Alta – Rock Art, River and Hiking Trails

More than 3,000 rock carvings make Hjemmeluft a special destination for culture enthusiasts. The sites are located on the rock faces on both sides of the bay; a 3 km trail system connects them. Hjemmeluft is the largest of Alta’s World Heritage sites. You can combine your visit with a walk between the different sites.

Rock Art, Museum and Town

The Alta Museum’s permanent exhibitions showcase Alta’s rock art, pre-Christian Sámi religion, the Northern Lights and sport fishing on the Alta River. In summer, the museum also offers Stone Age activities for all ages, including archery, stone grinding and rubbings of rock carvings. These hands-on activities offer a different focus from the exhibitions and may be of interest as part of a shared visit.

The Northern Lights Cathedral–Alta Church is also part of the townscape: it is located in central Alta at the end of a pedestrian street and was consecrated on 10 February 2013. Those interested in architecture and culture will find another specific point of interest in Alta, alongside the rock carvings and the museum’s themes.

Hiking Trails and Winter Tracks

The marked Byløypa hiking and ski trail runs through all of Alta, from Tverrelvdalen and Kaiskuru in the east, through Sandfallet and Komsa in the centre, to Skoddevarre and Øytun in the west. In summer, it is used for hiking and cycling; in winter, it is groomed for cross-country skiing. In addition, the municipality of Alta has around 50 km of nearby ski trails along the settlements and in the town.

Komsatoppen is one of the peaks included in Alta 10-toppers 2026. Halddetoppen is the highest mountain peak in Alta; the hike leads to the Northern Lights Observatory, where Kristian Birkeland spent the winter of 1899–1900. From mid-May to the end of July, the midnight sun makes it possible to hike around the clock in Alta. These peaks and the distinctive brightness of the summer months give trip planning its own rhythm, without requiring any particular daily schedule.

River, Canyon and Special Events

The Alta Canyon is the largest river canyon in Northern Europe. Traditional riverboat trips take visitors through rapids on the Alta River to the canyon. The Alta River is considered possibly one of the best salmon rivers in the world. Those who want to focus on river landscapes and active pursuits can take these experiences into account when choosing when to travel and what to focus on.

The Finnmarksløpet takes place every year in March in Alta and is Europe’s longest dog sled race. March is therefore a recurring event date in the town. Another activity in the area is offered by Sorrisniva, just outside Alta: an ice hotel is built there every winter. Private and shared minibus transfers are available for overnight and activity guests. A packrafting trip on the Alta River is designed for beginners; it includes a minibus transfer from the Sorrisniva Wilderness Lodge, a short walk and around 1.5 hours of packrafting downstream.

When looking for an apartment in Alta, you can also consider what you want to focus on during your trip: rock art and the museum, hiking and cycling in summer, cross-country skiing in winter, or the dog sled race. Each offers a different focus. This way, you can choose where to stay based on the experiences that matter most to you.

Discover Places in Alta

For further orientation, you can also discover these places: Alta, Komagfjord, Hakkstabben, Kongshus, Alta, Kviby, Korsfjorden and Talvik.

For the broader travel overview: Finnmark.