The name of the National Park stems from the outermost headland on Moskenesøya, Lofotodden. Here, the tidal current Moskstraumen separates Værøy and Røst from the rest of Lofoten. Moskstraumen is infamous as one of the world’s most powerful ocean currents and described in several older sources, notorious for its wildness and insatiable appetite for ships and crew. Throughout history, Lofotodden has been an important landmark for fishermen and marine traders faring through Moskstraumen destined for Lofoten. These wild mountains have through the years stood as the welcoming portal to the fish-eldorado that is Lofoten, the spawning ground for the largest cod stock in the world – the famous arctic cod called Skrei.
Today, Lofotodden is better known for its coastal alpine landscape, a haven for outdoor lovers and summit enthusiasts. The landscape is characterized by steep walls surrounded by wild open seas, abyssal depths and narrow fjords. White sandy beaches and azure blue waters form powerful contrasts to the dramatic mountains of the Lofoten massif’s north side.
Why a national park?
Lofotodden National Park was protected on 22 June 2018, aiming to preserve a unique coastal alpine landscape, unparalleled in both Norway and the rest of the world. The landscape is the result of a number of geological processes and are of great intrinsic value from a natural-historical perspective.
The national park is an important habitat for sea eagles, golden eagles and several endangered seabird species. Several marine mammals also live along the coast. Despite a nutrient-poor and uniform bedrock, there are zones with interesting flora, especially associated with the beach environments and areas with previous settlements. Lofoten became ice-free early during the last ice age, and some mountain plants may have their oldest occurrences in Norway right here in Lofotodden.
In a landscape characterized by human activity for over 6000 years, Lofotodden National Park has an array of intriguing cultural monuments. In sea caves along the outside of the national park, we find traces all the way back to the Stone Age in the form of cave paintings.
Traces of more recent settlements, like house foundations, cobbled roads, stone fences, gardens and boat slipways, are also prevalent. Along the outside of Lofoten, small fishing communities lived until the 1950s. The settlements could only be reached by boat, and harsh sea conditions meant that the people who lived here at times could be completely cut off from the outside world.
What is permitted within the park?
You can trek freely and spend the night wherever you want in Lofotodden, free to enjoy a simple outdoor life. However, with this privilege comes certain obligations. Namely, practicing the ways of leave-no-trace-hiking. Out in nature, you have a responsibility for the experience of your fellow travelers, among other things by cleaning up after yourself and picking up any rubbish. What is brought into the National Park must also be brought out. Do not dispose of any rubbish within the National Park, except in designated bins at the park’s entrances.
You can hunt, fish and pick berries, but remember that all plants, both living and dead, are to be protected from damage or destruction. You can light a campfire, but only on designated, pre-used areas to avoid damaging the vegetation, boulders or bedrock.
Artificial noise is banned in the park. Use of drones is, for the sake of wildlife and fellow travelers, prohibited.
Bicycles should only be used on roads and paths. However, cycling on the paths from Bunesfjorden to Bunessanden and from Torsfjorden to Kvalvika is prohibited.
