This adventure provides you with a taste of most types of nature found in Finnmark. We roam into the edge of the Finnmarksvidda mountain plateau and experience the Tverrelv and Alta valleys, as well as the coast when you are safely back in Alta. However, for most people the majestic Alta Canyon is the highlight of this adventure and provides lasting memories.
The canoeing trip
We start by driving up the Tverrelv valley past the slate quarries at Stilla and Nullpunktet – where the historic demonstrations against the construction of the hydroelectric power plant took place – then up to Sautso.
Once up in Sautso we carry canoes and equipment down to the riverbank.
We start paddling 2 km down river from the dam and you will soon gain your first experience of northern Europe’s largest canyon.
Few people venture into the Alta Canyon, primarily because it’s so difficult to get there. You will experience incredible nature, eagles, salmon, various duck species and long river boats in perfect union! If we’re lucky, we can add a moose and fox as well!
We make a stop to gather around the campfire and enjoy a delicious lunch while discussing the first part of our adventure.
The paddling ends at 17:00. This is because of the salmon fishing that starts at 18:00 (see section below). Where we are then is determined by how painless the trip down the river has been. That is, how few accidents and overturns we have had. This may mean that we end the trip and are picked up in Bollo, Sorrisniva or Stengelsen. If everything has gone well, we can in rare cases paddle all the way down to Glød in Øvre Alta. In any case, we expect to be back at Glød at 18:00.
Nature and animal life
The upper parts of the Alta River take us through Alta Canyon, a rare natural gem best enjoyed from a silently flowing canoe. Few people make it up here, apart from those who can fish here. Further down the valley, the landscape is dominated by forest, cultural and agricultural areas. Paddling in a canoe provides a close-up encounter with the animal life, such as white-tailed sea eagles, various duck species and, if you’re lucky, the king of the forest, the moose.
History
The Alta River (or Altaelva as it’s known in Norwegian) represents a central part of the history of Alta and forms an important part of the identity of locals of Alta. During the trip, your guide will tell you about the history of the river, organisation of fishing rights, the damming of the river and construction of the hydroelectric power plant and the subsequent years.
Previous canoeing experience
The upper part of the Alta River – especially the section through Alta Canyon – consists of some larger and more demanding rapids. Some of the rapids – a bit depending on the water level – we carry canoes and equipment past, others we pass by staying close to land and preferably without hitting rocks. This trip therefore requires that the participants have experience in canoeing. In addition, all participants will wear life jackets and if we are unfortunate enough to capsize, this will pass without drama. The temperature in the water is often up to 16 degrees in the summer, and the water flow is relatively low.
Itinerary
08:00 Departure by bus up to Sautso
09:30 Canoes and equipment down by the river. A small snack
10:00 We start down the river
13:30 Lunch around the campfire in Alta Canyon
17:00 We end the canoe trip (absolute latest deadline out of the river is 17:30) If we are down at GLØD by 17:00 it is great, if we have not made it that far we will be picked up by car where we are at 17:00.
Kl 18:00
At 18:00 every day the salmon fishing starts in the Alta River. We respect this and will not paddle over the fishing spots after the fishing has started. Therefore we practice the rule of being out of the river/ending the trip at 17:00. In cases where we see that we will be down at GLØD, and able to be out of the river before 18:00, we do so.