Sørfold: Rago, Fjord Valleys and Cultural Heritage

The entire Rago National Park lies within Sørfold. Pine forests and sheltered coves, smooth-polished rocks, thundering waterfalls and high mountains with year-round snow define its landscape. When planning a trip, Sørfold offers a variety of experiences: from the vast Rago to walks through valleys and visits to historic sites.

Landscape and hiking trails

Rago has several well-marked trails. Suspension bridges cross the largest rivers, while boardwalks run through the wettest areas. The marked Rago Loop is about 20 kilometres long. It starts in Lakshol at the innermost end of Nordfjord and passes through the national park’s characteristic landscape. Another viewpoint is Grisryggen: from there, you can see Litlverivassfossen; the viewpoint can be reached on a day hike from the Litjsand car park.

A shorter route option is the loop through Sørfjorddalen: it is 3.6 kilometres long and follows a marked trail for part of the way and a forest track for the rest. These distances offer an initial comparison for planning hikes, though the routes are not directly comparable. You can fish or paddle along the route by Sørfjordvatnet.

Straumklumpen also offers a view of the landscape: the hike opens up vistas across large parts of southern Sørfold. The trail starts on the south side of the tower and is marked blue throughout where vegetation is present. In Gjerdalen, the approximately 17-kilometre-long Gjerdalsveien runs along a gravel road through the valley to a landscape characterised by smooth-polished rock. A cycling trip into the valley takes you past cultural heritage and war memorial sites. The cycle route starts at Kobbvatnet campsite in Sørfold municipality; road conditions vary by season.

Culture and history

Rørstad Church is a wooden church built in 1761, with a cruciform floor plan and 290 seats. Its heritage protection status is automatically listed for the period from 1650 to 1850. In Røsvik, the trading post is recognised as protected cultural heritage and a cultural monument of national importance. The old trading centre is protected; its main building dates from 1832 and the Ildhus from around 1760.

In historic Røsvik, Galleri Banken combines an art gallery and the studio of artist Gro T. Rykkelid with local products. The offerings include coffee, waffles and ice cream. In Kjelvik, the small houses that form part of the protected Sámi cultural heritage can be visited on guided tours. Kjelvik tenant farmer’s holding is a former smallholding. Clothing, household items and tools have been preserved from the period before the last resident died in 1967.

Food and getting there

Heges Matopplevelser prepares meals outdoors, in the mountains or by the shore. Ingredients from local suppliers and home-grown produce are used. At Bjørklund Gård, you can taste and pick strawberries and raspberries, which are grown in Arctic conditions.

From Fauske, Sørfold is accessible by bus or car via the E6. Fauske is the nearest railway station; the nearest airport and Hurtigruten port of call are in Bodø. Sørfjorddalen is also accessible by bus or car via the E6. Buses run directly from Bodø or Fauske to Kobbelv vertshus. As bus timetables can change, check your connection before departure.

Discover more destinations

Straumen, Sørfold, Røsvik, Narvik, Dønna, Alstahaug, Fauske, Rødøy

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