Hennes: Nature, Hiking and Culture in Hadsel

Choosing Hennes as a destination can be guided by two interests: the landscape along the Hennesheia Route and Møysalen National Park. There is also the guided summit hike to Møysalen and cultural points of interest in Hennes and the wider destination of Hadsel. This lets you consider nature and regional cultural heritage as distinct focuses for your trip. Hennes and Kaljord lie at the entrance to Lonkanfjord, one of the most frequently used access points to the protected area.

Hennesheia Route and Møysalen Hike

The Hennesheia Route is partially marked from the pier in Hennes to the tree line. Above the tree line, the terrain is easy to walk, but the route becomes harder to follow. For navigation, it is worth distinguishing between the terrain and the route: easy-to-walk terrain does not necessarily mean the route is easy to spot.

From the route, the view extends east to Møysalen and the ridge between Møysalen and Hennesheia. To the west, you can see the islands around Stokmarknes; to the south, the view stretches across the Hadselfjord basin to Raftsundet. The different viewing directions give the route its own landscape character, without implying a single panoramic view.

Another hiking option is a guided tour to the summit of 1,264-metre-high Møysalen. It is offered every summer from late June to late September; specific dates may vary from year to year. The tour starts in Hennes with a boat trip to Lonkanfjord. If you plan this summit hike, check the dates for the relevant season in advance. Its guided format, summit destination and boat transfer distinguish it from the Hennesheia Route described above.

Møysalen National Park Centre

Founded in 2007, Møysalen Nasjonalparksenter is located at Møysalen National Park in Hennes, Hadsel Municipality, Nordland. A small exhibition focuses on the protected area; the centre also has a local shop. Basic café service is available during the shop’s opening hours. If you plan to use the café service, check the shop’s opening hours in advance.

Church and regional history

Innlandet Church is located on Hinnøya in Hadsel Municipality, Nordland. Formerly known as Hennes Chapel, it is a wooden long church built in 1992, with seating for 100. It offers a specific point of interest for travellers interested in church architecture and local history as well as landscapes and hiking.

Hadsel as a broader cultural setting

Other cultural sites in the wider destination of Hadsel offer different perspectives. Neptun Sildoljefabrikk is a technical industrial heritage site on the small island of Svinøya, on the south side of Hadseløya in Vesterålen. It illustrates the industrial fishing industry from the late 19th century to the 20th century and offers bookable outdoor tours. The Hadsel Cultural Heritage Park is an open-air museum showcasing a variety of cultural heritage sites and sharing Hadsel’s cultural history. While Neptun Sildoljefabrikk focuses on the industrial fishing industry, the Cultural Heritage Park presents a broader range of Hadsel’s cultural heritage.

Discover more destinations: Stokmarknes, Grytting, Myrland, Tengelfjorden, Tengelfjord, Melbu

Back to the main travel overview: Hadsel.