Njunis
1,721 m
Norway
- Elevation
- 1,721 m
- Prominence
- 1,308 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Aug
- Routes
- 1
WorksReported 15 Jul 2026
Forsvarsbygg has started upgrading the Njunis radar station: works on the mountain facility and a new radome foundation and concrete building on the summit began in July 2026, continuing each summer and autumn as weather allows, with completion planned during 2028. No public access restrictions were mentioned.
nrk.no
Routes
1A long, mostly pathless day from Øvre Divifoss at the head of Dividalen (about 290 m): a forest path past Nesen to the treeline, open plateau and bog to the south ridge, steep loose scree between 1,300 and 1,500 m to the south-east top (1,606/1,637 m), then a 100 m drop and 200 m climb to the radar-topped summit. About 13 km and 1,500 m each way; 9–10 hours return.
About 100% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 4 check notes
- 100% approximate geometry
- low confidence 0.4
- Øvre Divifoss → Njunis: dem (snap_failed, 12.1 km)
- unresolved waypoints: Divifossen bridges, Nesen, Njunis south ridge, Njunis Sørøst
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 12.1 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,704 m
- −240 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,721 m
- Time Up
- 7h 40m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 5h 43m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Drive up Dividalen from Øverbygd to Øvre Divifoss, a few hundred metres before the road end (about 42 km; the last 6 km past Frihetsli are a toll road), and park at the large parking area at about 290 m. A good path drops to the bridges over the Divifossen falls, where there are fine potholes in the river. Beyond, it crosses a boggy stretch with scrub, then improves and climbs through birch forest to end a few hundred metres north of Nesen (689 m). Mark the point where the path leaves the open ground for the return. Above the treeline there is no path. Head west for the south ridge of Njunis' lowest top over a long, gentle mix of bog, knee-high willow scrub and good plateau ground. At about 1,200 m the plateau gives way to steep scree; between 1,300 and 1,500 m it is steep, loose and slow both up and down. The ridge then flattens for the last kilometre to the south-east top (point 1606 / Njunis Sørøst 1,637 m, small cairn). Descend about 110 m into the saddle and climb about 200 m to the main summit, which carries the Sindre II radar station of the Norwegian Armed Forces. Return the same way. Navigation is simple in good visibility but the plateau and scree are featureless in fog, which often sits on the summit. Trip reports give 9–10 hours return, 27 km and about 1,820–1,870 m of total ascent. Expect mosquitoes below the treeline in summer.
Start
Øvre Divifoss253 m
- A bus stop exists at Frihetsli in upper Dividalen (OSM); timetables not checked. Otherwise car from Øverbygd.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Øvre Divifoss → Njunis | 12.1 | 1,704 | 240 | 7h 40m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Øvre Divifoss253 m
Approximate: position of the waterfall; the parking area is close by
- Summit: Njunis1,721 m
Military radar station on the summit
Key Passages
- Bog and willow scrub above the treeline
- Steep scree 1,300–1,500 m on the south ridge
- Drop and re-ascent between the south-east top and the main summit
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 40%Overview
The highest mountain of Målselv and the third highest in Troms, a 1,717 m massif west of upper Dividalen on the edge of Øvre Dividal National Park. A long, mostly pathless day to a summit topped by a military radar station.
Njunis is a mountain massif west of upper Dividalen in Målselv municipality, Troms. Five summits in its central part exceed 1,600 m; the highest, 1,717 m, lies just inside Øvre Dividal National Park. Deep cirques on its east and west flanks hold small glaciers. The name is North Sámi and means a protruding mountain promontory.
The main summit is unusual: since 2007 it has carried a Sindre II air-surveillance radar of the Norwegian Armed Forces, a radar head that can be lowered into the mountain, reached by a tunnel of about 9 km from Frihetsli in the valley. The view still takes in much of Målselv and Bardu and, on a clear day, Kebnekaise in Sweden.
The normal route from Øvre Divifoss is about 27 km return with roughly 1,800 m of total ascent, mostly on trackless plateau, bog and scree. There are no technical difficulties, but the length, the steep scree on the south ridge and frequent summit fog make it a serious day.
Climbing Notes
Plan for 9–10 hours return on rough, mostly pathless ground; good hill fitness and map-and-compass skills are needed. The steep scree on the south ridge (1,300–1,500 m) is the crux and is slow both ways. Go in a settled spell, as the summit is often in cloud. Expect mosquitoes in the forest in July. Summer is the realistic season; winter ascents are serious ski tours in avalanche terrain, and road access up Dividalen in winter should be checked. During the radar works (2026–2028) expect construction activity on the summit in summer and autumn.
History
The radar station Sindre II on the summit was completed in 2007. In July 2026 Forsvarsbygg awarded contracts worth NOK 244 million to upgrade the facility and build a radome foundation and concrete building on the summit, with completion planned during 2028. No first-ascent record was found.
Season
Best Jul–Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Not advisable
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Not advisable
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Polar night
- Feb
- Winter
- Mar
- Ski touring only, avalanche terrain
- Apr
- Ski touring only, avalanche terrain
- May
- Snowmelt
- Jun
- Much snow left high up
- Jul
- Main season; mosquitoes below the treeline
- Aug
- Main season
- Sep
- Shorter days; early snow possible
- Oct
- Wintry
- Nov
- Winter
- Dec
- Polar night
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Toll road for the last 6 km of the Dividalen road past Frihetsli (NOK 50 in the trip report; current price not checked)
- Rules
- The summit carries a Norwegian Armed Forces radar installation; keep away from the military buildings and follow any signs
- The highest summit lies inside Øvre Dividal National Park; national park rules apply
- Getting There
Øverbygd (Målselv); Bardufoss for services
Bardufoss (BDU); Tromsø (TOS)
- By car: from Øverbygd up Dividalen about 42 km to Øvre Divifoss, the last 6 km past Frihetsli on a toll road; large parking area at Øvre Divifoss
- OSM shows a bus stop at Frihetsli; check local timetables before relying on it
Hazards
- Remoteness
- Weather
- Rockfall