Located on Norway’s border with Sweden, Hattfjelldal is a large municipality in the traditional region of Helgeland. It’s one of the last strongholds of the endangered Southern Sami language and lies on the doorstep of important reindeer grazing pastures.
Things to do in Hattfjelldal
Hattfjelldal is an ideal base for exploring Børgefjell National Park, which encompasses granite mountain peaks, fertile slopes and wildlife-rich marshes. It’s traversed by hiking trails with hardly a soul in sight, offering sightings of rare Arctic foxes, wolverines, lynx and brown bears. Much of Børgefjell National Park is used as grazing lands for domestic reindeer, which have been kept here by the indigenous Sami people for at least 500 years.
Sprawling north of Hattfjelldal is Røssvatnet, the second-largest lake in Norway and a site of human occupation since the Stone Age. Its sparkling waters are surrounded by snow-capped peaks and dense forests of birch, spruce and pine. Røssvatnet is a popular hunting and fishing destination and is an idyllic (but chilly) spot to swim in the summer months.
On the eastern edge of Røssvatnet is Varnvassdalen, a spectacular nature reserve that protects an old-growth forest dominated by pine trees. It is of national conservation value, with several endangered plant species and fungi having been recorded here. Stretch your legs along one of the trails that lead through its hills and valleys while learning about its role as a traditional grazing pasture.
Getting around Hattfjelldal
Hattfjelldal is just over an hour’s drive from Mosjøen Airport, which has flights to destinations across Norway. By road, Trondheim is roughly 5.5 hours away. Renting a car is the most convenient way of accessing Hattfjelldal and exploring the surrounding region. The centre of Hattfjelldal can easily be navigated on foot.