: The Journey Back
Since the trek down from the cabin is even easier than the way up, and you don’t need to catch the train until 4 PM, you have plenty of time today. You could, for instance, have a long breakfast and enjoy the morning at the cabin, or outside in the sun if the weather is good. Or you could head down early and have more time in the surrounding villages.
Fjelltoppene i Okstindan sett fra KorgfjelletKristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
An alternative is to drive up to Korgfjellet, have lunch at Korgfjellet Fjellstue (Mountain Lodge), and take a short walk along the paths outside. From here, you get a great view of the Okstindan mountains you just came from, giving the trip a nice perspective when you see the mighty mountains from afar.
Another option is to take a drive to the quaint fjord village of Hemnesberget, where you can watch the boat life and have lunch at one of the local cafes.
Practical information
Cellservice in the mountain
There is no cell service along the gravel path and the trail leading to the Rabot cabin, but there is service at the cabin itself.
Equipment
You must bring your own clothes, backpacks, and other hiking gear suitable for the high mountains in the summer. You can find a recommended list of what to pack on the Hinorth website.
Rental car
At least one person in the party needs to have a license to drive a car. The car will be ready at the station when you arrive and must be returned at Nordvik, near the station, no later than 15:30 on the day of departure.
Food
At Bjerka bygdetun you will receive dinner, lunch, and breakfast for all days. The food is pre-packaged, so you can take it with you in your backpack
Source: Helgeland Reiseliv as
The Trail Way - The Mountain Way