Alta Canyon Hike

After being picked up at the hotel, we will drive about half an hour south to Beskades, where the hike begins. After starting eastwards, we will later turn more southwards. We will walk above the treeline so it’s quite exposed to wind and precipitation. On a fine summer’s day, the only thing that may be a bit annoying are the mosquitos. However, once we have sprayed on some insect repellent, we can walk in peace!

The Finnmarksvidda mountain plateau rolls gently southwards on both sides of the canyon. Reindeer have grazed in these areas since time immemorial. Other animals to roam here include the brown bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine. The canyon is a breeding area for several birds of prey, so it’s not unusual to hear the mournful cry of the rough-legged buzzard or another species.

At the bottom of the canyon, the mighty Alta river meanders towards the sea. The river is renowned as one of the best for salmon fishing in the world. If we are lucky, we will catch a glimpse of a traditional riverboat with anglers on board. If we get out our binoculars, perhaps we can if the lines are tight!

The combined distance of this hike is about 13 km. We follow relatively good paths most of the way, with the surface varying between marshland, rock bed and some short stony sections.

On this hike, we recommend good mid-cut mountain boots. We need to cross some rivers along the way and the water level depends on the season and rainfall. Perhaps you will experience the joy of wading across a river with an extremely refreshing water temperature or jumping from rock to rock. In dry and fine weather, sold off-road running shoes or approach shoes are suitable. However, don’t be surprised if your feet get wet.