Discover Hakadal

Hakadal brings together a valley between wooded heights, an alpine activity area and a rich history of ironworking. This means you can explore the area in many different ways: taking in the landscape, playing a digital walking game or visiting historical collections. Train connections from Hakadal station also offer a useful starting point for planning your trip.

Hakadal is shaped by its valley and surrounding ridges

The densely populated valley lies between the wooded heights of Nordmarka to the west and Romeriksåsene to the east. The Hakadalselva flows through Hakadal. This geographical setting gives the area a distinctive landscape: the valley, river and wooded ridges are among its defining features. If you are looking for a holiday home in Hakadal, you can consider whether the landscape, activities at Varingskollen or local history should play the biggest part in your stay.

Hakadal station in Nittedal is on the Gjøvik Line. Trains from there run towards Jaren, Gjøvik and Oslo S. For travellers who want to take rail connections into account when planning, these destinations are a useful guide. The station is also the starting point for a digital walking game about the history of Hakadals Verk.

Active experiences at Varingskollen

Varingskollen Alpine Centre has six downhill runs and five lifts, including a free magic carpet lift. Those interested in alpine activities will find several runs here rather than just one option. The terrain park at Varingskollen adds a challenge of its own: it is 550 metres long and has more than 20 features, including large jumps and rails. Its specific length and variety of features make the park a distinctive option for anyone interested in terrain parks.

Another way to engage with local history is the digital walking game about Hakadals Verk. It starts at Hakadal station and takes you along 21 stops. The content is delivered on a mobile phone or tablet using text, audio, images and video. The experience thus combines a series of stops with a range of media formats. If you prefer to explore historical topics while out and about rather than solely through a collection, you can consider including this experience in your trip plans.

The Varingskollen rundt circular route is also nearby. Its highest point is west of Varingskollen, at an elevation of about 410 metres. From there, the route descends gently towards Hakadal. These details give you an idea of the route without specifying a walking time or distance. You can consider it as an option in its own right alongside the digital walking game and the activities at the Alpine Centre.

Traces of the ironworks’ history

Hakadals Verk operated as an ironworks from 1550 to 1868 and is thought to be Norway’s oldest ironworks. At Hakadal Verk, the main building, built in the late 18th century and little changed since, and the old iron storehouse have been preserved. The main building is now used as an office and manager’s residence. This historic site therefore combines preserved buildings with a later use for the main building.

Nittedal Bygdetun in Hakadal also focuses on local history. The Nittedal Bygdesamling there houses collections of furniture, tools, and craft and household objects. One exhibition covers iron production and the history of Hakadals Verk; it includes an original furnace from the ironworks. The collections offer a broader view of local life, while the furnace and exhibition focus on iron production.

When choosing a holiday home or cottage, this distinction may play a part in your travel plans: Hakadal appeals both to travellers interested in the landscape and active experiences, and to those who want to learn more about the area’s history. Decide which of these aspects matters most to your stay, and use Hakadal as a suitable search location for your accommodation.

For the wider travel overview: Nittedal.