Helgelandstrappa, Mountain stairway in Mosjøen, Norway
Helgelandstrappa is a stone stairway in Mosjøen, in northern Norway, that rises from the Vefsna river valley to the top of Øyfjellet mountain. The steps are wide and built from local stone, forming a broad, even path that runs straight up the hillside.
The stairway was built in the 2010s as a community project intended to make the ascent of Øyfjellet safer and more accessible. The decision to use Nepali Sherpa builders came from their recognised expertise in constructing stone paths on steep mountain terrain.
The steps were laid by Nepali Sherpa craftsmen using traditional dry-stone methods, and the technique is visible in the way each block fits tightly against the next without mortar. This gives the stairway a raw, natural look that blends into the Norwegian mountain setting rather than standing out as a constructed object.
The climb is most comfortable in the warmer months, when the days are long and the path stays dry. Stone surfaces can become slippery after rain, so shoes with a good grip are a practical choice before you start.
The stairway counts over 4000 steps, making it one of the longest stone staircases in northern Europe. Despite its length, it was designed to follow the natural shape of the mountain rather than cut through it.
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