Russian Border Snowshoe Hike

The border between Norway and Russia near Kirkenes is not an ordinary boundary. During the Cold War, it was one of only two land borders between NATO and the Soviet Union. Today, NATO’s northernmost land border is one of the most closely watched frontiers in the Arctic.

We pick you up in Kirkenes and drive about 15 minutes to the start of the trail. There you get your snowshoes and poles and a short introduction. After a few steps, most guests have found their rhythm.

The 3 km loop leads through snow-covered birch forest and open tundra. It is quiet out here, and with some luck you spot ptarmigan or fresh reindeer tracks in the snow. The route heads first towards the Pasvik River, the natural border between Norway and Russia, which is frozen in winter. From the riverbank, you see the Boris Gleb Church on the Russian side, an Orthodox site so historically significant that its location influenced the drawing of the border. Further along, you look across to Skafferhullet and its old guard tower, a former crossing point from the Cold War era.

Shortly after, you arrive at the border corridor and the official border markers of Norway and Russia. The corridor is a cleared strip of land that marks the line between the two countries, and you stand right at its edge. From there, the trail leads up to a viewpoint where we stop for a hot drink and a snack, with the border markers visible next to you.

If the group is up for it, we continue to the top of Russehøgda (120 m), a high point with a 360-degree view over the entire border area, including Storskog, the only official land border crossing between Norway and Russia. Along the way, we share stories about the history of the region, the Cold War and life next to this border today.