Digermulen: Fjord scenery and trails to Keiservarden

Digermulen lies at the southwestern end of Hinnøya, at the southern end of Raftsundet. This coastal area is an open fjord landscape with infrastructure. If you enjoy combining hiking, culture and water-based activities on holiday, you will find a range of options to consider when choosing where to stay.

Hiking to Digermulkollen and Keiservarden

The trail to Digermulkollen and Keiservarden starts at the old ferry quay in Digermulen. It is steep in places, well maintained and secured with ropes in some sections. The route itself gives you a clear idea of what to expect: it is not flat all the way, but includes steeper sections and secured spots. From Digermulen, you can hike to Digermulkollen and see Keiservarden.

The full hike to Keiservarden is planned to take three hours, including breaks and stops at viewpoints. This estimate therefore includes not just walking time, but also breaks and time spent at viewpoints. It gives you a specific indication when planning how much of your day to set aside for the hike.

The hike can be extended beyond Digermulvatnet along a clearly visible trail to Osen. Another option is to start at the plateau behind Digermulkollen and continue, for example, to Snøtinden, which is 637 m high. This lets you choose between the hike to Keiservarden and longer variations without conflating the destinations and sections mentioned.

Fjord scenery and cultural history

Trollfjorden lies in Raftsundet, between Austvågøy and Hinnøya; Digermulen is on the opposite side. This gives the fjord landscape a clear geographical context. The ferry quay in Digermulen is at the southern end of Raftsundet and is also the starting point for the trail to Digermulkollen and Keiservarden.

Keiservarden was built during the emperor’s visit to Digermulen. Two cairns with plaques commemorating the visit stand at the summit. This historical connection is therefore directly linked to a place on the hiking route. Digermulen is also home to Digermulen Church, an octagonal stone church built in 1951. It was designed by Andreas Melchior Wiel Nygaard in collaboration with Torstein Schyberg and is considered an important part of the region’s cultural heritage.

On Årstein, there is a stone-lined canal dating from 1887, considered a unique hydraulic engineering structure. It adds a technical landmark to the area’s historical and cultural attractions.

Recreation, swimming and getting here

The area around the church, as well as the areas west and east of Digermulsveien, including Kvitsanden, is a popular local recreation area. On warm summer days, Søndre Rødsandvatnet/Digermulvatnet is suitable for swimming. Hiking, spending time in the local recreation area and going for a swim are different options to consider when planning your days.

Two routes are listed for getting around by land: Route 18-721 runs between Digermulen, Holandshamn and Storfjell. Route 18-724 connects Digermulen, Kongsmark, Fiskebøl and Svolvær. A bus service runs across the Raftsundet Bridge at the northern end of Raftsundet to Svolvær. There are also car ferry services: one crosses Raftsundet to Finnvik on Stormolla, while another travels through the entire Raftsundet to Hanøy and other places on its northern side in the municipality of Hadsel in Vesterålen.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Digermulen, you can plan your stay around the experiences that interest you most: the hike and its extension options, the open fjord landscape or the cultural sites in the area. For more destination pages: Kleppstad, Eide, Laupstad, Svolvær, Skrova, Henningsvær, Storemolla, Gimsøysand.

For the overview of the wider area: Vågan.