Hasvik: Caves, hiking trails and history

Caves, hiking trails and traces of the Second World War give a trip to Hasvik several different focal points. Kvithellhula combines a short, marked approach with a specific story from the winter of the war; at Nordsandfjordhula, finding your way and the dimensions of the main entrance are the main considerations. Elsewhere, options range from a local recreation area with a swimming and fishing spot to the approximately 100-kilometre-long “Sørøya på langs” hiking route. If you’re looking for a hotel in Hasvik, you can first consider which of these experiences you’d like to shape your trip.

Caves and their history

Kvithellhula is about six kilometres from the village of Hasvik. From a clearly visible sign by the road, a marked trail leads to the cave in about ten minutes. Its historical connection is specific: during the winter of 1944–45, 35 people lived here for 99 days. A memorial plaque installed by Hasvik Historielag is inside the cave. The short, marked approach and the story of the people who stayed there offer two distinct aspects of this destination: clear directions on site and an insight into life during the winter of the war.

Finding your way is an important practical consideration at Nordsandfjordhula. Without someone familiar with the area to guide you, the entrance can be difficult to find; rocks covered in seaweed are slippery. The main entrance is 40 metres long, 12 to 15 metres wide and three metres high. From Hasvik, drive via Breivikbotn to Sandvika, where there is an information board and a car park. The Municipality of Hasvik’s contribution to the “Fotefar i Nord” project is a marked trail from Sandvika to the mountain cave in Nordsandfjord.

Trails and time outdoors

Kvithellvannet is one of the three designated recreation areas in the Municipality of Hasvik. It has a bathing jetty or swimming area, a fishing spot and a barbecue area. The hiking trail to Kvithellhula is also marked. This area therefore offers several different options: time at the swimming area, fishing, a barbecue area and the trail to the cave.

“Sørøya på langs” is on a completely different scale. The route runs from Mount Fuglen near Sørvær to Tarhalsen near Akkarfjord, is about 100 kilometres long and is marked according to the DNT standard. It has also been mapped by GPS along its entire length. Compared with the approximately ten-minute trail to Kvithellhula, it is a long-distance route; these details help put the different distances and time commitments into perspective without treating them as comparable hikes.

Håen and other historical traces

During the Second World War, a German fortification was built on Mount Håen near Hasvik. It consisted of a network of bunkers, gun emplacements and trenches. A visit to Håen still gives an impression of the scale of German activity towards the end of the war. Alongside the story of Kvithellhula, it is another place where the wartime past can be traced in the landscape.

An older route is another part of the area’s history: the section of trail leading from Hasvik to Hasvåg is now the oldest surviving section of trail in Finnmark. It complements the history of caves and fortifications with a different kind of trace and a connection to the region’s trail history.

Plan for events and travel

Municipal events take place at different times of the year. Sørøyfestivalen is held every April, while Sørøyrocken is a recurring event in July. Dates may vary. Sørøysommer includes events throughout the summer, although the individual activities may vary. If you’d like to plan your trip around one of these events, check the relevant dates before making your plans.

There is a ferry service from Hasvik to Øksfjord in the Municipality of Loppa. As transport services can change, it’s advisable to check the timetable before travelling. This way, you can plan events, your chosen hiking trails and your journey as separate elements, rather than assuming that one offering determines the schedule for your entire trip.

Discover more destinations: Sørvær, Hasvik, Tana, Alta, Vardø, Vadsø, Kvalsund, Gamvik.

For the regional travel overview: Finnmark.