Sjunkhatten National Park

Sjunkhatten covers about 417 square kilometres between Bodo, Fauske and Sorfold, and when it was established in 2010 it was given an unusual designation as the children's national park, with a stated aim of making the outdoors accessible to young people and those with disabilities; facilities near the entrances were built with that in mind. The landscape itself is not gentle: fjord arms cutting deep inland, limestone caves, alpine peaks and the Sjunkhatten massif that gives the park its name. Marked routes run from several trailheads, with cabins available inside. The nearest sections are within half an hour of Bodo, which makes it one of the more accessible large parks in northern Norway.

History

The Ministry of the Environment first proposed protecting the peninsula in 2007, and after four public meetings and input from more than 570 stakeholders the park was established by royal resolution on 5 February 2010. It covers 417.5 square kilometres, including 39.8 square kilometres of sea, in Bodø, Fauske and Sørfold (Wikipedia, Sjunkhatten National Park).

What's there

• The fjord arms - Sjunkfjorden and other inlets cutting into the mountains.
• The limestone caves - karst systems within the park boundary.
• The Sjunkhatten massif - the peaks that gave the park its name.
• The accessible entrances - facilities designed for families and disabled visitors.

When to go

June to September for walking, when the routes are clear of snow; the coastal fringe is milder than the interior. Winter offers ski touring for the experienced, with short daylight and unstable weather.

Things to know

The accessible facilities are near the entrances only; the interior is genuine wilderness with rough ground, river crossings and no signal. Cave exploration requires equipment and experience. Weather on this coast is wet in every season.

Nearby

Bodo lies west; Fauske, the Saltstraumen current and Rago National Park are close.

Key facts