Hasvik: History and Hiking Trails

German troops began building a fortification on Mount Håen in 1942, comprising bunkers, gun emplacements and trenches. A visit to Håen still gives an impression of the extensive German activity there at the end of the Second World War. During the winter of 1944–45, 35 people lived in Kvithellhula for 99 days.

History at the sites themselves

Kvithellhula is about 6 km from Hasvik town centre. From a clearly visible road sign, a marked trail leads down to the cave in about 10 minutes. You can take the cave and its history into account when planning your visits around Hasvik.

The cemetery, church and memorial grove also tell stories of history and remembrance. Hasvik’s old cemetery, dating from the 18th century, is next to the ferry terminal. It was restored in 1994 as part of the commemoration of the evacuation and burning of Finnmark. Hasvik Church was consecrated on 17 July 1955 and has room for 200 people. The church, cemetery and memorial grove are just outside the village. The grove contains 51 rounded stones and a monument to those who fell in the Second World War. The history of the church site goes back further: in 1712, Hasvik Church was moved from Hasvåg to Hasvik, to the site of the old cemetery.

Historic roads and hikes

The preserved historic road section from Hasvik to Hasvåg is the oldest surviving road section in Finnmark. The former foot and cart road was about 2.5 km long and 1.88 m wide. In Kobbevåg, a road cutting just below Hasvik School shows three stages in the development of road construction in Finnmark. This offers two ways to explore transport history: by visiting the preserved road section and by viewing the construction phases shown in the cutting.

There are various destinations to consider for hikes. The trail to Storsandvika is marked in red; this short, pleasant hike is also suitable for very young children. The route to Rødegga follows a trail south towards Hasvik and continues to the summit. Because of the steep cliffs, the route warns hikers to keep a safe distance from the edge. If you’re hiking with very young children, Storsandvika is the explicitly suitable option; at Rødegga, it’s important to heed the warning about the edge.

Getting here and choosing where to stay

Hasvik has express boat connections to Alta and Hammerfest, as well as a ferry connection to Øksfjord in Loppa Municipality. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Hasvik, you can consider whether the historic sites, hiking destinations or these connections are most important for your trip. This can help you assess Hasvik as a potential base for your stay, based on your own priorities.

For another page about the area, you can also see Sørvær.

For the main travel overview: Hasvik.