Discover Jøa: Hiking Trails, History and Coastal Culture

On Jøa, distinctive hiking trails meet traces of the Iron Age and experiences centred on coastal culture and food. The island offers different reasons to explore together: from Jøatrappa, with its 1,030 steps, to a gravel path in Rakkavika that is also accessible by pushchair or wheelchair. When choosing your destination, you can weigh up whether a mountain hike, history or a more leisurely route should take priority on your trip.

Getting to Jøa

The Seierstad–Ølhammeren road ferry connects Jøa to the mainland at Namsos via the Rv 777. The crossing is 680 metres long and takes five minutes. Jøa can also be reached by express boat from Namsos. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or house on the island, travelling by ferry or express boat is a useful starting point for planning your trip; be sure to check specific departure times for your travel date separately.

Hikes with different highlights

On the western side of the island, Jøatrappa climbs 1,030 steps and offers views across the Namdalen coast. If you would like to include a route with a stated distance in your plans, the developed Eventyrstien is a five-kilometre mountain hiking trail connected to Jøatrappa. The two names offer different ways to plan your day: many steps on the one hand, and a named five-kilometre hiking route on the other.

Another mountain hike leads from Dunafjellet onwards to Ramnfjellet. From the summit, the views in every direction are spectacular. When looking for holiday accommodation on Jøa, destinations like these can help you decide whether you want to spend most of your time on mountain hikes or explore other sides of the island. A kayaking route has also been established at Brakstadsundet.

History and literature on the island

Jernaldergården Janheim in the western part of Jøa reveals traces of the Iron Age, including stone mounds and burial mounds, as well as the remains of a longhouse more than 50 metres long. The Hov farm by Hovsjøen is also an ancient settlement site. It has a large burial ground and numerous long and round burial mounds. If you would like to compare different traces of the past during your stay on the island, these are two places with distinct features.

Fosnes bygdemuseum near Dun comprises several buildings and both old and newer objects. Benches and tables in the outdoor area make it suitable for a picnic. The Torvmuseet, meanwhile, is a reconstructed peat-harvesting site with information boards. A marked hiking trail leads to Kjelvika, where Olav Duun’s literary character Odin experienced his childhood adventureland. These examples connect local history, landscape and literature in different ways. The restored childhood home of the writer is another place that brings his connection to Jøa to life.

Trails, nature and exploring together

Rakkavika is a fishing spot and hiking area with benches, a barbecue area and viewpoints. The 1,200-metre gravel path is accessible on foot, with a pushchair, by bicycle and by wheelchair. If you would like to include a route with this specific stated length and accessibility in your day’s plans, you can consider Rakkavika as a standalone option. Deer are often seen in Jøa’s fields along the roads.

Sporting events are also part of what the island has to offer: the Jøa maraton takes place every summer. The programme includes a quarter marathon and a half marathon on foot, as well as a full-distance cycle marathon; an e-bike can also be used. Scenelangs Jøa is a four-day music festival featuring jazz, singer-songwriter music and opera. This gives you a choice when planning your trip between getting active on hiking trails, experiencing a sporting event and enjoying music.

Island character and accommodation options

Faksdal Brygge, a historic meeting place on Jøa where coastal culture and good food take centre stage, is part of the island’s coastal culture. At Matgarasjen, dishes are prepared from scratch, using local ingredients wherever possible. Participants in Dun Andelslandbruk help with planting, weeding and harvesting, and the harvest is shared among them. Each of these experiences has a different focus: food, communal work or the history of coastal life.

For the wider travel overview: Fosnes.