Experience the remote beauty of northern Norway with this guidebook to five multi-day hikes above the Arctic Circle. From the dramatic island landscapes of the Lofoten Long Crossing to the open tundra of the Finnmarksvidda, these trails showcase the mountains, fjords, and wilderness that define the northernmost reaches of Europe. Hike across rugged peaks, follow reindeer migration routes, and explore wild landscapes that are at their best in the brief subarctic summer.

Suitable for experienced hikers and backpackers with good fitness, the routes range from 48–165km (30–103 miles) and take between 4 and 10 days to complete. The five included treks – the Lofoten Long Crossing, the Mountains of Narvik, the Mountains of Ofotfjorden, the Troms Border Trail, and Finnmarksvidda – offer a variety of landscapes and challenges, some crossing into Sweden or Finland. Access is straightforward via public transport, with accommodation ranging from DNT huts and campsites to opportunities for wild camping.

• Detailed, stage-by-stage descriptions for five multi-day northern Norway hikes, from the Lofoten Long Crossing to Finnmarksvidda
• Clear directions supported by 1:100,000 maps for each stage, with 1:500,000 overview maps to help plan multi-day treks
• Route summary tables, stage facilities planner, and accommodation listings for DNT huts, campsites and wild-camp locations
• Practical information on transport, refreshments, and logistics for accessing remote Norwegian trails by bus or ferry
• Alternative itineraries where relevant, allowing flexibility in distance or route for each trek
• Advice on planning for conditions, including snow at elevation, brief subarctic summer, and navigation in remote terrain
• Downloadable GPX files for all five routes to support digital navigation on GPS devices or smartphones

Plan your northern Norway adventure with confidence and experience the dramatic fjords, mountains, islands, and tundra of Europe’s Arctic frontier with this essential hiking guidebook.

Hiking in Norway North - Quick Facts

Trail name: Hiking in Norway – North
Location: Northern Norway, above the Arctic Circle
Routes included: Lofoten Long Crossing, Mountains of Narvik, Mountains of Ofotfjorden, Troms Border Trail, Finnmarksvidda
Route type: Multi-day mountain and coastal treks
Distance range: 48–165km / 30–103 miles
Typical duration: 4–10 days per trek
Route format: Linear routes with opportunities to adjust stages or combine sections
Terrain: Mountains, fjords, tundra, islands, wilderness areas
Difficulty: Challenging – suitable for experienced hikers and backpackers with good fitness
Navigation: 1:100,000 maps per stage, 1:500,000 overview maps, downloadable GPX files
Best season: Early June to mid-September for subarctic conditions
Accommodation: DNT huts, official campsites, and options for wild camping
Access: Regular public transport to trailheads, including buses and ferries

Author Highlight

"Welcome to the roof of Europe and the fabled Land of the Midnight Sun. Norway has much to offer the walker and her vast open spaces will delight and enthral in equal measure. The region shares its latitude with Disko Bay in Western Greenland and Canada’s Baffin Island yet benefits from relatively mild summers thanks to warming air masses such as the North Atlantic Current. All the trails in this guide sit to the north of the Arctic Circle and you can expect 24-hour daylight for up to eight continuous weeks, from mid May until mid July up in the very north."

- Mike Laing, author of Hiking in Norway - North

Mountain safety

Map key

Route summary table

Introduction

Geography and geology

Climate and when to go

Plants and animals

Regional history

Transport

Accommodation

Resupply

Money

Communications and electronics

Safety and wellbeing

Equipment

Trail marking and access

Mapping and GPS

Languages

Using this guide

Hiking in Norway – North

Trek 1 – Lofoten Long Crossing

Stage 1           Delp to Sandsletta

Stage 2           Sandsletta to Svolvær

Stage 3           Svolvær to Kleppstad

Stage 4           Vikjorda to Store

Stage 5           Store to Leknes

Stage 6           Napp to Nusfjord

Stage 7           Nusfjord to Ramberg

Stage 8           Ramberg to Selfjorden

Stage 9           Selfjorden to Forsfjorden

Stage 10         Forsfjorden to Sørvågen

Trek 2 – Mountains of Narvik

Stage 1           Katterat to Hunddalshytta

Stage 2           Hunddalshytta to Cunojávrihytta

Stage 3           Cunojávrihytta to Losistua

Stage 4           Losistua to Hunddalshytta

Stage 5           Hunddalshytta to Katterat

Trek 3 – Mountains of Ofotfjorden

Stage 1           Riksgränsen to wild camp

Stage 2           Wild camp to Frantsebu cabin

Stage 3           Frantsebu cabin to Slottet hut

Stage 4           Slottet hut to Lapphaugen

Trek 4 – Troms Border Trail

Stage 1           Björkliden to Lappjordhytta

Stage 2           Lappjordhytta to Altevasshytta

Stage 3           Altevasshytta to Gaskashytta

Stage 4           Gaskashytta to Vuomahytta

Stage 5           Vuomahytta to Dividalshytta

Stage 6           Dividalshytta to Dærtahytta

Stage 7           Dærtahytta to Rostahytta

Stage 8           Rostahytta to Gappohytta

Stage 9           Gappohytta to Goldahytta

Stage 10         Goldahytta to Kilpisjärvi

Trek 5 – Finnmarksvidda

Stage 1           Ássebákti to Ravnastua

Stage 2           Ravnastua to Mollešjohka

Stage 3           Mollešjohka to Joatkajávri

Stage 4           Joatkajávri to Reinbukkelvhytta

Stage 5           Reinbukkelvhytta to Sønvismoen

Appendix A     Accommodation

Appendix B     Useful websites and resources

Appendix C     English–Norwegian–Sámi glossary

Seasons

Due to the northern latitude, trails are viable for a relatively short season between early July (mid June for Lofoten Islands) and mid September.

Centres

Narvik, Abisko (Sweden), Sørvågen, Leknes, Karasjok, Alta

Difficulty

All the trails are non-technical in nature with no specialist skills required, but experience of navigation and multi-day hiking are essential. Residual, easy angled snow at elevation, especially early in the season, may require confidence.

Must See

Fjords and peaks of the magnificent Lofoten Islands; remote wilderness of Inner Troms; rolling tundra of Finnmarksvidda; Arctic flora and fauna; 24-hour daylight

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.