Historic farm trails in the fjords: barns, pastures, legends
Before the advent of motorways, the fjords fed Norway with more than just fish – and now, they're a sight to behold! Generations of farmers have kept "sommerstøl" – summer pastures high above the water, connected by steep stone paths. Today, these routes reveal the country from a side where routes through national parks in Norway become an incredible living audiobook: stone barns, hand-held suspension bridges, legends of troll farmers and the creaking of carts that can almost be heard in the gusts of wind.
We have handpicked six incredible historic trails, each set against a stunning backdrop of a different fjord. I am thrilled to tell you that all of these sites are official cultural sites, marked by the DNT. What's more, they closely match the best national park hikes in Norway! Grab your light backpack, fill your heart with stories for the kids and get ready to be transported back in time.
Skageflå Farm Trail – Geiranger's "balcony"
Where: Geirangerfjord, Møre og Romsdal
Length/elevation: 5 km "up and down" / +550 m
Key image: a farm on a 250-metre ledge overlooking the Seven Sisters waterfalls.
The trail starts at Skagehola pier, where an early boat drops off passengers. A stone "snake" then disappears into the forest. Halfway along the trail, you will see old stalls from the 1880s and a guest book in a barn. Legend has it that a cow was given shoes here, otherwise it would have fallen into the fjord.
Kjeåsen Switchbacks – electricity and goats at Sima
Where: Sørfjord, Hardanger
Length/set: 4 km / +500 m, 11 hairpin bends
Fact/legend: until 1975, goods were lifted by a cable winch.
A road with no cars (you need an appointment to go there) leads to two houses. Electricity first arrived here in 1937, when the Sima hydroelectric power station was built. This was to make sure that milk did not go off before it could be sent to Eidfjord. The porch provides a traditional view of the Hardangerfjord, with its blue and white hues.
Rimstigen Way — Nærøyfjord's Milky Way
Where: Nærøyfjord, Sogn
Length/elevation gain: 3.7 km / +715 m
The trail's secret: stone channels for cow hooves are still visible under the moss.
The former "corridor" for cheese carts runs under a 70-metre waterfall and ends on the Breidalen plateau. You can refill your water bottle in the stream. The taste of the water will remind you of the journey the herders made, exchanging milk for flour every 20 kilometres.
Otternes Cluster & Bjødnabrekkene
Where: Aurlandsfjord, Sognefjord
Length/set: 2 km walk along three terraces
What you will see: 27 wooden houses from the 17th–19th centuries, a museum kitchen with a chimney "heel".
The road surface in Otternes is so smooth that you can use a pushchair or hand bike without any help (see article 22). Inside the barns, there is an exhibition on "stone threshing machines" and goat brunost tasting, just like in the days of our great-grandfathers.
Historical Steps of Stølsheimen — "The Cheese and Slate Trail"
Where: Stølsheimen NP / Osterfjord
Length/elevation: 12 km / ±420 m (one day)
Highlights: slate steps and five closed "sommerstøl" with milking stalls on display.
From June to August, one barn is open to visitors. You can see an "ostetønne", a wooden barrel where cream was whipped. The view is of the endless Osterfjord below, and the smell of northern thyme fills the air.
Hjelle → Segestad Rock Barn — an eagle farm above Lovatnet
Where: Nordfjord (near Loen)
Length/elevation: 3.2 km / +420 m
Special feature: a barn from 1850, built by hand without a single nail.
The trail passes through five "candles" — stone wells where ice was kept to cool milk. From the top, you can see the mirror-like Lovatnet — the same one you see from Loen Skylift (article 20).
👣 How to Read the Trail «Farmers’ Style»
| Sign | What It Means |
|---|---|
| ◼ Stone “shelf” 5–10 cm | Knocked out under cows’ hooves: smooth surface that stays grippy when wet. |
| ⚒ Holes in the rock with reinforcement | Anchors for an old dragseil rope lift. |
| 🟡 Ocher circle on the rock | Mark of a water source (people and livestock drank here). |
| 🌲 Wooden fork “┴” | Signal to the shepherd: fragile grassy slope—don’t let goats go higher. |
🗺 Two-Day Plan: «Geiranger Heritage Weekend»
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 08:05 | Geiranger boat → Skagehola |
| 10:30 | Photo lunch at Skageflå; share the “mountain-climbing cow” tale | |
| 15:00 | Climb to Ørnevegen; overnight at Westerås farm hut (ramp, UNI toilet) | |
| 2 | 09:00 | Bus to Kjeåsen entrance |
| 10:00 | Hand bike or hike along 11 peaks (with landing islands) | |
| 14:00 | Goat-milk tasting & stories from the 1930s hostess | |
| 17:30 | Bus back to Geiranger |
Practical information: what to bring
● 25-litre backpack: half of the space will be taken up by a camera and a lightweight tripod — the barns are begging to be photographed.
● Footwear for wet rocks: microfibre soles; the paths are sometimes wet from springs.
● Headlamp: it's dark in the barns, but you'll want to see the church from the lemmings.
● The "leave it as you found it" rule: do not touch the exhibits; the hay and rafters are fragile.
The historic farmers' trails are not a museum under a roof, but a living textbook in the open air, waiting to be explored! Here, you can hear the echoes of shepherds' footsteps, smell the fresh scent of old hay, and feel as if the stones still remember the warm sides of cows. Get your shoes on, grab your camera and follow in the footsteps of the owners as you weave your way along these enchanting paths. Capture the magic with your lens, from the intricate carvings on the barns to the comforting scent of apple wood wafting in the air.
Then share your discoveries with us: the names of hidden places, the coordinates of old cart tracks, recipes for brunost, which was eaten at sunset. We are thrilled to announce that we will be adding new chapters to the outdoor adventures Norway guidebook. This means that your hiking routes will be filled with the rich cultural heritage of the land, ensuring that legends come alive and inspire you on your journey.
