Kaperdalen Samemuseum

About the museum

Midt-Troms Museum manages two field Sámi settlements in Kaperdalen, both abandoned shortly after 1900. Kaperdalen is considered one of the best preserved field Sámi settlements in Norway and was the last settlement to be abandoned in the interior of Senja. The farm lies on a sun-facing slope down towards the river.

The settlers were descended from Swedish reindeer-herding Sámi who settled on the Norwegian coast in the late 1700s. Øver-Kaperdalen was cleared first, and Ner-Kaperdalen some years later. At most the two places had four cows and some goats and sheep. Food came from their own clearings, including wild berries and angelica (kvann). Since the bear was gone from Senja at the time, the bear's den was used as a potato cellar, and a pool in the river provided water all year round.

Nikolai Olsen Kaperdal, born in 1905, was the last to live in Kaperdalen. He became Senja's first taxi driver in 1929 with a T-Ford. The gamme in Øver-Kaperdalen was restored in 2020 and is the only building left standing there. A marked trail leads from the car park by the main road down to Ner-Kaperdalen, and on up the valley to Øver-Kaperdalen.

Highlights

• One of the best preserved field Sámi settlements in Norway
• Restored gamme in Øver-Kaperdalen from 2020
• Bear's den used as a potato cellar
• The story of Nikolai Olsen Kaperdal, Senja's first taxi driver
• Marked trail from the car park to the settlements

Permanent exhibition

• De markesamiske boplassene i Kaperdalen – Two preserved field Sámi settlements with a restored gamme, showing how Sámi settlers lived in the interior of Senja.

Operated by

Midt-Troms Museum

Admission & discounts

The prices apply to the museum's site in the summer season 2026.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The settlements are reached on foot along a marked trail from the car park by the main road; a path continues up the valley to Øver-Kaperdalen.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

From the car park by the main road a marked trail goes down to Ner-Kaperdalen.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit