Skjærhalden: Harbour, Coastal Path and National Park

Skjærhalden is the centre of the municipality of Hvaler. The guest harbour, restaurants and shops are part of the town, as is the visitor centre for Ytre Hvaler National Park. When planning your visit, you can distinguish between exhibitions and information in town, the marked coastal path on Kirkøy, and beaches and cultural sites in the surrounding area.

National Park Centre and Visitor Information

The visitor centre for Ytre Hvaler National Park is on the third floor of the Kornmagasinet cultural centre. Its exhibition explores the nature of the national park through texts, images, natural specimens and screen presentations. There are also brochures, paper maps, digital mapping services and literature, as well as tips for excursions and activities in the national park. This visitor information may vary seasonally. The centre also hosts lectures and guided tours in the national park; check dates in advance.

Admission to the visitor centre is free. It is open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 3 pm; check opening times before your visit. Hvaler Tourist Information is on the first floor of Kornmagasinet. It offers information and tips on things to do in Hvaler and Fredrikstad and is open in summer. Check seasonal opening dates before visiting.

Coastal Path, Beach and Marine Nature

The marked coastal path on Kirkøy starts at Skjærhalden Torg. From there, it heads south towards Homlungen fyr and onwards to Døvika, Storesand, Ørekroken and Rødshue; northwards, it runs to Grønne Bakke friområde. The directions and destinations listed give you a clear guide when choosing a section of the path. Most of the path is within Ytre Hvaler National Park, and there are many viewpoints along the route.

The National Park in the Hvaler Travel Area

In the Hvaler travel area, Ytre Hvaler National Park covers 354 km² of coastline and archipelago and is Norway’s first marine national park. It was inaugurated on 09.09.09; 96 per cent of its area lies underwater. This places the coastal landscape around Skjærhalden within a larger marine natural area.

Kroksand, also known as Bystranda, is in the centre of Skjærhalden. The beach has Blue Flag status, is accessible to people with disabilities and has a diving tower. Storesand on Kirkøy lies north of the town. This beach, which is part of the national park, is 500 metres long, shallow and faces southwest. There is also a smaller national park visitor centre at Storesand.

There is also a way to explore the sea at the harbour: Lilleputtsenteret has an outdoor aquarium offering a glimpse of life below the sea’s surface. This gives visitors a choice of ways to explore nature in town: an exhibition about the national park and an aquarium with views beneath the water’s surface.

History and Art in the Surrounding Area

Huth Fort, built around 1790, is on Kjerringholmen, close to Skjærhalden. It was never completed, but was used and opened fire in 1814 during the brief war against Sweden. The fort on Kjerringholmen is open to visitors.

A reconstructed Archimedes’ screw—the only one in the country—is located at the mouth of Arekilen on Kirkøy. The area is part of Arekilen Nature Reserve. A marked path leads to the structure, which is 400 metres from the road. The historic fort and the reconstructed screw offer different points of interest: Kjerringholmen focuses on military history, while Arekilen features an engineering structure in a nature reserve.

In Skjærhalden, Fargekolonien Galleri Garage hosts exhibitions and offers artistic activities. Galleri Lisa Aisato has a permanent sales exhibition featuring digital prints as well as numbered Giclée/DGA prints, and sells books. The two galleries add different artistic offerings to a visit to the town.

Harbour, Shopping and onward Travel

The guest harbour, several restaurants and shops provide a point of reference during your time in Skjærhalden. You can buy fresh Hvaler prawns as soon as they are brought ashore. If you want to continue from here to the eastern islands of the municipality of Hvaler, the Hvalerferga departs from Skjærhalden. The ferry is free for passengers. Check the current timetable and fare before departure.

Discover more destinations: Vesterøy, Hvaler, Nedgården.

Back to the main travel overview: Hvaler.