Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park

Saltfjellet-Svartisen is a vast national park spreading across several municipalities and dominated by the large Svartisen glacier. The landscape brings together deep fjords, gentle mountain plateaus, and extensive birch forests into a varied terrain.

The park was established officially in 1989 to protect an area showing evidence of human settlement spanning thousands of years. This long history of use by different communities has shaped the landscape's structure and character across millennia.

The Sami people have traditionally herded reindeer across parts of the park, and you can still see evidence of this practice in how the landscape is used today. Fishing communities along the valleys and coast have shaped local life for generations, leaving their mark on settlements and gathering places.

The park is accessible through marked trails that lead to mountain cabins run by hiking associations, with multiple starting points for different routes. Guided glacier walks need to be booked in advance and require special equipment, so plan these trips ahead of time.

Beneath the Svartisen glacier lies an extensive network of caves carved out by water flowing through limestone over thousands of years. These hidden chambers make this glacier particularly noteworthy to researchers and geologists studying glacial systems.

Location: Beiarn

Location: Meløy

Location: Rana Municipality

Location: Rødøy

Location: Saltdal

Location: Bodø Municipality

Inception: 1989

GPS coordinates: 66.60000,14.18333

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:02