Varangerhalvøya National Park
Arctic tundra, old boulder fields and northern woodland on Norway's Varanger Peninsula
Varangerhalvøya covers most of the Varanger Peninsula in Finnmark, where Arctic, eastern Siberian and southern plants grow side by side. Much of it is alpine tundra, with small deciduous woodlands among the northernmost in the world and a landscape shaped largely before the ice ages.
Things to do
- On footNear the park, walk the River Jakobselv trail beside the Vestre Jakobselv, passing four waterfalls and dense Arctic forest
- On footFollow the 2.5 km Kjærlighetsstien trail along the sea, signposted on route 75
- On footWalk, jog or cycle the 3 km Pavel trail alongside a cross-country ski track
- Try thisLook for the stone guide fences and hunting traps of the wild reindeer hunting grounds deep in the peninsula
Signature sights
- 1
River Jakobselv trail
Short walk just outside the park, along the salmon river Vestre Jakobselv past four waterfalls and dense Arctic forest. - 2
Kjærlighetsstien
Coastal trail near Vadsø, outside the park, where rough weather brings the Arctic Ocean crashing in. - 3
Reindeer hunting traps
Long stone guide fences ending in a large stone ring around a hill.