Alta · Norway
Salen · Hammerfest town mountain
Hammerfest's town mountain, recommended by a local photographer in Nordnorge's guide: a ten-minute zigzag path lifts you above the city lights with the classic view over the bay, Håja and Sørøya; the Mikkelgammen turf hut is on the way.
See tonight's live score and best time to go for Salen in Aurora Atlas
Why it works for the aurora
- View
- North-west over the town, the Sørøysundet strait, Håja and Sørøya..
- Darkness
- Mostly dark sky, grade 2 on a scale from 0 (darkest) to 5. Some light from a village, houses or a road nearby.
- Aurora
- Under the auroral oval: aurora can be overhead even on quiet nights.
Getting there
- Distance
- About 98 km by road from Alta (estimate), roughly 1 h 52 by car.
- Parking
- Turistveien car park near Mikkelgammen, then a short path.
- Bus or train
- Nearest stop: Hammerfest bussterminal / Rådhusplassen (town centre, ~0.5 km).
- Coordinates
- 70.6578, 23.6841 · Open in OpenStreetMap
Before you go
Path in winter darkness: bring a headlamp.
Dress for standing still in the cold, bring a head torch with a red light, and park only where parking is allowed. A forecast is guidance, not a promise: check the road and weather warnings for Norway before a night drive. See our winter safety note.
Spot information from openstreetmap.org.