BENNETT. Print: Trykkpartner Lade Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella Wilderness from valleys to peaks TE1185 Photo: Arild Juul, Torbjørn Moen/Norsk Bildebyrå, Tore Solstad, Bernt Hågensen, Kjartan Knutsen, Dag Røttereng/Samfoto, Tom Schandy/Samfoto and Steinar Johansen. Front page: Near Tverrbekken in Lurudal. Norway’s national parks – nature as it was meant to be Norway’s national parks are regulated by the laws of nature. Nature decides both how and when to do things. National parks are estab- lished in order to protect large natural areas – from the coast to the mountains. This is done for the benefit of nature itself, for our sake and for generations to come. The national parks offer a wide range of opportunities and experiences. The natural surroundings are beautiful and varied. There is hunting, fishing, plants, birds, animals and cultural monuments. Accept our invitation – become acquainted with nature and our national parks. www.dirnat.no o Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park 3 Welcome to one of the largest continuous areas of wilderness in southern Norway The Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella National Park is one of the largest national parks in Norway. The lands- cape varies from magnificent wooded valleys with remnants of virgin forest to high mountains. You can see many endangered species of plants and animals in distinctive, varied scenery. Lurusneisa 4 o o Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park 5 Blåfjella from the north EXPERIENCE natUre A family walk or hiking in the mountains? The Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella National Park has many paths; some are marked with cairns or the like, but there are no marked or prepared ski tracks in winter. Skjækerdalshytta and the former Holden Farm are self-service huts managed by the Norwegian Hiking Association, and you can rent other accommodation in the park. Hunting and fishing There are plenty of opportunities for hunting and fishing in the national park. You can catch plenty of good- quality brown trout and char in lakes on the higher ground. The area is well known for its grouse. Most big- game hunting concerns elk, but is not permitted within the confines of the former Gressåmoen National Park. Brown trout Blåfjellet o Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park 6 THE LANDSCAPE From lush valleys to high mountains The national park mostly consists of fairly gently undulating upland, but some mountains reach above 1000 m; Midtiklumpen (1333 m a.s.l.) in the Blåfjell massif is the highest. The landscape is varied and includes coniferous forest, birch woodland, mires, valleys and mountains. You can see landforms from the last Ice Age, including kame terraces, eskers (ridges of sand and gravel deposited by rivers beneath the glacier) and drumlins (long, oval ridges of ground moraine formed beneath the glacier). A number of nutrient-rich types of bedrock, such as mica schist, occur from the south as far north as Holderen, and these support lush vegetation. Gneissic rocks that are poor in nutrients take over further north, and the poor vegetation cover there reflects this change. The great variation in types of ecosystem and the extensive areas with a wilderness character offer habitats for birds of prey, large predators and other wildlife. Skjeldbreien View towards Midtiklumpen How to get to Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella National Park: From the south: From Stiklestad along Route 757 to Vera. Paths lead towards the park from Skjækerfossen, Storlunet and Vera. From the west: From Steinkjer along Route 762, via Gaulstad to Lustadvatnet. A path takes you from that lake to Skjækervatnet. From Route 763 near Breide in Snåsa to Grønningen and then eastwards along marked paths. From Route 763 in the KEY TOKEY SYMBOLS TO SYMBOLS centre of Snåsa to Agle, and then via Skromo to a car park at County borderCounty border Storåskammen, or the ”Lurudal road” to Gressåmoen Farm. National ParkNational Park From the north: Along Route 74 from Formofoss towards Nordli, Protected landscapeProtected landscape and branch off at Trongen or park at Gosen on Lifjellet. Nature reserveNature reserve From the east: Follow Route 765 through Sørli. You can park at several places, such as Jule, Bruvoll and Eide. AccommodationAccommodation From Sweden: Take Route 72/336 between Järpen in Sweden and Restaurant/cafeteriaRestaurant/cafeteria Verdal, 55 km from Kallsedet to Björkede, via Övereng where you National ParkNational Park InformationInformation Center Center can arrange to be taken over the lake by boat. Camping Camping Maps: Staffed touristStaffed cabin tourist cabin Several maps in the Norway 1:50 000 series. Self-serviceSelf-service tourist cabin tourist cabin Design and digital cartography: Gåsvatn-kartjenester, www.kart-tjenester.no Digital map data: Norwegian Mapping Authority N250. Licence no. MAD12002-R125240 www.kart-tjenester.no Design and digital cartography: Gåsvatn-kartjenester, o Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park 11 PLANT LIFE Special botanical treats Both coastal plants and plants requiring an inland climate occur in the national park, and several parts of the park, such as Skjækerfjella and the area around Raudfjellet in Snåsa, are rich and outstanding plant localities. Many of the species you can find in the park figure on the Norwegian Red List of vulnerable and endangered species. The national park is situated where Norway spruce first immigrated to Norway. Valleys and hillsides have exten- sive areas of upland woodland with spruce, Scots pine and birch that have been comparatively little affected by people in modern times. Bear tracks ANIMAL LIFE Many kinds of animals and birds The national park has unusually large numbers of mammals, as many as 28 species, and numerous species of birds. The Arctic fox breeds here and is one of the rarest of the species. Many elk, red deer and roe deer roam the valleys and hillsides. Wolverines, lynx and brown bears are regularly seen. The wolverines belong to the southern part of a continuous population inhabiting northern Scandinavia. Wolves occasionally roam into the national park. The area is important for wetland birds, birds of prey and Ghost orchid owls. Several species are on the Norwegian Red List of vulnerable and endangered species. Globeflower o 12 Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park HISTORY Central Sámi district The southern Sámi have herded their reindeer here for more than 500 years and have used the area for many more centuries. There are many cultural heritage relics from the southern Sámi, such as settlement sites, corrals, burial sites and sacred places. Activities like hunting, fishing and collecting berries and plants can be traced right back to the Early Stone Age, 7000 BC. Animal fodder has been scythed and gathered in from hillsides and fens in parts of the national park, particu- larly near Verdal and Snåsa. Transhumance summer dairy farming and haymaking on marginal land gradually died out between the end of the 19th century and the Second World War, but remains of this old cultural landscape, including farm buildings and grazing land, can still be seen in several places. The former Holden Farm offers overnight accommoda- tion. It is surrounded by a valuable cultural landscape. There are several paths and ancient tracks in the area. Some are referred to as “priest tracks” because vicars used them when journeying between scattered settlements to hold services. Windfall in Lurudalen o o 14 Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-skæhkere National Park 15 Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/ Låarte-Skæhkere National Park in brief Where: Grong, Lierne, Snåsa, Steinkjer and Verdal municipalities, Nord-Trøndelag county. You are a guest of nature Foremost characteristics: Large tract of open country ranging from lowland slopes and in a national park valleys with remnants of virgin forest to high mountains. Rich vegetation and wildlife, home to many endangered species. • You may go wherever you like, on foot or ski, but Outdoor recreation: the basic rule is that anything with an engine is The national park offers good opportunities for hunting, fishing prohibited. and other outdoor recreation. The terrain is suitable for shooting ptarmigan and other small game, and there are a number of fine • You can stop wherever you like and pitch a tent. lakes where you can fish brown trout and char. There are many Always tidy up after yourself and don’t leave paths, some of which are marked. No winter tracks are marked. Overnight accommodation is available, and huts may be rented. litter. Information on overnight accommodation and other services: • You can light a fire, but remember the general Friendly Trøndelag, www.trondelag.com Indre Namdal, www.indre-namdal.no ban on lighting fires in forests from 15 April to Tips: 15 September. Be considerate when collecting Several parts of the area lack mobile phone coverage. Remember firewood. to have waterproof footwear, a mosquito net and mosquito oil in summer. • You can pick berries, mushrooms and com- Designated: 2004 mon plants for your own use. Be considerate of Size: 1924 km2 cultural relics, vegetation and fauna. Be extra Adjacent protected areas: careful during the breeding and nesting season. Arvasslia Nature Reserve Berglimyra and Klumplifjellet Nature Reserve • Make use of the hunting and fishing oppor- Gaundalsmyra Nature Reserve tunities. Remember a hunting/fishing licence. Storfloa Nature Reserve Never use live fish as bait, or transfer live fish Skjækra Protected Landscape from one watercourse to another. National Park Information Center: Lierne Nasjonalparksenter, Tel. +47 74 34 34 85 • You can take your dog with you, but remember www.naturporten.no to keep it on a lead from 1 April to 20 August. More information: County Governor of Nord-Trøndelag, www.fylkesmannen.no/nt, Tel. +47 74 16 80 00 Norwegian Nature Inspectorate, Steinkjer, Tel. +47 74 14 02 10 Snåsa Municipal Common Land Board, www.fjellstyrene.no/snaasa, Tel. +47 74 12 74 48 Sørli Municipal Common Land Board, www.fjellstyrene.no/lierne, Tel.