Peaks with observation towers

1. Linnekleppen

Linnekleppen (325 meters above sea level) is located in the southeast, on the border between Marker and Rakkestad. Linnekleppen is Northern Europe's only manned fire tower. From the tower, you have a view of large forest areas in southeastern Norway, as well as parts of Sweden. The tower was established in 1908 and is manned in June, July, and August. A larger tower was erected in 1936. The tower is 17 meters high and has a small room for the fire watcher. From the tower, you have a view of large parts of Østfold's forests. On clear days, you can see all the way to Gaustatoppen 170 kilometers to the west. Holmenkollen and large cruise ships entering and leaving the Oslo Fjord can also be seen.

Linnekleppen is not only a forest fire tower but also a popular destination for people from Norway and abroad, and not least an important cultural and historical monument. We estimate that 2-3 thousand people visit Linnekleppen during the summer season. And even though many thousands visit Linnekleppen every year, none of them have seen the Ylvis brothers attempt the “Truckers Hitch” knot on YouTube, which has been viewed over 24 million times to date.

Route from Tiuren in Degernes

Starts at the small abandoned farm Tiuren in Degernes, northwest of Linnekleppen. Follow Route 124 from Rakkestad town center. Turn left at Tjernes and continue towards Dalen and Tiuren.

If you choose the route up from Tiuren, we recommend starting the hike at Dammyrtjern, where it is just under 1 km to walk along the forest road before Tiuren. By starting here, you can walk from forest terrain into an old, beautiful cultural landscape around the small abandoned farm. To get to Dammyrtjern or Tiuren, follow Route 124 105 from Rakkestad town center for about 9 km towards Aremark, then turn left towards Dalen. Follow this road until you reach a forest road with a toll gate. From here, it is about 1.5 km to Dammyrtjern.

2. Vardåsen

At Vardåsen in Åsermarka in Askim, there is a lookout tower standing at 233 meters above sea level, and the tower is 9 meters high. Park your car at Skansenhytta and follow the signs to the tower. It is a 900-meter walk on a gravel road from the parking lot at Skansehytta. From the cabin, it is 700 meters on a gently sloping path before a steep hill up to the tower.

The tower is an old fire tower. The old tower was demolished, and a new tower was erected in 1998. The tower is child-friendly with good stairs and railings. You are allowed to climb the tower. There is a good view of the forest-covered hills in all directions. On clear days, you can see Gaustadtoppen near Rjukan and Jonsknuten near Kongsberg.

3. Skollingsbergåsen

Skollingsbergåsen (212 meters above sea level) is located in the northwest, on the edge of Fjella, and offers views all the way to Norefjell. Parking at Susebakke. Follow the main road for about 500 meters. Take the path into the forest on the left. Follow the blue-marked trail.

4. Jonsrudåsen

The tower at Jonsrudåsen, also called Skiptvet Varde (207 meters above sea level), is a viewing tower with a magnificent view. Well worth the trip up. Drive into Langliveien in Skiptvet. Follow the road for a good distance. Just after the barrier, there is parking on the right side of the road. From the barrier, there is a marked blue trail. It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk to the tower at a normal pace.

5. Furukollen

The tower at Furukollen is a relatively new tower from 2016. The tower is located at the Furukollen hiking cabin. Take national road 115 to the municipality of Våler/Skiptvet. Free parking on the north side of the national road - Well-marked trail (approx. 3 km). Nature trail with many information posters along the way.

5. Nordre and Søndre Stange Varde

Nordre Stange Varde (286 m above sea level) is located in the heart of Fjella and is the 15th highest point in Østfold. Start from Trollbergtjern by the E18, from Ørje kursted, from Skrabberud in Rakkestad or from Brattfoss in Trømborg.

Søndre Stange varde is located approx. 1.5 kilometers further south and has an altitude of 277 meters.

6. Slottsåsen

Slottsåsen (323 moh.) ligger i Spydeberg. Det er lett å se Slottsåsen rett nord for Bygdetunet, men det er ikke like lett å ta seg fram dit. Hvis du vil klatre og lete litt, så er det greit å starte fra skogsveien nord for Galtebo. Enklere er det hvis du tar rv. 203 vestover fra Hovs plass, like nord for Bygdetunet. 

7. Høgnipen

Høgnipen is a ridge located mainly in the southern part of Degernes in Rakkestad municipality, Østfold. Its highest point is 191 meters above sea level, and the municipal border between Rakkestad and Sarpsborg runs here. The first people to arrive in Norway lived on Høgnipen. The area is located about 160 meters above today's sea level, but in the Stone Age, Høgnipen was a small island in the sea. Around the summit, a 9,000-year-old Stone Age settlement has been found. At that time, the sea level was about 150 meters higher than today, and the site was one of several islands surrounding the glacier north of the Oslo Fjord.

Høgnipen is a beautiful hiking area with a marked trail to the Stone Age settlement and a lookout tower. There is a 5.5-meter-high observation tower on Høgnipa. The tower is in good condition, but the ladder up is somewhat unstable.

Follow FV 111 from Rakkestad towards Sarpsborg, follow the signs from Historica to Bredholt.

8. Trollerudåsen

Trollerudåsen (222 meters above sea level) is located in Spydeberg. The fire tower at this location was built in 1935 by Østfold Skogselskap (Østfold Forestry Company) to replace older fire towers at Kjerringa, Spydeberg varde, and Bjørnåsen. The tower was inaugurated on May 27, 1936. The tower is probably a copy of Linnekleppen (but in a smaller format) and is mainly built of steel and concrete. Weather-resistant materials were used to give the structure a long life. The tower consists of four vertical concrete columns with three horizontal ledges between them. On the top ledge there is a small wooden cabin, a lookout post. The tower is in poor condition, and climbing it is not recommended!

Combine it with a trip around Trestikkeltjern. Well-marked trails and beautiful nature! To get to Trollerudåsen, drive south from Spydeberg town center. Turn off towards Mørk and past the golf course until the road ends. Then turn left, and you will see the sign for Trollerudåsen. Private parking

9. Juledagshøgda

Juledagshøgda/Hytteåsen is a 228-meter peak in Hobøl. At the top there is a cabin and a viewing tower that is about 10 meters high. The tower is built of iron. The tower has seen better days, but is still solid.

Take Route 120 from Ringvoll to the Elvestad intersection. Turn off at the sign for Høbøl Kirke. Follow Riggesemveien for 4.3 km until you reach the Riggesem intersection. Continue to follow the signs for Bøhler. After 0.6 km on Bølerveien, you will come to a fork in the road. Take the road here and follow it for about one kilometer. Drive past the turnoff to Krok. Park in the lay-by on the left side of the road. Follow the road south past the farm and into the forest.

10. Oppskott

Oppskott is a hill in Trøgstad on the border between Aurskog-Høland and Indre Østfold. Oppskott has an elevation of 302 meters above sea level and is the ninth highest point in old Østfold.

In 1990, the Havnås Vel association built a lookout tower at the top. Oppskott is a popular hiking destination, and it is said that you can see seven church spires from the top of the tower. Gaustatoppen can be seen in particularly clear weather.

11. Haukenesfjellet

Haukenesfjellet (335 meters above sea level) in Rømskog with its fire tower (12 meters) allows you to climb as high as possible in what used to be old Østfold! Strictly speaking, it is outside Indre Østfold, but it is still included in the list as the tower is operated by Indre Østfold DNT.

It may be reminiscent of the Moomin house and Tobias' tower, but the Haukenes tower in Rømskog is neither of these. The tower was used as a fire tower until 1975, when the guard service ceased. The Haukenes tower is Norway's only preserved wooden fire tower and towers over the spruce forest. From the platform at the top, you can see large parts of Indre Østfold and far into Sweden. In good weather in the fall, you can also see Gaustatoppen near Rjukan and Blefjell near Kongsberg. And here it is actually possible to spend the night, enjoy the peace and quiet of the forest, and the view all the way to Gaustatoppen on a clear fall day. When it is foggy, the atmosphere is magical and enchanting. You won't sleep higher up in old Østfold!

Haukenestårnet is an excellent destination for families with children, or as a romantic spot for couples. There are few marked trails in the area, but there are plenty of hiking opportunities to Ertevann, Eikestad, and Kattebuheia, among other places.

Follow County Road 21 to Rømskog and follow the signs to Rømskog Spa & Resort. Turn off towards Rømskog Spa & Resort. Here you will also see a sign for Haukenestårnet. After approx. 70 m, turn left and follow the road through a gravel pit (up to the left). Then take the first left, just before the top of a long hill. Drive to the turning area and park. From the exit at County Road 21 to the parking lot, it is 2.7 km. There are signs at all junctions leading up to the parking lot.