Very Difficult
Øvre Anárjohka is Norway's most remote national park. Established in 1975 and expanded in 2003, it covers 1,409 square kilometres of virgin birch and pine forest in inner Finnmark, bordering Finland. There are no roads into the park, no cabins, and no marked trails.
Just reaching the park boundary is an expedition. From Karasjok, the nearest Norwegian town, it is roughly 50 kilometres of roadless Finnmarksvidda terrain heading south. The most practical entry is actually from the Finnish side: the village of Angeli, reachable by road from Inari, lies about 10 to 20 kilometres from the park's western edge. From there you cross through Finland's Lemmenjoki National Park before fording the Anárjohka river into Norway. In summer, pack rafting or canoeing the river systems is the main strategy, since the terrain is largely trackless bog and birch forest. In winter, guided ski expeditions run 10-day crossings from Angeli.
The park protects one of the largest remaining areas of pristine subarctic forest in Europe. The Scots pine here grows so slowly that some trees are over 500 years old, despite being barely taller than a person. The forest has never been commercially logged, partly because it was simply too remote. The Anárjohka river flows north into the Tana, one of Europe's great salmon rivers. Visitors must be entirely self-sufficient, carry a satellite phone, and have strong navigation skills. There is no mobile coverage anywhere in the park.
Just reaching the park boundary is an expedition. From Karasjok, the nearest Norwegian town, it is roughly 50 kilometres of roadless Finnmarksvidda terrain heading south. The most practical entry is actually from the Finnish side: the village of Angeli, reachable by road from Inari, lies about 10 to 20 kilometres from the park's western edge. From there you cross through Finland's Lemmenjoki National Park before fording the Anárjohka river into Norway. In summer, pack rafting or canoeing the river systems is the main strategy, since the terrain is largely trackless bog and birch forest. In winter, guided ski expeditions run 10-day crossings from Angeli.
The park protects one of the largest remaining areas of pristine subarctic forest in Europe. The Scots pine here grows so slowly that some trees are over 500 years old, despite being barely taller than a person. The forest has never been commercially logged, partly because it was simply too remote. The Anárjohka river flows north into the Tana, one of Europe's great salmon rivers. Visitors must be entirely self-sufficient, carry a satellite phone, and have strong navigation skills. There is no mobile coverage anywhere in the park.