During my six-week retreat on the island of Smøla, I hiked pretty much the whole island. Together with my loyal four-legged friend Finn, I explored almost every square meter of the island. Rain or shine. One of our favorites was the hike through Maurdalen. Fall conjured up the most beautiful colors in the landscape, and the rain brought a matching rainbow. We walked through the sunshine and danced in the rain. And of course I’ll tell you how you, too, can enjoy beautiful hikes on Smøla.
How do you get to Maurdalen?
From the harbor of Smøla, it’s about an 8-kilometer drive to the T-junction. Turn left and drive until you reach a farm after 3 kilometers. 150 meters past the farm, you’ll see the Stikk Ut! sign and ‘Maurdalen’ on your right. You can park there in a small parking area or on the grass along the road. The sign is easy to miss, so don’t drive too fast!
Hiking in the Midt-Smøla nature reserve
A hike through Maurdalen guarantees beautiful views! Thanks to Smøla’s flat landscape, you can see really far. In the distance you can see the island’s big wind farm, for example. The hike takes you through the Midt-Smøla nature reserve, and along the way you’ll come across signs telling you the unique story of the area 300 years ago.
If it has rained a lot, there’s a pretty good chance of wet feet here. Luckily, in many places there are planks and stones to help you cross big puddles. I was very happy with my Gore-Tex hiking boots, that’s for sure.. Halfway along the hike there’s a bench under a lone tree, which makes for a dreamy lunch spot.
Dancing in the rain
At the end point of the hike there’s a picnic table where you can catch your breath and study the last information board. From here you follow the same path back to the car. Where we had sunshine on the way there, we got several rain showers on our heads on the way back. But with the right shoes and clothing, that’s no problem at all. The drops clung beautifully to the plants and shrubs, and the sun produced a gorgeous rainbow!
Fun for young and old
The Maurdalen hike is easy to do for young and old and perfect for families. In total it’s a 3.2-kilometer walk and the elevation difference is 35 meters at most. What’s more, the planks, stones and bridges make it feel like one VERY big playground. And who knows, maybe there’s a troll hiding under one of the bridges?!
Personal travel advice
Would you like to enjoy hiking on Smøla too? In six weeks I explored the island inside out, so I can tell you exactly where you should and shouldn’t go. Feel free to get in touch with me for personal travel advice! Looking for accommodation on the island? Then read my blog about Smøla Havstuer!
