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The Glomma Trail on the Hafslund Line

Distance:	Duration:	Terrain:	Level:	Type:
4 km	1 hour	Asphalt, Gravel road	Easy	Hikes

From Hafslund you can follow Norway's first electric, standard-gauged railway line as a trail along Glomma, the longest river in Norway. You will pass historical information boards and a short tunnel on your way.

Hafslund Line. Photo: Erlend Garåsen

The 5.5-kilometre Hafslund Line branched off the Østfold Line at Hafslund station and continued along Glomma to Hafslund Quay at Sundløkka. The industrial line transported raw materials and finished products between Hafslund Quay and Hafslund carbide plant near Sarpsborg. When the line opened in 1898, it was Norway's first electric standard gauge railway. After the track was dismantled in 2001 the majority of the corridor has been replaced by a rail trail.

Glomma Path
The route starts at Sarpsbrua a couple of kilometres east of Sarpsborg. After you have crossed the bridge over Glomma, take the first road to the left. You're now following the rail trail as a cycle and footpath close to Glomma — Norway"s longest river.

Sarpefossen
After hundred metres you will pass a tourist information board about the geological processes which formed the waterfall Sarpefossen and the founding of the Kellner-Partington Paper Pulp Company Ltd., which became Norway's biggest manufacturing firm. Sarpefossen is Europe's largest waterfall measured by water flow. In 1899 Hafslund power plant opened, which produced electricity for Hafslund carbide plant.

Hafslund carbide plant
The rail trail continues for a kilometre past the Glomma Papp factory buildings before ending at the main road. The railway used to continue across the field on the other side of the road before it turned right and passed the carbide plant. Therefore you must follow the cycle and footpath along the county road for a kilometre.

Short tunnel
When you reach the bottom of a hill, the Glomma Path continues to the right. After you have crossed the county road through an underpass you will also pass a short railway tunnel. From here the rail trail will follow the river closely trough several deep rock cuts until it ends under a motorway bridge after 1.5 kilometres. This is the most beautiful part of the route.

Domberg
You will reach Domberg after you have passed the rock cuts. Here you will find benches where you can site down and enjoy the view of the Glomma. On the tourist information board you can read about King Olav who landed here in 1016 when he founded Borg — Sarpsborg's original name.

Sundløkka
The Glomma Path do not follow the railway corridor when it passes under the motorway bridge. But you may of course follow the overgrown path along the river instead. You will soon reach Hafslund Quay where the railway ended. There are still visible railway tracks on the ground. If you want a round trip you can cross the bridge and follow the Glomma Path on the other side of the river back to Sarpsborg. But if you continue just 500 metres further you will pass Roald Amundsen's birthplace, the famous polar explorer.

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How do I get there?

Vy regional train R20 (Oslo S–Halden–Gøteborg) to Sarpsborg. Continue 1.5 kilometres eastwards and cross the bridge over River Glomma. From fredrikstad you can take bus 2 to Hafslund.