A hiking adventure: The Marble Castle (Marmorslottet)

Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland

Experience a fairytale landscape of carved marble near the town of Mo i Rana. The amazing natural marble formations know as Marmorslottet – “the marble castle”, has taken the river thousands of years to carve out. So please tread carefully and help us conserve this natural wonder.

Also note that the trail has steep, challenging sections that can be difficult to get by when the terrain is wet.

Key info

Degree of difficulty: Difficult
Distance one way: 1.2 km.
Ascent one way: 50 m
Duration one way: 20–40 minutes
Wheelchair and pram friendly: No.
Starting point: Parking at the end of a gravel road. Fee NOK 70 per day. Payable by credit card or Vipps. See it in Google Maps.

Special considerations:

To reduce wear and tear at this site, please remove your shoes before venturing out onto the marble formations. This will help preserve this natural wonder for future generations.
The road to Marmorslottet is narrow, and in some places it passes close to houses and farmyards. Please drive slowly and considerately.
Once you leave the parking lot, there are no more signposts for Marmorslottet. Follow the map as you walk, and be sure to turn left at the trail fork.
Please note that the area is unsecured and that the river current is strong. If you are walking with children or pets, be especially attentive and keep them safe!
Drones are prohibited throughout this area.

skjermbilde med kartutsnitt fra turkart over området rundt Marmorslottet

Download map

The amazing marble formations of Marmorslottet took thousands of years to create. Over the years, the river gradually washed away the softer limestone and then far more slowly carved potholes, giant’s cauldrons, caves and other strange sculptural forms in the underlying harder marble. As a result Marmorslottet (“the Marble Castle”) is a very special place to visit. With your own eyes you can sense how water and ice, sometimes using sand or gravel as an abrasive, shaped the hard marble a fraction of a millimetre at a time.

Turen til Marmorslottet går for det meste på en god skogssti, men enkelte partier er lite tilrettelagt og krever litt klyving.

Take off your shoes when you enter, and take the rubbish with you when you leave

To avoid causing any abrasion, scratches or other damage to these beautiful formations, kindly remove your shoes before venturing out onto the marble. After all, you shouldn’t wear boots that might have sand or pebbles embedded in their soles before treading on a friend’s valuable wooden floor. Don’t do it here either – after all, Marmorslottet really is “a Marble Castle”!

En person står på marmorberget i Marmorslottet med bare sokkene på

Actually, walking barefoot or in socks enriches your tactile experience! With each step you can feel the marvellous formations that ice, sand and water took thousands of years to create.

In fact, strive to leave absolutely no trace of your visit. Please take all your rubbish with you, and pick up any that you find – plan ahead and bring a bag for this. Do not build any fires in this area. Also, there are no toilets here, so take care of your bodily needs before you leave Mo i Rana.

Thank you for helping us preserve this natural treasure for future generations!

Find the trailhead in Google Maps

Five tips for a safe and enjoyable hike in the mountains

1. Follow the Norwegian Mountain Code and plan according to your ability and equipment

Short hikes on easy terrain don’t require much. If you’re heading out for an hour or two in the lowlands and not gaining much elevation, you won’t need a lot of gear or be in top shape. If it gets cold or you get tired, you’re usually not far from your car.

But if you’re heading into more challenging terrain—steeper, rougher, and above the treeline where the weather is more unpredictable—you’ll need to be better prepared. You should plan the trip based on weather and conditions, be fit enough to complete it, and be ready for uneven ground, boulder fields, slippery roots, and stream crossings. That means carrying a heavier pack with extra clothes and gear, and wearing sturdy hiking boots that support your ankles.

If you’re unsure about taking on a demanding mountain hike, start with an easy or moderate one and see how it feels.

Learn more about the Norwegian Mountain Code at rodekors.no
See what you should bring on your hike on VisitNorway.com

2. Stick to marked trails

A shortcut through unfamiliar terrain can easily turn into a long and difficult detour. What looks like a trail might just be a sheep path that leads you somewhere completely unexpected. If you want the hike to be as easy or challenging—and as long or short—as planned, it’s best to follow marked trails.

If you’re heading off-trail, it’s smart to follow a GPS track. You can download a GPX file from a hike description and use it on a GPS device, a smartphone app, or a GPS watch.

UT.no and the UT app offer hike descriptions with GPS tracks. If your hike doesn’t have one, you can upload a track to ut.no/mine-turer and access it in the app. It’s free, but you’ll need to create an account.

Always carry a map and compass as backup.

UT app for Android / UT app for iPhone

3. Talk to locals or join a guided hike

Locals often have useful tips about your planned hike. They can tell you where to park, whether there’s phone coverage, if the trail is wet, if rivers are high, or suggest a better alternative. Talk to the people where you’re staying, at the local tourist office, or other hikers on the trail—you might get some truly valuable advice.

The best option is to hike with a guide. You can join a group tour or book a private guide. These are experienced locals who know the area well. They’ll help tailor the hike to your needs and share insights that add to the experience.

4. Look out for cultural landmarks

Even high up in the mountains, you’ll find traces of past human activity—some hundreds or even thousands of years old. These can include ancient trail markers, signal cairns, hunting fences, huts, and shepherd shelters. If you spot something interesting, check the KulturPunkt app to see what it is—or use the app to find a cultural site as your hiking goal.

KulturPunkt app for Android / KulturPunkt app for iPhone
KulturPunkt.org

5. Remember your responsibilities under the Right to Roam

Norway’s Right to Roam means you can hike, bike, pick berries, camp, fish, and ski almost anywhere in nature. But it also comes with responsibilities—what we call the “duties of the Right to Roam.” Leave no trace, respect wildlife, and know the rules for hunting, fishing, cycling, and access in protected areas like national parks and nature reserves.

Please contribute to sustainable tourism

Thank you for respecting the local communities, and for helping us preserve the natural beauty of Helgeland!

Please:

Strive to leave no trace of your visit. Bring back all your rubbish, including used toilet paper, and discard it in the nearest rubbish bin.
Plan your toilet visits and use the opportunity when you pass a toilet. In the wilderness, make sure you are not a nuisance to others.
Respect the local wildlife. Keep a good distance from wildlife, livestock and birds. Keep your dog leashed.
Respect private property. Keep a respectful distance from houses and cabins.
Show good boating sense. Keep a good distance from shore and drive at a low speed, especially when you are close to anyone or anything on the water, including birds or animals. Avoid loud and disturbing engine noise. Be aware that some islands and nature reserves are important nesting sites, and that going ashore is prohibited during the nesting season.
Follow the Norwegian Mountain Code (Fjellvettreglene). Plan your excursion according to the weather forecast, your skills and experience.
Join a guided excursion or consider hiring an experienced guide, especially when you don’t have sufficient experience or knowledge to guarantee a safe trip.