Hafslundskogen Forest

For a longer walk, the Hafslundskogen woods to the south provide an extensive network of forest trails connecting the Hafslund and Nipa areas. The terrain here is easy to navigate, and the municipality provides an official trail map. Among the trees you can find traces of former farms and crofters' places, giving the forest a layered, lived-in character. Several spots close to the river bank feel almost idyllic — quiet clearings where the canopy opens onto Glomma.↗

Reaching the Island

Hafslundsøy sits in the middle of Glomma, just north of the famous Sarpsfossen waterfall. The island is reached by two road bridges: Grøtebrua from the Hafslund side in the south, and Nipabrua from Hasle in the north. A dedicated pedestrian and cycle bridge also connects the island's northern point to Krabbens Brygge at Opsund, making it easy to combine a walk on the island with a riverside stroll on the mainland.↗

Nearby: Hafslund Manor Park

Directly across Grøtebrua lies Hafslund Park, one of Norway's most complete manor landscapes. Its grand lime-tree avenue, Baroque-era garden lines, and romantic English lawns make it a natural extension of any visit to the island. The park is free and open year-round, and holds Iron Age burial mounds and Bronze Age rock carvings more than 3,000 years old, along with sculptures by Arne Vigeland and other Norwegian artists.↗

A Round of Golf on the Island

Øya Golfpark, established in 1988, occupies over 200 decares of former farmland on the island itself. This pay-and-play executive course has 18 par-3 holes and can be played as short as three holes, making it a relaxed addition to a day outdoors. A disc golf course runs through the same grounds, and the season runs from April to October.↗

Practical Tips

The island trails are informal and unstaffed — there are no ticket prices or opening hours. Parking options are available on the Hafslundskogen side in the south. Morning and early evening hours tend to be the quietest for walkers; late afternoon sees more local foot traffic as people unwind after work.↗↗

Combine a Hafslundsøy walk with the nearby town centre of Sarpsborg (just two kilometres away), which offers the Nordic region's largest rock carving at Bjørnstad and over 50 outdoor sculptures scattered throughout the area.↗