7,600 km across the continent — European Divide Trail

This first section takes you from the Russian/Norwegian border and the edge of the Arctic Ocean into the interior of Lapland.



Characterised by bare rock, scrubby trees, bogs and lakes, and the magnificent Fjords it's a surprisingly diverse area. Also even though you are way up into the Arctic Circle… read more

This is the longest stretch without services on the whole European Divide Trail, and while there a couple of small hamlets where you might find a meal or accommodation, there's not much in-between except trees, reindeer, mosquitoes and more trees.



This is a national highway in Finland, but there's not… read more

Once reaching Kittilä, the coldest place in Finland (-51.5°C), the gravel begins, and so do the hills.



Enjoy the amazing dirt roads climbing over ridge after ridge with views across to higher ground to the south and west, towards the Swedish and Norwegian borders.



There's a few wilderness cabins you can… read more

Stage 4 is another long section with no services but with a free ferry crossing, and this one involves quite a

lot of dirt road riding, so expect a slower pace and not much passing traffic.



With bigger climbs and valleys, huge rivers run off the border mountains towards the Baltic sea, which are often… read more

You'll ride along some wild roads and trails on Stage 5. Big rivers, hydroelectric power plants and their accompanying reservoirs, and some beautiful country.



Then it's into the first proper town in Sweden, Jokkmokk. It's a relatively bustling town just inside the Arctic circle with plenty of services… read more

There's more wild country and off-road riding between towns optimises this area of Sweden, climbing over ridges, descending down to rivers, then repeat.



Services are relatively frequent now, so no need to carry more than a couple of days of food with you.



Look out for signs by the side of the roads marked… read more

An extended period of dirt roads heading towards the mountains of Jämtland now. This is a particularly empty area of Sweden with a minimal population and some of the harshest weather and wildest landscapes.



In places the trails become vague, but they always link back onto hard packed tracks eventually… read more

There's more of the same type of terrain, with seemingly endless dirt and gravel roads, forest, hills, lakes and rivers on Stage 8.



It gets a little monotonous after a while but a change is coming soon, as the next sections are some of the prettiest and most interesting, so just keep going!



Once again… read more

Ride through more forests and past lakes and rivers, and finally find a few large settlements with more than one grocery store to choose from. There's also numerous accommodation options and other services you might require.



With some excellent trails and reasonable views, why not keep things interesting… read more

The end of the most tedious stretch of the whole route is near at hand, as you're almost into the Swedish ski areas next to the Norwegian border.



Sveg is the largest town with all the services you need and even a bike shop, of sorts. It's not on the route but you can easily make the detour there and back… read more

Wild and empty lands, mountains and ski resorts, and hunters searching for moose are what you'll find out here. The Norwegian border is really close and while there's a fair bit of road riding across this area, the dirt roads and mountain views make up for it. Rörbäcksnäs is a pretty little town with… read more

The last stretch of high country is crossed on Stage 12 before dropping down into an almost lush valley with a huge river, the Klaräven, and proper farmland for the first time on this route.



You are out almost out of the rain shadow of the Swedish Norwegian border mountains, so the humidity is higher… read more

The last stretches of true wildness seem to end around here, but you'll be surprised how wild the higher areas are as you get closer to the first big city of the route.



Plenty of open farmland and a relatively high population nearby mean that this area is more difficult to find go quality tracks that… read more

Denmark is quite the contrast from Sweden, more in its landscape than its people and culture.



Gone are the endless forests and their dirt roads: instead you're straight into a patchwork of forest plantations and farmland abounded by the beautiful coastline of the North Sea.



It's wild and windswept, so… read more

Starting off on a disused railway line converted to a cycle track, this is easy riding (as long as the wind isn't in your face) to the city of Viborg, with all the services you would expect from somewhere in Western Europe.



Then it's onto a series of tracks and trails, quiet lanes and roads. Be aware… read more

This last section of Hærvejen certainly has more paved sections than the previous parts, but that's just part of the countryside as you get closer to Germany and the more populous areas of western Europe.



There's still plenty to see though, so keep an eye out for stone circles, menhirs, stone ships and… read more

In parts the route follows St Jakobs Way, which is a pilgrimage route starting in Trömso, Norway, that eventually joins up to the Camino de Santiago a Compostela. The Way is a great mixture of dirt roads, farm tracks, lanes and single-tracks, and while it's sometimes a bit patchy and 'start-stop' in… read more

Into some hills more after the relatively flat lands of northern Germany, and it's pretty much up and down on the way to Cologne now.



The spectacular rock formations of Bärenstein are ridden between, before crossing the army training area north of Paderborn. This might be closed due to army manoeuvres… read more

Here the hills get a little steeper and longer, and there's more forest roads to enjoy.



You're now crossing through Sauerland, with numerous reservoirs, forests and small towns. There's plenty of good riding: steep in places, but also fun and engaging.



Finally you'll ride across the Rhine and into Cologne… read more

Out of Cologne, you cross through farmland and patches of forest until the hills start again and you enter the edge of the Eifel National Park.



This is a very pretty area with plenty of good tracks through the forests, with small towns and cities in between as you climb and descend across many river… read more