Discover Verdal

You can plan a stay in Verdal from several perspectives: urban offerings in the centre, activities on the Verdalselva and places of historical significance. If you are looking for a hotel, you can consider which focus you want to shape your trip – paddling, fishing, routes through the town or cultural history. The destinations below distinguish between the town centre and the wider Verdal destination.

Activities in the centre and on the Verdalselva

There is a skate park in the centre of Verdal, near the railway station. It is open for free use with skateboards, bicycles and scooters.

The Verdalselva flows through the town of Verdal into the Trondheimsfjord, where it empties near the Ørin Nature Reserve. Its character varies from waterfalls and deep pools to calm stretches and sections with a steady current. In the centre, you can set off on a paddling trip by canoe or sea kayak; the river can be travelled in both directions.

Bjarnebukta and Høgøra are options for accessing the water: paddlers can launch or come ashore at both locations. They are accessible by car, and the river is only a short walk away. If you would rather fish than go paddling, you can fish for salmon on the Verdalselva. Fishing licences are available through inatur.no. Paddling and fishing therefore offer two different ways to include the river in your trip.

History at Moe-parken

Moe-parken is centrally located in Verdal and easy to reach. The park is associated with the fighting during the German invasion of Norway in April 1940. At the same time, it preserves a record of the river’s earlier transport history in Rostadbrygga: it is the only surviving quay from the former row of quays along Verdalsøra. The row dates from the mid-19th century; Rostadbrygga recalls the former ferry and cargo-boat traffic on the Verdalselva.

Rostadbrygga is part of Moe-parken and has a direct historical connection to Rostadgården. The park thus brings together different historical references: the fighting of 1940 and the river’s earlier use for transport. Visitors interested in local history can combine these topics with a walk through the centrally located park, without treating them as a single attraction.

Pilgrim route in the centre and King Karl Johans veg in the municipality

A section of the St. Olav’s Pilgrim Route runs from Ørin via Verdal town centre to Stiklestad. The route therefore passes not only along the edge of town, but also through the centre. The well-preserved King Karl Johans veg is in Verdal municipality and dates from 1835. It is 17.5 kilometres long and is now often used as a hiking trail.

In the wider Verdal destination

Beyond the town centre, the wider Verdal destination offers further cultural-historical and natural points of interest. The Folkemuseet at Stiklestad comprises more than 30 buildings. They show construction methods and living conditions in Verdal and Innherred from the 17th to the 20th century. Jamtlandsveien (Fv72) runs from the E6 at Vinne in Verdal to the Swedish border at Styggdalen and is lined with cultural heritage sites, memorial stones and historic stopping points.

There are also two birdwatching towers at Ørin within the wider Verdal destination: one north of the Verdalselva at Kåra, and one south of the river, just outside the field station of the Trondheimsfjorden Våtmarkssenter. These regional destinations complement the activities and historic sites in the centre without being conflated with them.

For the wider travel overview: Verdal.