Svartisen Glacier – Engabreen and Austerdalsisen

Svartisen is the second-largest glacier in mainland Norway, covering 370 km². Two of its arms are easy to reach in summer, each with a boat ride and a walk.

Engabreen (Meløy): from Holandsvika, just north of the Braset rest area on the Coastal Route (Fv17) – about 15 minutes’ drive from the Forøy ferry quay – a shuttle boat crosses the Holandsfjord in about ten minutes, several times a day from roughly June to September. From the quay you follow a gravel road for 3 km and then climb up to the ice. Good footwear is a must. In summer the café Brestua by the lake is open. The pin marks Holandsvika.

Austerdalsisen (Rana): from the E6 drive towards Røssvoll (Mo i Rana airport) and on along Svartisdalveien – a private road with a toll of NOK 150 per car (youpark.no). A boat crosses Svartisvatnet in 10–20 minutes (mid-June to August, depending on ice and snow), and from there it is about 3 km over solid rock to a viewpoint and a shelter. The large car park has room for motorhomes, with toilets, a kiosk and spots for tents. There is no mobile signal at the glacier.

Safety: never walk out onto the glacier without proper equipment – only with an experienced glacier guide – and keep away from the edge of the ice: blocks can break off without warning. Guided glacier walks are offered at both arms.