Hestkjøltoppen
1,390 m
Norway
Also known as Hartkjølen, MealhkoeAlso known as
Hartkjølen · Mealhkoe
- Elevation
- 1,390 m
- Prominence
- 1,031 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Aug
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1An unmarked walk from the end of the Estilseter road above Mebygda in Sørli (about 530 m): a path and track to the summer farm Vestgårdsseteren, a ford of the Storåa river, then easy, gradual slopes into the basin south-west of the summit, the broad saddle to the south and the south ridge to the cairn. About 860 m of ascent.
About 100% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 4 check notes
- 100% approximate geometry
- low confidence 0.4
- Estilseteren → Hestkjøltoppen: dem (snap_failed, 11.4 km)
- unresolved waypoints: Vestgårdsseteren, Storåa ford, Hestkjøltoppen south saddle
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 11.4 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +860 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,390 m
- Time Up
- 4h 18m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 43m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Mebygda on Rv 765 in Sørli, turn at the sign 'Lierne 3' and follow the forest toll road Estilseterveien to its end at Estilseteren (about 530 m; toll 20 kr in cash). A clear path climbs on the left side of the open area into forest and out onto meadows; at a vague fork keep left and follow faint traces until you meet a vehicle track with a few pole markers, which leads to the summer farm Vestgårdsseteren. Continue north-east and find a place to ford the Storåa; expect to cross barefoot or in sandals, about mid-shin deep in summer. Beyond, the open terrain is easy walking: head for the distinct basin south-west of the summit, up a very gradual slope to about 1,000 m, then bear right to the broad saddle just south of Hestkjøltoppen and follow the south ridge to the summit cairn and register. There is no marking or signage of any kind, so you need clear weather and a map and compass. Return the same way. A fit party took about 2 hours 20 minutes up and 6 hours 20 minutes in all on this direct line. The national park centre's suggestion, which first climbs the top east of Hestkjøltoppen and follows the ridge north-west, is given as an 8–12 hour day, and it recommends taking a tent and making it a two-day trip with a camp on Flatfjellet.
Start
Estilseteren537 m
- No public transport to Estilseteren was found; a car is needed.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Estilseteren → Hestkjøltoppen | 11.4 | 860 | 6 | 4h 18m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Estilseteren537 m
end of the Estilseterveien toll road
- Summit: Hestkjøltoppen1,390 m
Key Passages
- Ford of the Storåa
- South ridge to the summit
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 40%Overview
Hestkjøltoppen (South Sami Mealhkoe), 1,390 m, is the highest point of Lierne municipality and Lierne National Park in northern Trøndelag: a broad, rounded massif above bogs and lakes close to the Swedish border. It is an unmarked, remote but technically easy ascent from Estilseteren above Sørli.
Hestkjøltoppen is the middle and highest of the three tops of the Hestkjølen massif, seen from Sørli in Lierne. It is the highest point of Lierne National Park, established in 2004 together with neighbouring Blåfjella–Skjækerfjella National Park; with a landscape protection area and nature reserves they form one of Norway's largest protected areas. The massif is mostly covered by ground moraine, with one of Norway's largest fields of Rogen moraines just east of the summit, and the area is a core region of South Sami reindeer herding.
There are no tourist huts or marked paths in the park. The usual approach is from Estilseteren at the end of a forest toll road above Mebygda: a path and track to the summer farm Vestgårdsseteren, a ford of the Storåa and long, gentle slopes to the south ridge. A northern approach up Luterdalen from Sandsjøen, returning over Merrafjellet and the Hestkjølen ridge, is also used.
The terrain is easy, but the mountain is remote, exposed to strong wind and hard to navigate in cloud.
Climbing Notes
Technically easy, but plan for a long day in pathless terrain: fit walkers can do the direct line in about 6–7 hours return, while the national park centre advises 8–12 hours and suggests camping out (for example on Flatfjellet). Carry a 1:50,000 map and compass and choose clear weather. Expect to ford the Storåa. In winter it is a long ski tour: one party skied 28 km return with about 1,070 m of ascent from Estilrønningen in 6 hours, following snowmobile tracks to Vestgårdsseteren.
Season
Best Jul–Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Good
- May: Not advisable
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Feb
- Long ski tour; short days
- Mar
- Ski tours from Estilrønningen
- Apr
- Ski tours from Estilrønningen
- May
- Snowmelt; boggy and high rivers
- Jun
- Late snow and high water in the Storåa
- Oct
- First snow
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Toll road Estilseterveien to Estilseteren: 20 kr, cash
- Rules
- Lierne National Park: national park regulations apply; the area is used for South Sami reindeer herding.
- Getting There
Sørli (Lierne)
Namsos Airport (OSY); Trondheim Airport Værnes (TRD) has more connections
- Car: E6 to about 8 km south of Grong, Rv 74 east past Sandvika, then Rv 765 towards Sørli; in Mebygda turn at the sign 'Lierne 3' and follow Estilseterveien to its end at Estilseteren
- In winter, park at the top of Estilbakken by Estilrønningen
- No public transport to the trailhead was found
Hazards
- River crossing
- Remoteness
- Weather