Provided by:
The Trail Way
Welcome to Hemnes! Embark on a green and unforgettable journey to Norway’s most spectacular mountain cabin! Pick up your rental car, immerse yourself in local knowledge, culture, and gastronomy, and relish a fantastic mountain hike in the beautiful Okstindan nature and culture park.
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The Mountain Way is about experiencing the fantastic North-Norwegian landscape far above sea-level. And if you are ready for the challenge – conquering majestic peaks that almost touch the sky. Explore unknown terrain, push your boundaries, and create memories that stay with you forever. Just a stone throw from the train station you will find your rental car which enable you to travel through all the stops and experiences along your route. Whoops! Or to put it more plainly, approximately 150 meters from the railway station lays the auto rental shop Nordvik AS where the car is ready for you. Look in the car and you will find the welcome folder which contains further information, a map of Okstindan and the map showing the way to your next stop: Bygdetunet at Bjerka. The open-air museum Bygdetunet is the first stop before you begin the hike up to one of the most awe-inspiring tourist lodges in Norway: Rabothytta. The hike can be accompanied with changing weather and the terrain can be demanding for some, so remember to pack proper equipment and tight-laced hiking boots! You oversee settling in yourself when you reach your destination. Look forward to spending the night in simple, but comfortable and breath-taking premises right by the mighty Okstind-glacier. After a good night's sleep and breakfast, you are free to explore the surrounding area like the nearby lake Okstindtjønna or the foot of the glacier where you can feel the cold blue ice against your fingertips. Experienced guides will take you on an exciting trip on the majestic glacier if you have pre-booked a glacier walk. The guides have the necessary safety equipment, you just bring guts and gusto. Rabothytta is a hike you are sure to never forget!
Welcome to Bjerka, an small place with grand experiences! Right here, tucked just in-between Mosjøen and Mo i Rana, the distance is short between mighty mountains and beautiful fjords. This tiny village and its surrounding area have a historical buzz about them. And its scenic surroundings will take you all the way up to the very roof of Northern Norway. Facing southeast, you will find the mountain massif Okstindan, with its ancient Okstind-glacier and Northern Norway's highest mountain, Oksskolten, who towers majestically over the surrounding peaks. 1916 meters above sea level. These mighty surroundings have for hundreds of years been both a source of inspiration and a challenge for the people who dwell here, fostering experienced mountain walkers as well as creative entrepreneurs. Here you can take part in a spectacular overnight trip with the opportunity for glacier-hiking and a dip in Mørkbekktjønna with its 9,000-year-old glacial water. The latter is, of course, optional and for the extra frisky. Or perhaps you think it's more than enough to take in the fresh mountain air and the completely exhilarating view from Northern Norway's highest point. Welcome to Northern Norway's roof and the Mountain Way!
The occupation-years during the Second World War started many large-scale nazi-led infrastructure projects in Northern-Norway such as the creation of roads and railways. To achieve this, prisoners of war were used as slave labour under inhumane conditions. Many lost their lives either due to starvation, exhaustion, mistreatment or outright murder from the guards. Traces of this activity, so-called "blood roads" can be found in several places throughout Norway. As many as 640 Yugoslav prisoners of war died during the creation of the road leading over the Korgen mountain. At Korgfjellet mountain lodge you will find the memorial to the prisoners of war who died during the road’s construction. And on the road over Korgfjellet you can find 6 information-boards which tells this cruel history in more depth. The story of the Blood Road is included in Nordland Teater's project for 2024, War Travels, which highlights local stories from the war-period. The theatre performance “Granitt” is on tour through Nordland and tells the tale of one of the prisoners of war. Check the website of Nordland Teater to see if the play is visiting a site near you.