Rago National Park

Rago is one of Norway's smaller national parks at about 171 square kilometres, but it has a reputation out of proportion to its size because of the terrain: rounded granite scoured bare by ice, split by deep clefts, littered with boulders the size of houses that form genuine mazes, and cut by the Storskogelva river with a series of powerful waterfalls. It backs directly onto the vast Swedish parks of Padjelanta, Sarek and Stora Sjofallet, so routes continue across the border into some of the largest roadless country in Europe. The walk in from Lakshol climbs steeply through birch to the Storskogvatnet basin, where a self-service cabin sits. Marked routes are few and rough.

What you actually see

• The boulder mazes - fields of enormous blocks forming passages.
• The waterfalls - the Storskogelva dropping through the granite.
• The bare granite - rock scoured clean by the ice sheet.
• The border crossing - routes into the Swedish wilderness parks.

When to go

July to September, once the snow has cleared and the rivers have dropped; the season is short. Autumn brings colour to the birch and fewer insects. Winter is for experienced ski tourers only.

Honest expectations

This is hard walking on rough ground, with steep climbs, boulder hopping and unbridged crossings, and it is not suited to inexperienced walkers. Marked trails are minimal and cabins are self-service, requiring a DNT key. Mosquitoes in July are severe.

Nearby

Junkerdal National Park lies south; Fauske, Sorfold and the Swedish parks surround it.