Top 5 hikers' paradise - Sortland
Here you will find five of the most beautiful mountain hikes in Sortland described. Do you want easy trails suitable for children or challenges for experienced mountaineers? Then you will surely find something that suits you.
Top 5 hikers routes in Sortland
The landscape in the municipality is very varied. You can walk along the coast's narrow fjords, in lush valleys or over glaciers and alpine mountains. You will find many marked hiking trails that bring you close to the wild and beautiful nature in Vesterålen.
Møysalen 1264 masl
Møysalen is Vesterålen’s highest peak and one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the entire country. The summit is shared by Sortland and Lødingen, but a large part of the mountain is also located in Hadsel.
Here you will wander in unspoiled nature surrounded by alpine mountains, glaciers and beautiful lakes. From the mountain summit you have panoramic views of Vesterålen, Lofoten, Ofoten, North of Salten, South of Troms and the highest peaks of Sweden.
This is a challenging hike, due to the length of the hike and multiple exposed sections along the way. Consequently, it is essential to be in good condition an comfortable with heights.
If you are not familiar with the terrain, we recommend joining a guided tour. There are several routes to reach the summit, but the most common starting point is in Lonkanfjorden.
- Approximate duration: about 10 hours
- Length: 16 km roundtrip
- Difficulty: Very hard
Starting point for Møysalen from Google Maps.
Urtinden 490 masl
This is a frequently visited mountain, and for good reasons. The trail is well-marked with a steady incline all the way to the summit. From the summit you have views of the picturesque Sørfjorden, the southern tip of Andøya and the Sortland Sound. The starting point is at the parking lot at Lilandshøgda, where you follow the carriage road about 1 km before entering the marked path to Urtinden. If you feel like walking further, it is possible to continue towards Durmålstuva (711 masl). It is also a trail towards Storhaugen, Lilandsvatnet and the summit of Svellingen if you want to do a roundtrip.
- Approximate duration: 2 - 2.5 thours
- Length: 6.60 km roundtrip
- Difficulty: Medium
Starting point for Urtinden from Google Maps.
Mikkeltinden 594 MASL
Mikkeltind is a great mountain to hike. You start off at Sildpollen and follow a marked trail to the ridge that take you to the summit. From here you will have majestic views of Eidsfjorden and the iconic mountain, Ræka. The hike is categorised as hard due to some steep sections along the trail.
Approximate duration: 2.5-3 hours
Length: 6.00 km roundtrip
Difficulty: hard
All municipalities in Vesterålen have a large number of great hiking trails both in the mountains and along the fjord.
Starting point for Mikkeltinden from Google Maps.
Kollen 304 masl
Kollen is the mountain to conquer if you want a short and easily available hike with great views. The path starts just before the lake in Kjerringnesdalen at the left side of the road coming from Sortland. From here you follow a dirt road towards the summit, where you have spectacular views of the Sortland Sound, the southern tip of Andøya and Hadsel. If you feel like walking further, there is a path leading towards Blåheia (766 masl.). To get to this point, you walk along the ridge of the mountain towards the summit.
- Approximate duration: 1 hour
- Length: 4.4 km roundtrip
- Difficulty: easy
Starting point for Kollen from Google Maps.
Steiraheia 443 masl
This is a nice and well-marked hike near Sortland city centre, often used for exercise by locals. The starting point is at Skibua. From here you just follow the signs. To reach the cabin at the summit it takes about 1 hour. The hike is suitable for families with children and anyone looking for å beautiful view not far from the city.
- Approximate duration: 1.5 - 2 hours
- Length: 4.8 km roundtrip
- Difficulty: Medium
