Balsfjord
Municipality · Troms
About Balsfjord
6,000-year-old rock carvings at Tennes, goat's-milk brunost from the Storsteinnes dairy, and an 18th-century sawmill at Aursfjord.
What to do and where to stay in Balsfjord
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Rock carvings at TennesHistory & culture
About 60 Stone Age figures on three fields by Balsfjord Church, among them moose, reindeer, porpoises and people in boats, carved around 4600–2600 BC.
Tennes, by Balsfjord Church, east side of Balsfjorden · 1–1.5 h (path links the three fields, ~2.5 km apart) · all-year; lit in the evening (snow may hide carvings in winter)
2Balsfjord ChurchHistory & culture
A white wooden long church from 1856 at Tennes, neo-Gothic with a tower at the west end and seats for about 400, next to the Kirkely rock carvings.
Tennes, Balsfjord · 15–20 min · All-year outside; check opening hours before you go
3Malangen Church, MortenhalsHistory & culture
A wooden long church from 1853 with about 280 seats in the village of Mortenhals on the Malangen side of the municipality.
Mortenhals, Malangen · 15 min · All-year outside; check opening hours before you go
4Aursfjordsaga water-powered sawmillHistory & culture
A water-powered frame saw by the lake at the mouth of Lakselva, said to be the only one preserved in Northern Norway, with sawing here since 1796.
Aursfjordveien 2147, inner Aursfjorden · 30–45 min · Summer; groups by arrangement outside the season
5BalsaakkaHike
The most visited summit in Balsfjord, a 5.8 km return walk from Storsteinnes past an old ski jump and a lake, with benches at the top.
Moan, above Storsteinnes · 3 h (5.8 km return, 374 m up) · June–September
6VakkerheiaHike
A red-marked 6.6 km return walk through coastal pine forest to a bare top looking over inner Malangen, Aursfjorden and out towards north Senja.
Kjerkevika, near Staff Camping, Aursfjord road · 3 h (6.6 km return, 260 m up) · May–October
7Vollan GjestestueFood & drink
A family-run roadside café and inn at Nordkjosbotn since 1948, serving home-made Norwegian food from local produce, with horse meat among its specialities.
Nordkjosbotn, at the E6/E8 junction · 45–60 min · all-year
8Balsfjord Fjord Museum and Wetland CentreHistory & culture
Midt-Troms Museum's fjord museum in Storsteinnes covers life along the shore and the Sørkjosleira wetland, where large flocks of knots rest each May.
Storsteinnes · 45–60 min · all year, Tue–Thu 11–16; summer 2026 Mon–Fri 11–16
9Bomstadhaugen and Storvatnet, NordkjosbotnHike
A steep but clear path from the Storfjord road at Nordkjosbotn climbs to a 300 m knoll with a wide view, then on to the lake Storvatnet or the peak Perstind.
Off the E6 towards Storfjord, Nordkjosbotn · 2 h to Bomstadhaugen; 3 h return to Storvatnet (5.5 km) · June–September (May–October to Storvatnet)
10Juksavatn and the path to MartinplassenNature
A forest road off the E6 at Strupen leads to Juksavatn, with tables, fire pits, a lean-to and toilet, and a marked forest path to Martinplassen.
Juksavatn, above Strupen · 1–3 h (1.7 km each way) · June–September
Book something local
husky / reindeer / snowmobile
Reindeer, dog-sled and snowmobile trips at Camp Tamok ↗
Winter dog-sled, reindeer and snowmobile trips from Lyngsfjord Adventure's camp in Tamokdalen, 90 minutes from Tromsø, with transfers and a snow park next door.
Lyngsfjord Adventure · Tamokdalen