Plan your horse back ride
The St. Olavsleden is approximately 580 kilometres long. Thousands of markings and signposts indicate the way. About 45% of the path is along gravel roads, 36% on asphalt and 19% on trails. In some places the horse ridning path takes an alternative route. The map, at the bottom of this page, indicates where the riding path differs from the normal hiking trail.
The horse
There are no options for renting a horse, you need to bring your own. In that perspective you need to arrange a transport of you and your horse when finishing the trail unless you want to ride in both directions.
The St. Olavsleden passes the national boundary of Sweden and Norway and there are some regulations for bringing animals across. Please find out more at www.jordbruksverket.se
Bed or tent
There are accommodations all along the trail that welcomes both you and your horse. You can see them listed on the accommodation page, make sure to filter on horse. We advise you to book in advance since many places are small with not very many beds.
Using a tent in Sweden and Norway is easier than in many other countries. But, there are rules (The right of public access) to follow. You can not tent in the same spot for more than two nights and you can’t put it up in someone’s private yard. When tenting you also have to be extra careful about littering and take well care of the nature. Please note that there’s specific rules for riding in nature, and that you can not always leave the trail as you please.
Farriers
In order for the journey to be as comfortable as possible, it is important that both horse and rider are properly equipped. If a shoe comes loose from a hoof, it is good to know where you can find new shoes and someone with the right tools to secure them. Some farriers and veterinarians along the trail are included in our maps.
Join the community
The Facebook group “Hiking along St. Olavsleden” is an open group where you can exchange experiences with other pilgrims. The group is for anyone interested in St. Olavsleden and is a great place to get help with your planning. You can post in whatever language that works best for you.
There are also a few ambassadors that you are welcome to contact. The ambassadors have all hiked or biked St. Olavsleden and can help you with your questions.
Map
The map below shows you the riding trail. The St. Olavsleden is divided into three different trails: Hiking, Biking and Horseback riding. Most of the time the three trails are combined but at some parts you need to be careful and choose the correct trail in order to get the best experience to your needs. In the map you can choose to also show accommodation, service points, rest stops and more.
