{"id":42712,"date":"2026-09-24T12:41:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T10:41:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/hiking-tours\/st-olav-trail-hiking\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T16:09:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T14:09:00","slug":"st-olav-trail-hiking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/norway\/trondelag\/st-olav-trail-hiking\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiking the St. Olav Trail: A Pilgrimage Route from Sweden to Trondheim, Norway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hiking the St. Olav Trail: Route, Stages, and Tips<\/h1>\n\n

A thousand years ago, Olav Haraldsson traveled this road northward in search of his crown. He met his death at Stiklestad and was canonized three years later. Since then, pilgrims have followed the same route: from the east coast of Sweden, over the mountains to Norway, all the way to his grave in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

That route is now called the St. Olavsleden<\/strong>, the northernmost pilgrimage route in the world. In 2030, it will be 1,000 years since Olav was killed, and Norway is preparing for a national anniversary. That\u2019s reason enough to take a closer look at the route, its history, and the practical aspects of this hiking adventure.<\/p>\n\n

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What is the St. Olav Trail?<\/h2>\n\n

The St. Olav Trail runs from Sel\u00e5nger, on Sweden\u2019s east coast near Sundsvall, to Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. The route is approximately 564 kilometers long, divided into 29 stages averaging 20 kilometers each, and takes about 30 days of hiking in total if you walk the entire route consecutively. <\/p>\n\n

The St. Olav Trail is part of a larger network of pilgrimage routes, the St. Olav Ways<\/strong><\/a>, which converge from several countries at the tomb of Olav Haraldsson. Since May 2010, this network has held the status of a European Cultural Route, granted by the Council of Europe.<\/p>\n\n

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Along the way, you\u2019ll pass through forests, lakes, farmland, and mountainous terrain. The route generally has moderate elevation changes, which makes it suitable for cycling (at least part of the way), especially on the Swedish side. Many pilgrims don\u2019t walk the entire route in one go, but break it up into stages that they complete over several years, or you can combine it with train travel.<\/p>\n\n

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Olav Haraldsson: From Viking King to Saint, and the 2030 Jubilee<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Olav Haraldsson (995\u20131030) was king of Norway from about 1015 to 1028, until he was driven from the throne. In the summer of 1030, he returned from exile in Novgorod (in present-day Russia) to reclaim his throne. On July 29, 1030, he was killed at Stiklestad in the battle to regain his kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A year later, his body was exhumed and found to be intact. He was canonized and became a symbol of the Norwegian kingdom, a status that is still evident today in the Norwegian coat of arms, where the lion holds Olav\u2019s axe. Starting in 1070, Nidaros Cathedral was built over his grave, and it became the most important pilgrimage destination in Northern Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2030, it will be exactly one thousand years since Olav fell in battle at Stiklestad. Norway is therefore organizing the Nasjonaljubileet 2030<\/strong><\/a>, with the main focus in Tr\u00f8ndelag and Trondheim, where he died and is buried. The Catholic Church in Norway has also asked the pope to proclaim a jubilee year from 2030 to 2031, commemorating both his death (July 29, 2030) and the exhumation of his body a year later (August 3, 2031).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For hikers, this means increased attention to the route in the coming years, restoration work on Nidaros Cathedral, and various commemorative events in Tr\u00f8ndelag\u2014a great time to plan your own pilgrimage before things get busier.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The St. Olav Trail: From the Swedish Mountains to the Trondheim Fjord<\/h2>\n\n

Through the Mountains: From Sweden to Norway<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Starting from mountain villages such as Duved and Skalstugan, in the \u00c5re region of Sweden, the route crosses the border into Norway. Here, you\u2019ll walk along the wide Kong Karls Johans veg, once built as a royal route, cutting straight across the highlands between the two countries. It\u2019s the most remote and rugged stretch of the entire hike, offering sweeping views and very few buildings.<\/p>\n\n

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The St. Olav Trail in Tr\u00f8ndelag: Forests, Rivers, and Viking Heritage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Once in Norway, the route winds through the forests and along the rivers of Tr\u00f8ndelag, heading toward Stiklestad. At the Stiklestad National Cultural Center, you\u2019ll visit Stiklestad Church with the Olav Stones and the reconstructed Viking longhouses of Stiklastadir, built on the site where Olav fell in battle. Further along, you\u2019ll pass the monastery ruins of Munkeby and the historic wooden houses of Levanger, with its arboretum and the 12th-century Alstadhaug Church.<\/p>\n\n

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Along the fjord to Trondheim<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

The final leg of the hike runs from Ranheim along the Trondheim Fjord, past the Ringve Museum and its arboretum, through historic Bakklandet, and across the old city bridge. The route ends at Nidaros Cathedral, where pilgrims traditionally receive their pilgrim certificates.<\/p>\n\n

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Practical Tips for Your Own St. Olavsleden Pilgrimage <\/h2>\n\n