Bogen Between Mining History and Strandvatnet

For a stay in Bogen, the Gruvedrift Bogen cultural trail, with traces of mining, and the recreational landscape around Strandvatnet are the main attractions. Highlights by the lake include viewpoints and places to stop and rest; in winter, there is also a ski trail.

Cultural Trail and Mining History

In Bogen, the Gruvedrift Bogen cultural trail follows Sporet, the old railway line, to the foundation of Grubestua. You can start the trail at Bogen Chapel, where parking is also available. The trail can end at the Utsikten rest area. Located in the wider Evenes destination, the Gruvedrift Bogen cultural trail is 2.5 kilometres long and has nine signs about the mining heritage. The trail is wheelchair accessible as far as the penultimate point.

Bogen was a shipping port for iron ore from the Ofoten mines. They were operated during several periods, most recently from 1936 to 1939. During the Second World War, Grubestua served as a rest stop for German submarine crews. There are also many cultural heritage sites connected with mining and hydropower around Strandvatnet.

Strandvatnet: Views, Rest Stops and a Winter Ski Trail

Strandvatnet is close to Bogen and is a recreational area. It is also known as a good char-fishing lake. There are different highlights at and around the lake: Krøkebærneset has an accessible barbecue shelter with lovely views across Strandvatnet and the surrounding mountains. Vassbotn, at the lake’s innermost end, has a sandy beach, a large shelter, and a fire and barbecue area. Krøkebærneset combines views with a barbecue shelter; at Vassbotn, the focus is on the sandy beach, shelter, and fire and barbecue area.

The season also shapes what you can do by the lake. In winter, Evenes UIL prepares a ski trail along the lit trail around Strandvatnet. The ski trail is a winter feature; views and places to rest around Strandvatnet are a separate highlight.

Bogen Chapel

Bogen Chapel is in the southeastern part of the settlement and is a wooden long church. It was originally built in 1920 and inaugurated in 1963 after renovation and expansion.

Discover more destinations: Evenes, Liland. In the wider Evenes destination, Gállogieddi offers insights into Sámi culture and history. The Sámi open-air museum includes a gamme, a traditional conical-pole lávvu, as well as residential, utility and storage buildings. Visitors can experience a Markasámi farm and learn about the cultural heritage, livelihoods and religion of the Marka settlements; an exhibition showcases Sámi handicrafts known as duodji. The Sámi festival Márkomeannu takes place there every year on the last weekend of July, featuring Sámi musicians, visual artists and cultural practitioners from across Sápmi. Evenes Church contains a 13th-century baptismal font from the first church in Ofoten, built around 1250. The present-day Evenes Church was built in 1800 as a cruciform church with a mansard roof, in the style of an old Danish manor house or the Biedermeier style.

Back to the wider travel overview: Evenes.