Pictures and track proposed by Halfdan Holm
This short, but somewhat intense hike takes you from Svolvær and straight up to an altitude of almost 600 m in about two hours. On the trip you get a great view of the famous Svolværgeita, a stop by the picture-worthy Djevelporten and then a fabulous view of East Lofoten from the top of Fløya. Though be advised: the very final part up to Fløya is only for experienced hikers, however the view a couple of meters further down is just as spectacular!
The first leg follows a clear path up a very steep hill. The walk is fun and a bit challenging, extra caution is required in wet weather. The path then flattens out and suddenly the challenge is mud rather than the steep climb. After passing Djevelporten the path follows the ridge towards the top of Fløya. At some points the path is somewhat unnecessarily close to the cliff, so walking a meter or two parallel to the path can be recommended here and there.
If you'd prefer not to climb up to the very top of Fløya, there's a path going southwest directly to a lower viewpoint, about 40 meters below the peak. If you decide to go all the way to the top you will be forced to climb using our hands in close proximity to the cliff. Climbing down the western ridge from Fløya is also a challenge, so going down to the other viewpoint via the northern ridge may be recommended.
This long hike lets you get to the old village of Måstad in southeastern Værøy by traversing a large part of the island. It’s also the only way to get to the summits of Måhornet and Måstadheia, with their fantastic viewpoints over the open sea and their unique end-of-the-world atmosphere. The whole Måstad peninsula is classed as a natural park.
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The summit of Håheia (438 m). is the second highest peak on the island of Værøy. It is also the only peak in the archipelago that has a road. It is private and leads to a NATO radar installation. Outside of this little bit of civilization, the wide open landscapes you’ll go through are magnificent. If the weather is clear at the top, you can admire the southeast of the Svartisen glacier, which is 120 km (75 mi). away on the Norwegian continent. This hike is easy and accessible to all. If you have time, you can extend it a little, to the summit of Hornet.
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This big bay, which stretches out on a north-south axis, has a vast stony beach right under impressive granite cliffs. Between the beach and the cliffs there is extended an area of dunes, covered by a meadow with very low vegetation. Traces of human inhabitants from the stone age to the Middle Ages have been found on the southern part of the beach (Hagsletta). More recently the area around the bay was used as a sheep pasture until the 1960’s. The spot is both wild and easy to get to.
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Not only is the summit of Nordlandsnupen the highest point on Værøy Island, but we think it’s the most beautiful. This relatively easy hike will quickly take you to an altitude high enough to give you magnificent views over the island of Mosken as well as over the whole southern tip of Moskenesøya Island. If you only have one day on Værøy and the sky is clear, go for it!
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Hiking to Segltinden
This magnificent peak stands like a shark’s fin above Kjerkfjorden (the central branch of Reinefjord). Even though it may be surrounded by sheer cliffs that appear inaccessible to hikers, there is nevertheless an approach from Kjerkfjorden. The view from the summit is just as breathtaking as the route that leads to it. It is not as much a traditional hike as a mountain race where you will often have to use your arms and legs to pull yourself up and climb.
In order to start the climb you first have to reach the hamlet of Kerkfjorden, which is possible either by taking the small boat from Reine, or on foot from Selfjord (see hike to Selfjord-Kjerkfjorden). Once at Kjerkfjord take the path through the village heading towards Austerdalen (east). At the end of the path begins the trail, which runs alongside a few chalets and climbs Austerdalen Valley following the stream. Just before the pass at GPS point N67 59.843 E13 02.663, leave the trail and turn right. If you glance at the steep mountain slope in front of you will see a “crack” in the slope running from west to east that meets up with a small pass (you can’t really see it from below but it is shown on the map just below point 475). In order to reach the place where the crack starts in the mountain (GPS N67 59.770 E13 02.739 – 325m altitude) you need to find your way amidst the rock formations and steep areas of slippery grass. Once you have found the start of the crack, you “merely” have to climb, using your arms and legs, the remaining 130m of steep slope up to the little pass. At the pass turn right (southwards) and follow the ridge via Målheia hill then climb the enormous bank opposite. At the top of the bank (approximately 685m) you climb down a little to a narrow pass (GPS N67 59.268 E13 02.835) which is the second difficult section of this route. The route over this pass is narrow and you need a good head for heights. On the other side of the pass, follow a faint path that runs to the right below the ridge for roughly 70m, then turn left (point GPS N67 59.226 E13 02.791 – altitude 705m) to the ridge. In order to reach the ridge you have to climb a rock that has been sculpted by erosion and that vaguely resembles a pile of pancakes. Once at the ridge all your efforts will be worthwhile and you just have to walk 250m on a small plateau with a lunar surface to the summit located just above a large cairn. Go back down exactly the same way. The use of a GPS is highly recommended, particularly to find certain passages near the crack...
As the highest peak on the island of Moskenesøya, Hermannsdalstinden attracts certain hikers who want to be able to say they have conquered this Norwegian Everest. Aside from this rather meaningless “altitude record”, the hike itself, although certainly long, is fairly accessible and passes through absolutely magnificent alpine landscapes. The view from the top on a clear day is breathtaking!
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This good 17 km hike takes you from the bay of Malnesvika as far as the fjord of Rolvsfjorden. The route passes through mountain and valley landscapes where the only living things are a few sheep. The more rounded mountains, unspoilt valleys and plateaus covered with peatland make this little-known and still rarely visited part of the island of Vestvågøya worth the detour.
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This impressive peak overlooks the tiny hamlet of Vikjorden. Looking up at it, the peak looks completely inaccessible, but there is in fact a very safe path to the top from where the view is absolutely fabulous!
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A good hike that will take you, ridge after ridge, through the open, maritime landscapes of this part of the large island of Vestvågøya. On the way back you walk through an unspoilt valley the length of three mountain lakes where the only noise is the occasional trout jumping…
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For once in the Lofoten Islands this route is clearly marked from the beginning up to the peak without any particularly demanding sections. This hike is possible for entire families and despite the fact that it is not particularly high, there are magnificent views along the entire route.
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This hike, which offers no particular challenges, quickly takes you onto a magnificent path along a ridge from where you can see the most beautiful part of the eastern coast of the Lofoten Islands with its many coves of fine sand, its clusters of islands and islets and its crystal-clear waters.
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Varden (Norwegian for “Cairn”) is a magnificent peak that is easily reached and overlooks the narrow stretch of sea separating the islands of Vestvågøya and Vagan. Our route takes us near several little lakes that tempt you to have a swim in summer and soon continues along a curved ridge that offers a magnificent panorama over the Sea of Norway and the northern tip of the Lofoten Islands.
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Hiking to Stortinden
Route proposed by Halfdan Holm
This trip takes you to the second highest peak of Flakstadøya, but it is the highest reachable for an average hiker. It is not an easy trip though. There are practically no path, and it is a steep climb all the way, with one specific point which might make someone feel a little bit uncomfortable.
You park your car at the old high school (N68° 04.689' E13° 14.274'), and walk by the road to where the GPX-track starts. Here you’ll walk on the trips only path for some hundred meters. Then you’ll walk in a steep grass slope to the place where you’ll want to use your hands to help yourself up the mountain.(N68° 04.478' E13° 15.668' - just a meter or two). Shouldn’t be too difficult, but some experience is recommended. Then you’ll continue quite steep up to the pass, where you start walking at the east side of the mountain, before you swap over to the west side the last hundred meters to the top.
The summit is located close to an incredibly steep drop in the north, but there is no need to pass any too steep drops during the trip itself. Not recommended for people who are too afraid of heights though.
When you’ve made it to the top you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views in the entire Lofoten.
Same way back.
Geitgallien is the second highest peak in the Lofoten islands after Higravtindan which is only 61 m higher! But apart from this record altitude it is nevertheless one of the most beautiful peaks in the Lofoten archipelago. Combining an alpine landscape with fantastic views over one of the most rugged regions of the islands. Experience of mountain hiking and good weather conditions are indispensable if you are to reach the top safely.
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Hiking to Hellsegga
The plateau of Hellsegga overlooks the southernmost tip of the island of Moskenesøya. Beyond this point there are only a few islands scattered throughout the Sea of Norway. The location offers a fabulous view out to sea, as well as a special “end of the world” atmosphere. If you add the fact that the place is one of the most inaccessible of the archipelago, it’s easy to understand why so many hikers on the islands, and beyond, dream of coming here.
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This magnificent hike takes you to the lost Hermannsdalen Valley. At the end of the valley, facing the ocean, there is an old abandoned farm, a sign of times not so long ago when people still lived in this extremely isolated part of the islands. This is one of the few hikes that takes you to the virtually inaccessible west coast of the island of Moskenesøya. Hermannsdalen is the perfect place in which to set up camp in a magnificent, peaceful landscape only 4 hours’ walk from Vindstad…
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Despite two tricky sections, this short hike takes you rapidly to a fantastic view point over the southern-most point of the island of Moskenesøya and Lake Ågvatnet. Located only a few kilometres from the summit of Tindstinden and of equivalent difficulty, the climb up Andstabben offers an even more impressive panoramic view.
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This mountain, which overlooks the tiny hamlet of Gravermarka can be accessed on a good trail which, for once, does not disappear during the hike. After a section through undergrowth you rapidly reach grazing land that offers a clear view over an amphitheatre-like rock formation and a lake. In the last part of the climb, the very beautiful open view is perfect for admiring the highest mountains on the islands. The rocky landscape of the summit is similar to that of high mountain ranges with small lakes and snow patches that remain until late in the season. A good hike, not particularly demanding, accessible any yet very few visitors, only 30 min from Svolvær.
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This small summit is near the E10 road. Very few people come here as there is no trail and the base is covered with a dense birch forest. If, however, you take the time to make your way through the undergrowth following the south-east ridge of the mountain you can easily reach the summit. The viewpoints over the turquoise bay of Flakstadpollen to the north and Lake Storvatnet to the south are breathtaking.
Don’t waste time looking for the start of the trail to the summit because, at the time of writing this guide, there isn’t one. Even though there isn’t a trail there are several ways of reaching the summit, some of which are safer than others. We have chosen to follow the south-east ridge of the mountain from the small car park to the right of the road roughly 950 m after the junction of the E10 and the road to Nusfjord. You head off through the undergrowth along the edge of the road following a north-west bearing at the start. At around 200m altitude you leave the undergrowth and reach a shrub zone that gradually becomes short grassland. You can then see where you are going: look out for a small trail that appears at this level of the mountain and continues to the summit (if you don’t lose it on the way). The simplest and safest way is to follow the ridge to the summit. Even though there are a few steep sections before you reach the plateau at the summit, the view over the bay of Flakstadpollen is magnificent.
It’s possible to carry onto the pass that overlooks Lake Svartvatnet by walking down along the west ridge of Kollfjelet towards Nonstinden (see GPS route below) and coming back via the south slope of Kollfjelet mountain. If you opt for this route bear in mind that the route after the pass, and until you reach the south-east slope of Kollfjelet, is not easy because, in addition to the fact that there is no trail, the slope is very steep.
The simplest way is therefore to go back to the car park from the summit the same way as you came.
