Discover Storsteinnes: Fjord Museum, Balsokken and Rock Art

Storsteinnes brings together several distinct reasons to visit: Balsokken is in the town centre, the Fjord Museum combines nature and cultural themes, and Moan is home to the local activity centre. There is also the waterfront area for recreation and the rock art near Tennes.

Hiking and recreation in Storsteinnes

Balsokken is a popular hiking destination in the centre of Storsteinnes and offers a good view. For many people, the hike makes a suitable afternoon outing; it can also serve as a short training hike. It starts either at Rislamoen or at Moan. Trail conditions can vary seasonally, which you should take into account when planning.

To start at Moan, follow Moanveien and Balsokkveien to a car park at the end of Balsokkveien. Check the local parking regulations before your hike, as they may change.

The waterfront area in Storsteinnes is used for play, recreation and teaching, and is considered an important local recreation area. It is used differently from Balsokken: here, the waterfront itself is the focus, rather than a hike to a specific destination.

Museum, garden and regional natural history

The Balsfjord Fjord Museum/Wetland Centre in Storsteinnes features a permanent exhibition about the Balsfjord wetland system as well as changing temporary exhibitions. The museum presents natural and cultural history; its natural history topics include birds, predators, insects, plants and the geology of the surrounding area. An exhibition that opened in autumn 2022 was titled “The Tragedy in the West Ice, 1952” and explored the disappearance of five seal-hunting ships in a storm in the West Ice.

The area around the museum buildings includes the Museum Garden. It preserves old flowering perennials and traditional useful plants such as rhubarb, seiersløk, chives, horseradish and angelica. The garden is freely accessible during the growing season, including outside the museum’s opening hours.

In the Balsfjord destination area, the wetland system consists of the Sørkjosleira and Kobbevågen nature reserves; both are Ramsar sites. This places the museum’s exhibition theme in a specific regional context.

Rock art near Tennes

Nearby, Tennes has four rock-carving fields, considered the largest collection of rock art in Troms. More than 55 stone-carved depictions were created over 6,000 years ago; traces of human culture span a period of more than 6,000 years. A cultural trail passes through the landscape, which people have used and shaped over this period. Unlike at the museum, here you encounter traces of culture in the rock-art fields and along the trail through the landscape.

There are footpaths, signs and lighting at the fields. Seasonal conditions may affect access; check this when planning your visit.

Moan, swimming pool and church services

Moan is Storsteinnes’s activity centre. It includes a sports hall, a football hall, Moan Bath, an artificial-turf pitch, and a ski and biathlon stadium. The various halls and pitches offer a different focus from the hiking trails and cultural sites.

Moan Bath is a public indoor swimming pool with facilities for babies, children, adults, families, schools and groups. You can swim, train or play in the swimming and therapy pool; there is also a sauna. The pool is also used for swimming lessons, school swimming, public bathing, exercise and various health activities. If you are planning a visit to the pool, check the current opening hours and facilities in advance.

Storsteinnes Chapel is one of the municipality’s four churches or places of worship where services are held regularly. For specific dates, check the current calendar.

Discover more destinations: Laksvatn, Balsfjord, Mortenhals, Meistervik, Nordkjosbotn.

Back to the main travel overview: Balsfjord.