What to do and see in Northern Norway, Northern Norway: The Best Hiking Trails

Vikten has more to offer than artists and architectonic statements. Just a step away from the buildings, you can enjoy the unique nature, with moraines created during the ice melting, and an infinite number of sculptures in stone, shaped by sea and ice. Take a walk along the beach, or a take village tour – notice how green the grass is, pick flowers, breathe in the sea smell, and observe the sheep on the mountain. Would you like more serious challenges? Follow one of the mountain paths.

Distance: approx 15km there and back. Estimated time to the summit: 4 – 5 hours Suitable for: The physical fit. The last part to the top is a little demanding. Start and finish: Go south from Harstad, past Tjeldsund Bridge and towards Lodingen. Park at Sandtorg sportsground (signposted in arbogen). Necessary equipment: None, but good shoes are recommended due to rocky parts at the end. Map: Walking map of Vesteralen-Hinnoya (Statens kartverk 1:100 000) Marked trail: No. Good path. Visible peak from starting point. Drinking water: Intermittent before the final ascent to the top. Route description: Follow path/road through the gate from the football pitch. There is a road heading to arbogvatnet 258m. (Alternatively, you can follow the path on the west side of arbogelva). Continue from the lake a short distance south to the ridge, where you will find a cabin (book). From here, follow the posts to the top. Follow the same route going back. If you descend along the road on the north side of the river, make sure that you continue straight on where the paths meet on the plain close to the sportsground. If you don’t, you will end up on the north side of the river and have to follow the road all the way down to E-10 and then head south and back up again to the sportsground.

A perfect place to experience the midnight sun and the Northern lights! The trail runs along the shoreline from the parking lot at the end of the road on Russelv and leads to a lighthouse on the northernmost point of Lyngen Peninsula. The walk takes approximately 1 hour.

Between Oteren and Lyngseidet lies Steindalen. The hike to the Steindalsbreen is 5 km long and you can easily enter the glacier.