Ovre Dividal National Park

Established in 1971 and expanded in 2006, Øvre Dividal National Park covers 770 square kilometres of Arctic wilderness in the municipality of Målselv in Troms county, northern Norway. The landscape transitions from old-growth Scots pine and mountain birch forests on the valley floor of Dividalen to open alpine tundra, boulder fields, and jagged peaks rising to 1,717 metres at Mount Njunis.

The park protects an important refuge for Scandinavia's four large carnivores: wolverines, Eurasian lynx, brown bears, and grey wolves. A dense population of wolverines has made the area a primary site for Arctic wildlife research. Visitors also share the terrain with wandering herds of semi-domesticated reindeer managed by local Sami herders, as well as moose, mountain hares, and Arctic foxes.

Dividalen has an inland continental climate. Because surrounding mountain ranges shield the valley from heavy Atlantic rain systems, annual precipitation averages only around 300 millimetres. Summers are cool and dry, with daytime temperatures between 10 °C and 20 °C, while winters bring heavy snowpack and sustained cold reaching -15 °C to -30 °C.

By Air

• Bardufoss Airport (BDU): The closest commercial airport, located approximately 85 km northwest of the park trailhead. SAS and Norwegian operate daily direct flights from Oslo Airport (OSL) taking 1 hour 50 minutes. Car rentals are available at the terminal.
• Tromsø Airport (TOS): The main international gateway in northern Norway, located 180 km northwest (2.5 to 3 hours drive). Operates direct international flights from Frankfurt, London, and Munich, along with frequent domestic connections.

By Train

No train service exists within Troms county. The nearest railheads are:

• Narvik Station: Located 170 km southwest. Operated by Swedish railway company SJ on the Ofoten Line, with direct trains from Stockholm and Kiruna. Transfer to northbound regional buses at Narvik bus station.
• Fauske Station: Located 380 km south. Operated by SJ Norge on the Nordland Line from Trondheim, with connecting express buses north toward Tromsø.

By Car

• From Tromsø (180 km, ~2.5 hours): Follow the E8 south to Nordkjosbotn, join the E6 south to Olsborg or Buktamoen, turn onto Route 87 toward Øverbygd/Skjold, then take Fv7448 (Dividalsvegen) south into the valley.
• From Narvik (170 km, ~2.5 hours): Drive north on the E6 to Buktamoen, turn east on Route 87 to Øverbygd, and turn onto Fv7448.
• Fv7448 continues south as a gravel road past Frihetsli to the summer trailhead parking area at Kvernelva (~6 km past Frihetsli). The summer parking road requires a toll fee of roughly 50–100 NOK ($5–$10 USD). In winter, road plowing stops at Frihetsli.

By Bus

• Troms Fylkestrafikk (Svipper):

  • Regional Bus Route 100 runs daily between Tromsø and Narvik, stopping at Buktamoen junction (~55 km from the park trailhead). The ride from Tromsø to Buktamoen takes 2 hours 15 minutes and costs approximately 210 NOK ($20 USD).
  • From Buktamoen or Andselv, local Route 105 connects to Øverbygd (Skjold) in about 35 minutes (50 NOK / $5 USD).

• Final Trailhead Access: No public bus travels the final 25 km gravel road from Øverbygd to the Frihetsli trailhead. Travellers without a personal vehicle must book a local taxi (Målselv Taxi, around 600–800 NOK / $58–$77 USD one way) or arrange private transport.

• Inside the Park: Motorized transport, mountain bikes, and drones are strictly prohibited within the national park. All travel inside the park is on foot in summer or on cross-country skis and snowshoes in winter. Marked trails use red paint marks on rocks or wooden signs maintained by Den Norske Turistforening (DNT).

• Outside the Park: Rental cars from Bardufoss Airport or Tromsø Airport provide the only reliable transport for reaching trailheads. For regional bus connections between nearby villages, use the Svipper app or website.

• Anjavassdalen Valley: A remote glacial valley running southeast through ancient Scots pine forests, bog systems, and steep rock walls along the Anjajohka river. Free entry.

• Mount Njunis: The park's highest summit (1,717 m), offering expansive views over the interior alpine plateaus toward the Swedish border. Suitable for fit hikers with route-finding skills. Free entry.

• Divielva River Canyon: Deep limestone gorges and rushing rapids along the Divielva, crossed by steel cable suspension footbridges on main hiking routes. Free entry.

• Dærtavatnet Lake and Fell Country: An alpine lake at 840 metres elevation surrounded by tundra plateaus, scree slopes, and summer pastures for grazing reindeer herds. Free entry.

• Old-Growth Pine Reserves: Lowland stands of centuries-old Scots pine trees with gnarled deadwood that shelter rare boreal bird species including Siberian tits and three-toed woodpeckers. Free entry.

• Sami Cultural Traces: Traditional reindeer-herding migration paths, historic stone hearths (árran), and pit-fall trapping structures protected as national cultural heritage. Free entry.

• Hike the Nordkalottruta (Arctic Trail): Walk segments of this 800-kilometre trail passing north-to-south through the park, connecting DNT cabins at Dividalshytta, Dærtahytta, and Rostahytta.

• Mountain Trout and Char Fishing: Fish for wild brown trout and Arctic char in high-altitude lakes such as Dærtavatnet and Vuomajávri. Requires an inland fishing license from Statskog (purchased on Inatur.no for 120 NOK / $11.50 USD per day or 460 NOK / $44 USD annually).

• Wildlife Tracking: Scan riverbanks and ridge lines for tracks of wolverines, brown bears, and moose, or spot golden eagles and ptarmigans across the upland tundra.

• Winter Ski Touring: Complete multi-day hut-to-hut ski expeditions between DNT shelters from February to April carrying a backpack or pulling a sled (pulk).

• Northern Lights Viewing: Watch the aurora borealis from wilderness campsites and cabin porches away from artificial light pollution between September and March.

There are no restaurants, grocery stores, or snack stands inside the national park. Hikers must pack all provisions, camp stoves, and fuel canisters. Gateway towns provide dining and supply options:

• Rundhaug Gjestegård Restaurant (Rundhaug, ~40 km west): Historic hotel dining room serving northern Norwegian food including local Målselv river trout, roast moose, and cloudberry compote. Mid-range (250–450 NOK / $24–$43 USD).
• Vollan Gjestestue (Nordkjosbotn, ~60 km northwest): Long-standing eatery serving traditional Norwegian dishes like homemade kjøttkaker (meatballs in brown gravy), poached cod, and open rye sandwiches. Budget to mid-range (160–320 NOK / $15–$31 USD).
• Istindporten Kafé (Heggelia / Bardufoss, ~65 km northwest): Casual diner offering freshly baked pastries, burgers, pizzas, and coffee. Budget (110–220 NOK / $11–$21 USD).
• Supermarkets in Øverbygd & Andselv: Coop Extra and Joker in Øverbygd (the closest supply post, 25 km from the trailhead) and Rema 1000 in Andselv stock dried camping meals (Real Turmat), gas cartridges, oats, and trail groceries.

Accommodations inside the park consist strictly of self-service mountain huts and wilderness camping. Standard hotels and guesthouses operate in nearby valleys.

• Wilderness Camping (Allemannsretten): Free tent camping is permitted throughout the park under Norway's Right to Roam, provided tents stay at least 150 metres away from occupied cabins. Free.
• DNT Mountain Cabins (Dividalshytta, Dærtahytta, Vuomahytta): Unserviced wilderness huts operated by Troms Turlag. Facilities include bunk beds, wood stoves, firewood, propane cooktops, and kitchenware. Guests must fetch water from streams and pack out trash. Accessible with a standard DNT key. Budget (300–450 NOK / $29–$43 USD per night per person; discounted for DNT members).
• Dividalen Husky & Guesthouse (Dividalen valley, 10 km north of trailhead): Log cabins and rooms in the lower valley offering private lodging, sauna access, and winter dog-sledding tours. Mid-range (900–1,700 NOK / $87–$163 USD per night).
• Rundhaug Gjestegård (Rundhaug, ~40 km west): Riverside country hotel with historic timber-walled rooms, breakfast, and salmon fishing access on the Målselva river. Mid-range (1,400–2,200 NOK / $135–$212 USD per night).
• Bardufoss Hotell (Andselv, ~65 km northwest): Modern commercial hotel located near Bardufoss Airport offering en-suite rooms, buffet breakfast, and free parking. Mid-range to upscale (1,500–2,400 NOK / $144–$230 USD per night).

• Målselvfossen: Norway's national waterfall and salmon ladder on the Målselva river, located 55 km west near Bardufoss, featuring observation platforms and riverside trails.
• Rohkunborri National Park: A rugged alpine national park 70 km south along the Swedish border, protecting deep canyons, the turquoise lake Geavdnjajávri, and sacred Sami sites.
• Tromsø: Northern Norway's largest city, located 180 km northwest, known for the Arctic Cathedral, Polaria Arctic experience centre, and Fjellheisen cable car.
• Senja Island: Located 130 km west of the park, famous for jagged granite coastal peaks like Segla and dramatic fjords along the National Scenic Route.
• Narvik: Historic port town 170 km southwest, home to the Narvik War Museum, the Arctic Train on the Ofoten line, and Narvikfjellet ski area.