Storfjord: Glaciers, Valleys and Cultural History
Accommodation in Storfjord
In Storfjord, high plateaus stretch up to rugged mountain peaks that plunge directly down to the fjord. Deep valleys and salmon-bearing rivers are also part of the landscape. The Lyngsalpan protected landscape area encompasses the municipality. Its features include glaciers, moraines, valleys and geological formations, as well as biological diversity and cultural heritage. The area is intended to let the public enjoy traditional, simple forms of outdoor recreation with only limited technical infrastructure. So if you are looking for a holiday rental, you could start by considering whether you want to focus your trip more on nature experiences, cultural history or both.
Mountains, glaciers and distinctive border locations
Otertinden is a 1,356-metre-high mountain with two peaks and one of the most photographed sights in Storfjord. Another notable destination is Treriksrøysa near Goldajavri: the border marker marks the meeting point of Norway, Sweden and Finland. It lies at 69° north latitude and at an elevation of 490 metres, between Signaldalen and Skibotndalen. The two places represent different sides of the region: one is a striking mountain, the other a border marker whose significance reaches beyond Storfjord.
Steindalsbreen lies in Steindalen, on the western side of Storfjord, between Oteren and Lyngseidet. The hike there takes about two hours along a pleasant mountain trail. Along the way, signs explain Sami place names, their translations and their meanings. The route therefore offers insight into the language and history of place names. The stated time is a guide for planning your day and is expressly approximate.
Nature trails and activities
The Lulledalen forest nature trail explores both nature and human use of the forest. It is 2.5 km long and features 60 information boards. They cover plant life, geology and wildlife, as well as forestry, past and present. So if you are interested in more than the landscape, you will also find topics here related to the development and use of the forest. Its specific length and range of themes make the nature trail a different way to experience Storfjord’s natural environment than the hike to the glacier.
Storfjord has a network of trails for mountain biking, with its main area in Skibotn. Another option is to explore the region on rental bikes. Limited fishing is available in the Signaldalselva and Skibotnelva from 1 July to 31 August. The activities described therefore differ considerably: cycling takes you along a trail network, while fishing is restricted to two named rivers and a limited period.
Cultural history in Skibotn
Bollmanns-/Russeveien tells the story of the war years in Storfjord. Russian, Yugoslav and Polish prisoners of war built the road in the autumn and winter of 1944–45. Today, vegetation has been cleared from it, and signs provide information about those war years. The signs make history a central theme of the route, which should not be mistaken for a simple description of the landscape.
Two original trading houses have been preserved at Skibotn Markedsplass. Together with two reconstructed trading houses, a smithy and a tipping well, they make up the museum site. The distinction between the preserved and reconstructed buildings is part of the character of the place. The museum programme also offers a specific insight into a practical activity: on Opheimdagen, middle-school pupils prepare food on a wood-burning stove.
For further orientation, find the local pages for Skibotn, Storfjord and Oteren.
For the main travel overview: Troms.
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