Few places in Norway feel as genuinely remote as Susendalen — a long valley in Nordland that runs south from Hattfjelldal towards the Swedish border, flanked by birch forest and open fell terrain. Møteplass Børgefjell — “meeting place at Børgefjell” — is a cluster of cabins and lodges positioned here on the edge of Børgefjell National Park, one of Norway’s oldest and wildest protected areas. The wood-fired sauna is available free of charge to all guests, a generosity that says something about the philosophy of the place: this is not a resort with wellness as an add-on, but a simple, authentic wilderness retreat where the sauna is simply part of how things are done.
The Wood-Fired Sauna
The sauna at Møteplass Børgefjell is unassuming and exactly right for its setting. Heated with local wood, it takes time to reach temperature — time that encourages a different pace of thinking. Once hot, the cold plunge awaits outside, whether a tub of cold water or, for the brave, the Susna river itself. In summer, when evening light lingers over the valley until midnight, sauna sessions that start after dinner can extend into the small hours without any darkness to signal that it is time to stop. In autumn, with the birch forest turned gold and the air carrying the first hints of frost, the sauna becomes a vital ritual rather than a luxury.
Wilderness Activities
The lodge is ideally positioned for the activities that define this part of Norway. The Susna river and the lakes of the national park offer exceptional trout and char fishing. Canoe routes run through calm stretches of valley water, and marked hiking trails lead directly into Børgefjell’s open fell terrain — a landscape shaped by ancient ice and largely unchanged since. The park’s reindeer population, managed by the local Sami community, is often visible on the higher ground. The food at the lodge draws from this same landscape: simple, honest northern Norwegian cooking.
Getting to Susendalen
Hattfjelldal is the nearest town — a small community in Nordland known as a gateway to the Swedish border and the national park. The valley itself requires a car to reach, but the journey through Nordland’s interior is part of the experience. From Mo i Rana, the drive south into Susendalen takes approximately 90 minutes through progressively wilder and more beautiful terrain.
