ACTIVITIES
Guided Hiking
Velfjord is the gateway to Lomsdal-Visten National Park with great opportunities for hiking. Lomsdal-Visten is one of the most remote national parks in Norway and only accessible from Veljford by boat. From our harbor it is a 30-40 min boat ride to the bottom of the fjords where you can begin hiking. The nature is spectacular with short but strenuous trips to some of the more remote locations. However, there are plenty of shorter and less strenuous hikes in the area for those who desire it. With an abundance of wildlife, like eagles, moose, deer, elk and reindeer, you are bound to have a memorable experience.
For prices and booking, please contact us.
Lomsdal-Visten National Park website
Storfjorden, Visten, Svanvatnan and Tasslivatnan
This hike requires a ca. 40 minute boatride from our docks over to Storfjorden. From the base of Storfjorden you can choose to take the steep path used by those that use to live here, or take an easier path around. The hike goes around Langvannene and down towards Ausa in Visten. For those that are experienced hikers, this a wonderful daytrip, lasting 4-5 hours. Historically, this route was used by those who lived in Storfjorden when the fjord was frozen, usually from December to March, a very unusual sight today. From this hike you can reroute to Tassilvannet or Svanvatnan, where you can catch larger trout and char. On average a 2-3 hour hike to both locations from the bottom of Storfjorden. It is recommended to spend the night if you wish to go fishing.
Børja to Lomsdal and beyond
This is The Trip in the National Park and you can either do it as a day, or spend weeks exploring.
After a 40 min boat ride we arrive in Storbørja and unload. The first couple of kilometers are are very steep. Then we follow the old path towards Strompdalen. This goes through gorges and small rivers and dense forest. We come over the pass to Strompdalen and see our Shangri-La.
The old farm in Stompdalen is no more but we clearly see the fields and old markings from houses and barns. The cabin in Strompdalen is part of the old farm house and has been restored. It houses 6-8 people and is equipped with basic kitchen equipment and gas for cooking. The Norwegian Trekking Association maintains the cabin and is open to all.
From here we follow the path and cross over the hanging bridge traversing the waterfall to Breivatnan. Here we can either follow the “Winter track” or the “Ur track”. Both are strenuous to start but when you come up on the plateau the rest of the way is like paved road – straight rocks and easy hiking. It is 5km in to Lomsdalen and passes the gorge where the Lomsdal river disappears. From Lomsdalen we hike through the old fields up to the waterfall and hanging bridge. There is also an open private cabin in Lomsdalen with 3 bunkbeds and a very nice camp.
You can make this trip a daytrip if you are in very good shape but we recommend at least spending one night camping. We often hike back to Strompdalen and spend the night there.
From the hanging bridge in Lomsdalen you can hike in to Visten or Grane through either Velfjordskaret or Henriksdalen. This is a very strenuous trip and you need to know your hiking and navigating well to find your way. This trip takes anywhere from 1-3 days.
From either Strompdalen or Lomsdalen you can hike the highest peaks, with day trips up to Breivasstindan/Luvvasstind. Typically from Strompdalen this anywhere from 8-16 hours roundtrip.
You can also hike up along Nedre Breivann and towards Velfjordskaret where the path splits and you can either hike towards the power station in Langfjorden (this is the path the proprietor in Stompdalen walked heading township meeting), or hike to Midte and Øvre Breivann and over to Bjørnstokkvatn and down to Tosbotn. This is not a trip for beginners as the terrain is very "wild" and very steep in places.
Storfjorden to Visten
Starting out from the harbour across the road, there is a 30 minute boatride to Storfjorden. From Storfjorden we follow the old path up the mountain towards Langvannene, then down towards Ausa and Visten. The people that lived here in Storfjorden made this trip on a regular basis during the winter when the fjord was frozen over. It is not a long trip but starts out very steep up from Storfjorden. After that the terrain flatens out and the rest of the trip is pretty straight forward.
Salbuhatten and Skomovikvannet
Right at the doorstep of Velfjord Panorama is a wonderful hiking trail up the surrounding mountain. If you desire, you can drive the 5 minutes up to Gåsheia and park, begin your hike from there. From Gåsheia it is a good hour to the top of Salbuhatten where you get a fabulous 360 degree view of the entire area. Or you can start from the house and then return by taking the path around the lake and come down the old timber road and back to the camp. An easy and family friendly hike that will take around 2-3 hours.
Vassbogen
In Vassbogen you will find an old cabin used by hunters and hikers alike. This is the shortest and easiest trip in the area. We take the boat in to the bottom of Okfjord and from the water up to the cabin it takes anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour depending on the walker. Vassbogen has it’s own unique climate, with an abundance of snow in the winter and warmer summers than the surrounding area. In addition, you will find trees and other vegetation that is not otherwise common in Helgeland.
LOCAL OFFERINGS
Brønnøysund
Closest town to Velfjord Panorama. Has a small mall and plenty of grocery stores to meet all your shopping needs. For a rainy day activity there is a local bowling alley and indoor playground.
Skarsåsen Fortress
Located a short drive from Velfjord Panorama, you will Skarsåsen Fortress. This was set up as a costal battery by the Germans in 1940 during World War II. The landscape is riddled with remnants from this time. Perfect for a day trip with several paths to be explored. If you are lucky, you may just run into the heard of goats that roam the area. But be careful, they will steal your food!
Limited parking
Skarsåsen Fortress website
Torghatten
Possibly the most well known landmark in the area, Torghatten is a must see. From the parking lot you can hike up and into the mountain. The path is steep at points, but well marked and family friendly. Be aware; because of it’s popularity, it can become very crowded at times.
The Legend of Torghatten website
Great campsite with very friendly operators who make a lot of effort. When we arrived we were greeted warmly by the camp mascot Rocco.