Difficult
Skarvan og Roltdalen protects a large, intact mountain-and-valley landscape east of Stjørdal in Trøndelag. The park, established in 2004, covers 441 square kilometres and takes its name from the Skarvan mountain range and the long, untouched Roltdalen valley.
Roltdalen is the park's centrepiece: a deep, forested valley with old-growth spruce and pine that has never been commercially logged. The valley floor holds marshes and meandering streams, while the surrounding mountains rise to over 1,100 metres. The transition from valley floor to alpine summit within a few kilometres creates a compressed cross-section of Norwegian ecosystems.
The area has a long history of Sami use, and the South Sami community still has reindeer herding rights within the park. Mining was also part of the story: old copper mines at Merdalen date back to the 1600s, and remnants of mining activity can still be found along the trails. The park connects to trails in the Swedish mountains across the border.
Roltdalen is the park's centrepiece: a deep, forested valley with old-growth spruce and pine that has never been commercially logged. The valley floor holds marshes and meandering streams, while the surrounding mountains rise to over 1,100 metres. The transition from valley floor to alpine summit within a few kilometres creates a compressed cross-section of Norwegian ecosystems.
The area has a long history of Sami use, and the South Sami community still has reindeer herding rights within the park. Mining was also part of the story: old copper mines at Merdalen date back to the 1600s, and remnants of mining activity can still be found along the trails. The park connects to trails in the Swedish mountains across the border.