Grong
Municipality · Trøndelag
About Grong
Norway's longest salmon ladder at Fiskumfossen, salmon fishing where the Namsen meets the Sanddøla, and burial mounds on a culture trail at St. Hans Haugen.
Grong sits in the middle of Namdalen, where two rivers join and the main road and railway north pass through. Below the village the valley floor is flat, with sandy moor, clay banks and bog; low forested ridges rise to the north and higher mountains to the south, up to Heimdalshaugen at 1,159 m.
It makes a natural break on the E6: an evening walk among Iron Age mounds at Rognsmoen, a swim in the river pools at Tømmeråsfossen, or a night before turning off towards Lierne, Høylandet or Namsos.
Good to know
- Getting there: The E6 and the railway run through; Fv74 goes to Lierne, Fv760 to Namsos. About 1 h 15 from Steinkjer, 3 h 15 from Trondheim.
- Season: The Tømmeråsfossen pools are for swimming in July–August, and salmon run up the river from July to October.
- Sleeping: Harran Camping (1 May–1 October), plus Namsentunet and Grong Hotell, both open all year.
- Food: Leksås Gårdsmat in Grong sells meat and smoked meat from local farms; Harran Kro serves plain home cooking by the E6.
What to do and where to stay in Grong
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Fiskumfossen trail and salmon ladderSight
An easy 2 km riverside path from Sagmo leads to Nedre Fiskumfoss and Norway's longest salmon ladder, 291 m with 77 pools, trialled in 1975 and in full use from 1977.
Namsen at Fiskumfoss, between Grong and Harran on the E6 · 45 min–1 h (4.3 km return) · March–November (salmon run July–October)
2Tømmeråsfossen river poolsSwim
A few kilometres south of Grong the Sanddøla slides over polished rock at Tømmeråsfossen, giving natural water chutes and calm swimming at the foot of the falls.
Sanddøla, a few km south of Grong centre · 1–3 h · July–August for swimming
3Sankthanshaugen and the Værem ringtunHistory & culture
A marked 800 m path at Værem leads to Sankthanshaugen, one of Trøndelag's finest ancient sites, with a ring-shaped farmstead otherwise found in south-west and north Norway.
Værem, about 4 km along Rv 760 from Bergsmo · 30–45 min (about 800 m each way) · Snow-free season
4Rognsmoen nature and culture trailHike
A 2.3 km family loop with information signs passes about 34 burial mounds, house foundations, trapping pits and an ancient road from the late Iron Age.
Rognsmoen, off Rv 74 towards Lierne · 45 min (2.3 km loop) · Snow-free season
5Gløshaug Church, GartlandHistory & culture
Grong's oldest church, from 1689, stands where a stave church of about 1155 stood, and its medieval altarpiece doors show St Olav with three other saints.
Gartland, by the E6 north of Grong · 15–30 min · All year (exterior); interior at services
6Harran culture trail and the Lars Åsmulen sculptureLocal oddity
A 5 km loop in Harran passes the Saghøla bathing spot, Kvernfossen, a huge culvert under the Nordland railway and a sculpture of skier Lars Åsmulen.
Harran, start at the Fiskumelva bridge south of Harran Camping · 1.5 h (5 km loop) · Snow-free season
7Vattatuva lookoutViewpoint
A steep path climbs about 275 m from Fiskumfoss, crossing the E6 on the cycle path, to views over Harran towards Heimdalshaugen, Grong's highest mountain (1159 m).
Above Fiskumfoss, start at Namsen laksakvarium car park · 2 h (about 5 km return) · June–October
8Grong ChurchHistory & culture
A wooden long church from 1877 in Grong centre, near where the Namsen and Sanddøla meet, keeping a baptismal font and pulpit from 1685.
Grong centre (Medjå) · 15 min · All year (exterior); interior at services
9Fagerliklumpen (477 m)Hike
A marked 3.5 km path from Bergsmo climbs to a 477 m top looking over the Namsen and Sanddøla valleys to Heimdalshaugen and Tømmeråsfjellet.
Above Bergsmo, east of Grong centre · 2.5–3 h (about 7 km return) · June–October
10Brennmoen burial fieldHistory & culture
One of Namdalen's largest burial fields, with 45 registered mounds, reached by a 1.9 km loop off the Øysletta trail on the Grong–Overhalla border.
Brennmoen, on the Grong–Overhalla border west of the E6 · 45 min–1 h (1.9 km loop) · Snow-free season