Trekkvei

Trekkvei is a term used primarily in forestry and historical infrastructure to denote a prepared route designed for dragging heavy loads, typically timber, through forested or rugged terrain. The word combines the Norwegian trekk, meaning pull or drag, with vei, meaning road or way. In this sense, a trekkvei functions as a work corridor that enables traction-based extraction from cutting areas toward mills, river flats, or roads.

Historically, trekkveier were established to support timber skidding before the widespread use of motorized trucks. They often ran along gentle grades and were reinforced with logs, planked sections, or compacted surfaces to bear heavy loads and reduce ground damage. The routes could be used by teams of horses or oxen, and later by winches, cables, or tractors as technology advanced. In some cases, trekkveier were integrated with river or canal systems to facilitate downstream transport.

Construction and layout of a trekkvei were influenced by terrain, drainage, and the volume of timber. Features commonly included drainage ditches, low-angle curves, and staging areas where logs could be sorted or reloaded onto wagons or sleds. Environmental considerations—such as preventing soil erosion and protecting watercourses—were important in later periods.

Today, the term endures in forestry discourse and cultural heritage contexts. Preserved or reconstructed trekkveier can serve educational purposes, illustrating historic extraction practices and industrial heritage. They are most commonly associated with forested regions in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, where they are sometimes part of heritage trails or museum collections. See also forestry road, haul road, log skidding.