Quick FactsOverview
About Trollkjeldene
Trollkjeldene, Norway are geothermal springs in Bockfjorden, northwestern Spitsbergen, Svalbard, within Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park at approximately 79 degrees north. They sit roughly 8 kilometres further into the Bockfjorden valley than the nearby Jotunkjeldene springs, along the same geological fault zone. The Trollkjeldene surface temperature reaches 25 to 28 degrees Celsius, making them the warmer of the two Bockfjorden spring sites.
The springs emerge along the Bockfjorden fault, which is associated with the inactive Sverrefjellet volcano. The water travels through subpermafrost aquifers recharged by glacial meltwater, picking up calcium and carbon dioxide from Proterozoic Hecla Hoek marble formations as it rises. Over a long period this has produced large travertine carbonate deposits at the surface. The deposits are fragile and irreplaceable; the Norwegian Polar Institute prohibits all contact with the springs and all walking on the travertine formations.
Trollkjeldene were first documented in 1910 and have been studied in detail since the 1990s. Together with Jotunkjeldene, they form the Bockfjorden thermal spring system, representing the northernmost documented thermal springs on land, and draw scientific and expedition interest from researchers worldwide.
Location & Access
Getting to Trollkjeldene
Trollkjeldene is accessible only by expedition cruise vessel. There are no roads and no infrastructure connecting the site to any settlement. Bockfjorden lies in northwestern Spitsbergen, approximately 200 kilometres north of Longyearbyen by sea. Expedition ships enter from Woodfjorden when ice conditions permit, then deploy Zodiac inflatable boats for the shore landing. Trollkjeldene lies approximately 8 kilometres further up the valley from the Jotunkjeldene landing site, which may require a walk across Arctic tundra after landing.
All Svalbard national park landings require an armed polar bear guide. Bears are present throughout Svalbard and must be treated as a constant risk at every shore visit. The valley floor is Arctic tundra with uneven terrain. Bockfjorden is an alternate rather than primary landing site in the Norwegian Polar Institute Cruise Handbook; visits depend on sea ice conditions and expedition operator itinerary decisions. Expedition cruises to this part of Svalbard depart from Longyearbyen, which is served by flights from Oslo and Tromso.
Expedition cruises run June to September when northern fjords are navigable. Trollkjeldene is best understood as part of a wider Svalbard expedition; operators specialising in geological or scientific itineraries are most likely to include Bockfjorden as a planned stop.
Suitability & Accessibility
Who Trollkjeldene Suits
Trollkjeldene suits expedition travellers with a specific interest in Arctic geothermal geology, polar wilderness, and the science of thermal springs at extreme latitudes. The site is not a soaking spring; the water temperature of 25 to 28 degrees Celsius is below comfortable soaking range, and direct contact with the springs is prohibited under Norwegian national park law. The experience is entirely observational: studying one of the world's most northerly active geothermal sites in one of the most remote and protected Arctic environments.
Compared to Jotunkjeldene, which is nearer the Bockfjorden Zodiac landing, Trollkjeldene requires additional travel up the valley. The terrain is manageable for any reasonably fit adult but the total logistics involve an Arctic expedition cruise of several days. All visitors must follow NPI guidelines: stay with the armed guide, keep to the moraine soil, and avoid all contact with the spring water and travertine. Free hot springs in Svalbard represent a genuine scientific rarity; both Bockfjorden spring sites are worth visiting in the same excursion if conditions and time allow.
The site is not suitable for families with young children given the polar bear risk, Zodiac landing, and requirement to follow strict movement guidelines at all times. Wheelchair access is not possible. All photography of the springs and deposits is welcome but must be taken from designated standing areas. Removing any material including rock, mineral, or plant matter from a Svalbard national park is illegal and carries substantial fines under Norwegian law.
Safety & Etiquette
Trollkjeldene Safety Tips
Trollkjeldene lies within Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park, where polar bears are present year-round. All national park landings in Svalbard require an armed expedition guide. Stay within the group at all times. Never separate from the guide and never approach any polar bear; follow guide instructions immediately if a bear is sighted. All expedition teams carry emergency equipment and communication devices, but response times in this location are measured in hours rather than minutes.
At the springs, do not touch the water and do not step on the carbonate or travertine deposits. The NPI Cruise Handbook explicitly prohibits both. The formations are irreplaceable and protected under Norwegian national park law. Walk only on the moraine soil flanking the deposits and use designated viewing areas. Do not collect any material from the site. The spring gas contains nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and elevated helium; gas concentrations near the surface vents are not dangerous at ambient conditions but avoid placing your face close to the spring outlets.
The Arctic environment requires full expedition clothing at all times: windproof and waterproof outer layers, insulating mid-layers, and waterproof boots suitable for Zodiac wet landings. Temperatures in Bockfjorden can be well below zero even in summer and wind chill at the fjord landing point can be severe. Follow all pre-shore briefings from the expedition team. Svalbard regulations require that all human waste be managed according to the expedition operator's protocol; follow these requirements throughout the landing.
