The "Flyktningeruta" (Refugee Route) is the term used to describe a hiking trail along one of the routes used by couriers and refugee guides during World War II to transport mail, equipment, or people across the border to Sweden. The route starts at Skullerudstua in Oslo and goes eastward through the municipalities of Enebakk and Eidskog towards Sweden.
Around 50,000 Norwegians fled to Sweden during World War II. Approximately 250-300 of them were escorted along the courier route called "Timian" (Thyme), which was established by the Norwegian resistance organization Milorg and passed through Østmarka in Oslo. The hiking trail "Flyktningeruta" follows the Timian route until Øyeren. On the eastern side of Øyeren, several different refugee routes from various parts of Eastern Norway converged, and refugee guides escorted the refugees further towards Sweden. Closer to the border, border guides took over. Many of those who fled Oslo were transported by car or bus for a part of the way. A few were driven almost all the way to the border, but most had a long and dangerous journey lasting several days before reaching there. The current Flyktningeruta follows a route that we know was used by many refugees.
The original "Flyktningeruta" proposed by UT.no ends at the Grenseløs Museum. This one ends 8km earlier on the Swedish border as our light and weather conditions has shifted dramatically.
