Rohkunborri
1,659 m
Norway
Also known as Рохкунбори, RakkunbarriAlso known as
Рохкунбори · Rakkunbarri
- Elevation
- 1,659 m
- Prominence
- 1,161 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Aug
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The route locals recommend: a boat from the Altevatnet harbour near Innset to Storbukta (about 490 m), then pathless birch forest, the Njirak stream and hours of boulder fields to Rohkunborri Vest (1,560 m), a 60 m drop to a dramatic col and a steep, loose 160 m scree ridge to the flat summit plateau (1,659 m). About 16–17 km and 1,400 m of ascent; around 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? 6 check notes
- 100% approximate geometry
- DIN time up 8.33 h vs published 5.4 h (+54%)
- low confidence 0.4
- Altevatnet boat harbour → Storbukta: dem (snap_failed, 16.4 km)
- Storbukta → Rohkunborri: dem (snap_failed, 7.3 km)
- unresolved waypoints: Njirak, Rohkunborri Vest, Rohkunborri west col
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 23.7 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,339 m
- −170 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,660 m
- Time Up
- 8h 20m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 7h 33m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Drive to Innset at the north-west end of Altevatnet and park at the large car park by the boat harbour (about 490 m, day fee). Book a boat in advance (Camp Leina operates boat transport on the lake): about 17 km and 20–30 minutes east along the lake to Storbukta on the south shore. Agree a pickup time with a generous margin or arrange to phone. There are no continuous paths and no markings. Walk through somewhat wet birch forest towards the stream Njirak, which drains the western cirque; cross it at about 600 m (easy in normal flows) and continue east along its south bank towards the large cirque on the south-west side, entering the national park at about 1,000 m. Above 600 m the walking is easy but soon turns into boulder fields that last for hours; slab-like stones near the cirque rim west of the summit area help a little. A long, undulating 'stone desert' leads to Rohkunborri Vest (1,560 m), marked by a weathered wooden post, about 4 hours from the boat. Descend about 60 m of straightforward, non-exposed scrambling to the col (about 1,500 m), with steep snowfields dropping north to a glacier and glacial lake. The west ridge above, about 160 m of ascent, is the crux: entirely loose, steep scree with a high risk of dislodging stones. Keep near the crest, move slowly and keep well apart. The summit is a flat plateau; the cairn, with an old trig marker, stands at the cliff edge above a huge east-facing cirque. Return the same way; late-season snowfields north of the ascent line can save some scree.
Start
Altevatnet boat harbour490 m
- None practical; car to Innset, then a pre-booked boat across Altevatnet
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Storbukta → Rohkunborri | 23.7 | 1,339 | 170 | 8h 20m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Altevatnet boat harbour490 m
Converted from the UTM position in a 2022 trip report; boat to Storbukta from here
- Trailhead: Storbukta493 m
Boat landing; coordinates are those of the cabin Storbukthytta nearby
- Summit: Rohkunborri1,659 m
Key Passages
- Njirak crossing
- Boulder fields to Rohkunborri Vest
- Scramble down to the west col
- Loose scree on the west ridge
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 40%Overview
The highest mountain in Bardu (1,659 m) and namesake of Rohkunborri National Park, rising south of Altevatnet near the Swedish border. A remote, pathless ascent by boat and boulder field, with a loose final ridge.
Rohkunborri rises south of the lake Altevatnet in Bardu municipality, Troms, inside Rohkunborri National Park (established 2011, 571 km²), which runs to the Swedish border and adjoins Sweden's Vadvetjåkka National Park. The park takes in part of the deep Sørdalen canyon and ranges from birch forest to alpine tundra on lime-rich rock; brown bear, wolverine and lynx live here, and the reindeer grazing the area belong to Sámi herders.
The mountain is a broad massif with a west top (Rohkunborri Vest, 1,560 m) and a flat summit plateau around 1,660 m, cut on the east by a huge cirque and on the north by steep snowfields above a glacier and glacial lake. There are no paths or markings. The locally recommended approach is by boat across Altevatnet to Storbukta, then a long walk over boulder fields and a steep, loose ridge. The view reaches Altevatnet, Leinavatnet, Njunis and, on a clear day, Kebnekaise.
Climbing Notes
Plan a full day: about 10 hours, 16–17 km and 1,400 m of ascent from the boat landing, almost all of it on pathless boulder fields. Book the boat in advance and agree a realistic pickup time. The loose west ridge from the col to the summit is the crux: keep near the crest, keep well apart and consider a helmet. A GPS track is very helpful. In May the mountain is skied, which is much faster over the boulders, but the ridge from the col can be hard snow and there are large cornices on the north side.
Season
Best Jul–Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Not advisable
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Polar night
- Mar
- Ski touring for experienced, self-sufficient parties
- Apr
- Ski touring for experienced, self-sufficient parties
- May
- Spring ski ascents reported
- Jun
- Snowmelt; boat transport season uncertain
- Jul
- Main summer season
- Aug
- Main summer season
- Sep
- Shorter days; early snow possible
- Dec
- Polar night
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Car park at the Altevatnet boat harbour: NOK 100 per day (2022)
- Boat transport across Altevatnet (price on request)
- Rules
- Rohkunborri National Park rules apply; the area is used for Sámi reindeer herding
- Getting There
Setermoen (Bardu)
Bardufoss (BDU); Harstad/Narvik Evenes (EVE)
- By car to Innset and the boat harbour at the north-west end of Altevatnet
- Boat to Storbukta on the south shore, about 17 km and 20–30 minutes; Camp Leina offers boat transport on Altevatnet, book in advance
Hazards
- Remoteness
- Rockfall
- Weather
- Cornices