Børgefjell National Park / Byrkije vaarjelimmiedajve
Børgefjell / Byrkjie is among our least facilitated national parks, with few or no marked trails, bridges, or DNT cabins. Here, it’s primarily about tents, maps, and compasses. And a fishing rod – don’t forget the fishing rod!
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Wild nature and wild animals
Børgefjell is a highly undeveloped national park and is best suited for experienced hikers. Already in 1932, the Norwegian Trekking Association decided not to build cabins or create marked trails in the national park. You may find a few rental cabins, simple shelters, and huts, but for the most part, it’s tents and sleeping bags that provide shelter for hikers overnight
Large parts of the park are located high in the mountains, with both sharp peaks and rounder mountain areas. However, there are also several valleys with fine fishing lakes and watercourses, where hikers with fishing rods can catch their own dinner. The national park is described as a paradise for trout fishing.
The Børgefjell area is one of the few places in the country where Arctic foxes still exist, and if you are lucky, you may encounter this rare animal. In that case, enjoy the moment and proceed quietly. It is a critically endangered species that needs all the peace it can get.
Jan Inge Larsen
Børgefjell is also an important grazing area for domesticated reindeer during spring, summer, and fall, and reindeer husbandry is the main industry in the national park. Other animals you may encounter include wolverines, lynxes, and bears, in addition to small predators like red foxes, snow voles, martens, and stoats. Moose can be found in the forested areas and mountains. Hares and squirrels are common, and beavers can be encountered in the Orvassdraget area.
The park is also rich in birdlife, especially around Tiplingan and the lower part of the Simskardelva river. Here, you may encounter rough-legged buzzards, snowy owls, golden eagles, and other birds of prey.
Freedom to roam
In open country, you are free to walk and ski wherever you want. You can set up your tent wherever you want, as long as it is more than 150 meters from inhabited houses or cabins.
Cultural Heritage in the Park
Cultural heritage is protected against damage and destruction. The traces of our ancestors contain a lot of history. Therefore, leave cultural heritage undisturbed and do not build cairns.
You can light a fire all year round, even between April 15th and September 15th, in places where it obviously cannot lead to a fire. Use established fireplaces or light a fire where it does not leave lasting traces. Use fallen branches and bring your own firewood.
It is not allowed to cut down trees.
Dry pine (gaidd) should not be used as firewood.
Hunting and Fishing
In the national park, you can hunt and fish as in sea and mountain areas elsewhere, according to applicable laws. It is not allowed to use live fish as bait or transfer live fish from one watercourse to another. With the Børgefjell card, you can fish in all waters in Børgefjell.
Partial Ban on Movement in June and July (not on Helgeland)
In Zone A of the national park (far south, in the part located in Trøndelag), it is not allowed to walk between June 20th and July 25th. In southern parts of the adjacent area on the Swedish side, there is a ban on movement between June 10th and July 10th. You can see the areas on this map.
Dogs in the National Park
Dogs are welcome on the hike, but a leash is required from April 1st to August 20th. You must consider wildlife, grazing animals, and people all year round. Remember that reindeer may perceive dogs as predatory during the hunting season.
Drones are Prohibited in the National Park
Motorized means of transportation are prohibited in the national park. Unnecessary noise should be avoided. The use of motor-driven model aircraft, drones, model boats, ice augers, and similar devices is not allowed.
Clothing and Equipment
The weather in Børgefjell changes abruptly both in summer and winter. Thick fog, strong winds, and heavy snowfall may occur. You must assess the weather and conditions, your fitness and skills, and prepare with suitable clothing and equipment. Experience with river crossing is required as there are few bridges in the national park.
Source: borgefjellnasjonalpark.no
Destinations and attractions
July and August are the best months for hiking in Børgefjell. Feel free to use the official entry points to access the park, as they are marked right from the beginning. The trails may disappear eventually, and then you must navigate through nature on your own.
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
For those who only want a small taste of Børgefjell without going on a multi-day trek, the 7-kilometer Simskardrunden is recommended. On this hike, you walk on well-marked trails along the Simskardelva River and into Simskardhytta, which has an open section for day visitors. For variety, you can return on the opposite side of the river.
But if you are ready for a more challenging hike, you can follow Simskardet further into the park with Kvigtinden (1699 m above sea level) as your goal. This tough peak is the highest mountain in Børgefjell, but it is a demanding hike that requires good weather and careful planning.
Cabins and Mountain Farms
Due to the strict protection against technical interventions in Børgefjell, there are very few cabins here. Statskog has some open cabins, and Vefsn Hunting and Fishing Association rents out Jengelhytta in the southern part of the national park. However, almost all of them are located on the outskirts of the national park, and if you want to explore the wild areas further in, you must be prepared for a tent and sleeping bag.
Entry Points
The landscape in the national park varies from area to area, and where you start your hike can greatly influence the hiking experience you get from Børgefjell. In the west, the landscape is characterized by sharp mountains and narrow valleys, while further east, the landscape opens up more, and the mountains “round off” as you approach the border with Sweden.
- Tomasvatnet, at Majavatn in the southwest
- Simskardet, from Fliplingdalen in the west
- Øyum, from Susendalen in the north
- Oksvollen, from Susendalen in the north-east
