Historical hikes

4. The King's Road over Filefjell

Hike the road that connects the east and the west. You may not be the first to cross Filefjell, but you will walk on the first road where one could travel from Eastern Norway to Western Norway by horse and carriage. The 100 kilometer long path has been maintained through 200 years, and the King's Road is among the finest examples of cultural road heritage in Europe.

The King's Road over Filefjell starts in the small villages of Valdres, passes Filefjell, and ends in the dramatic landscapes in Sognefjord. Here, you will end up at the winding road of Vindhellavegen, right next to the Borgund Stave Church.

The hike takes 3-6 days and is about 110 kilometers long.

Season: May 1 - October 15

5. Skageflå in Geiranger

Skageflå is a vacated fjord farm located 250 metres above the Geirangerfjord. The steep path takes about 45 minutes, and some parts of it may be a bit challenging, but once you have made your way up to the farm and see the stunning view, it will be worth it. If you want to see more, you can hike all the way to Homlong. The whole trip takes roughly five hours.

Combine the trip to Geiranger with an adventure. Get on a boat to see the waterfalls and the fjord, or try out activities such as paddling, climbing or farm visits. And did you know that Geiranger is actually labelled a sustainable destination?

Season: Summer

6. Stølsruta in Valdres

When hiking along Stølsruta in Valdres, you will experience a rich, varied and old cultural landscape. The road passes through small farms, mountains and woods. Along the way you will be able to stay the night in cozy mountain cabins. The hike is a total of 67 kilometers and it takes about five days to complete. The route starts in Tisleidalen and ends in Vang.

The route passes through an area full of traces of people and history, stretching back many centuries. This is a well-preserved area in Valdres where animals and humans thrive. Some of the small farms serve the Norwegian brown cheese and delicious farmer's cuisine.

Season: June-September

7. The Tømmerrenna timber slide in Vennesla

Tømmerrenna timber slide Vennesla is actually a slide that was used for timber transportation on the river Otra. On this hike, you will find yourself surrounded by beautiful nature on all sides. On the way, you will also have to cross suspension bridges and navigate through tunnels. A fun trip for the whole family that takes about five hours.

And when in Vennesla, you should also visit the amazing Vennesla library and culture hall, which has gotten a lot of attention both nationally and internationally.

Season: All year if the weather is OK

8. The child wanderer path in Southern Norway

The child wanderer path in Southern Norway is a 136 kilometers long path that tells a story about poverty and hunger. A child emigration happened in the 1800s, when many families had to send their oldest children to the larger farms to work. The reason for the increasing poverty was presumably due to the population growth, and that fact that the farms became smaller, which resulted in fewer jobs.

The path starts in Kvinesdal and ends by Landvik in Grimstad, Southern Norway. You should estimate about seven days to complete the route, which is a route of medium difficulty. You can also choose to hike parts of it.

Season: Spring

9. The Queen's Route in Vesterålen

By the ocean's edge in the Vesterålen islands, between the fishing villages Stø and Nyksund, you will find the Queen's Route. The old road was used by the midwife on her way to women giving birth in Nyksund. It got its name after the Norwegian Queen Sonja hiked it in 1994. It became one of her favorite hikes.

The hike can be completed in two ways. You can follow a five kilometer long hike along the coast, or you can try out a more challenging route in the mountain. If you choose to do both, the route will be a total of 15 kilometers and take 5-6 hours.

In Stø, you can join a whale and seal safari, while Nyksund is an exciting fishing village with several galleries, activities and nice restaurants.

Season: June - September.

Other historical hikes

In 2015, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage and the Norwegian Trekking Association teamed up under the name Historiske vandreruter, meaning Historical hikes, to increase the knowledge about the Norwegian old roads. Here, they have chosen exciting cultural and historical routes across the country. What they all have in common is a living cultural heritage and beautiful nature, which makes it more fun to hike along them. Read more about them underneath.