Discover Dyrøy: Hiking Trails, Culture and Nature

Dyrøy offers scenic hiking destinations, traces of early settlements and activities ranging from fishing to disc golf. The experiences vary considerably: some trails focus on the landscape and summit views, while others lead to cultural sites or distinctive natural features. If you are planning your stay with a holiday apartment in Dyrøy, you can tailor your outings to the interests that matter most to you on your trip.

Hiking trails with varied scenery

The well-marked trail up Dyrøygommen climbs steadily. From the summit, the view stretches across Vågsfjorden to Senja. Finnlandsholmen has a route with a bathing area and barbecue shelter; it meets universal design requirements. These offer different ways to spend time outdoors, from a summit hike to a route with space for swimming and barbecuing.

The natural attraction Steinora in Gumpedalen offers a different experience: it formed at the end of the last Ice Age, around 9,000 years ago, and extends for about 2 kilometres. Some boulders are up to 30 metres high. Take particular care when exploring the area and follow the marked trails. If you would like to visit another viewpoint, Børringen can be reached on foot from Langbakken. From the summit, the view opens in every direction, including towards Hinnøya, Andøya, Senja and the Norwegian Sea, the Lyngen Alps and the mountains of inland Troms.

You can encounter a different kind of history on the marked route to Kvalnes. It leads to a settlement that was abandoned in 1959 because of a landslide; remains of the settlement can still be seen there. At Hagenes, an accessible route follows a forest track in the south of Dyrøya. Here, the experience includes cannon displays and bunkers from the Second World War, as well as views of Vågsfjorden.

Culture and history in Dyrøy

Kastnes Museum is an open-air museum dedicated to the traditional lives of the farmers and fishermen who lived in the municipality. The area also includes Viking Age graves and a cultural trail where you can walk year-round. Group visits to the museum can be booked in advance during the summer season. This lets you combine an interest in everyday history with a walk around the museum grounds.

During Kulturuka 2026, the Sveitservilla in Langhamn on Dyrøya opened to the public for the first time, with a café and art exhibition. Works on display included paintings and acrylics by Cecilie Håkonsen Sandness, as well as sculptures and ceramics by Kjersti Håkonsen. The house had already been named the most beautiful house in Northern Norway in the 1980s. Kulturuka celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2026, with events throughout the municipality.

Churches also shape the local history: Dyrøy Church on Dyrøya is a wooden long church, completed in 1880. The wooden Brøstad Church dates from 1937 and is located in the southern part of the administrative centre, Brøstadbotn. The Arvid Hanssen Documentation Centre is also located in the Arvid Hanssen House.

Fishing, winter activities and local produce

Recreational fishing is possible in Faksfjorden, Dyrøysundet, Tranøyfjorden and Solbergfjorden. Species caught there include cod, saithe, redfish, flatfish, halibut, tusk, ling and herring; in recent years, mackerel have also become common in summer. Salmon and sea trout can be fished in the Brøstadelva, which has a fish ladder.

For cross-country skiing, there is the floodlit Moan–Espenes trail. It runs from the town centre to Espenes, is groomed as a ski trail throughout the winter and passes through varied terrain. There is also an 18-hole disc golf course in the town centre. Discs and a map can be borrowed from the library.

You can find regional produce at Steinbakken gård in Espenes, among other places. The farm has a self-service farm shop selling herbs, juice, spices and other products. Dyrøymat supplies regional meat and fish products, catering and ready-to-serve quality meals; local products are also available at Coop Prix. Dyrøy has fast-boat connections to Finnsnes, Tromsø and Harstad. There is a guest harbour at Finnlandsnes.

More destinations

More destinations: Lyngen, Tromsø, Ibestad, Skånland, Skjervøy, Lenvik, Balsfjord.

Return to the main travel guide: Troms.