Hike to Hesten and Stavelitippen – Senja, Norway

Located on the Norwegian Island of Senja, the Hike to Hesten (558m) and Stavelitippen (580m) are among northern Norway’s best and most scenic hikes. It’s also quite an easy one. The Hike from Fjordgård to Hesten is only two KMs, and the elevation gain is slightly over 400m. For the views you get, this is a no-brainer of a hike; get up there :)!

Sunset from the trail leading up to Hesten

Also: this is the hike you should go on to get the best view over the iconic mountain of Segla. I’m saying this because it is a somewhat common mistake for people to hike up Segla instead of Hesten. So much so that the local restaurant even hung a photo warning tourists wanting to see Segla. Here it is:

The sign in the Bar close to Segla’s trailhead

This is where you would need to go and the hike I am describing here. As I mentioned above, the hike is relatively short and not overly difficult, and the views you will get are hard to find anywhere else. Apart from the very recognisable landmark of Segla, the cliffs on that side of the mountain are truly spectacular.

I enjoyed this hike so much that I hiked up Hesten twice on the same day, for Sunrise and again for Sunset.

Segla lit by the early morning light.

Fun Fact: if you’ve read Karl Ove Knausgård’s “My Struggle” the village Håfjord is actually Fjordgård.

How to get to the Hesten and Stavelitippen Trailhead and Parking

Located in the small village of Fjordgård on the islands of Senja, , it’s a relatively long drive from the nearest airports. Realistically the closest airports are either Harstad/Narvik Airport or Tromsø. Tha latters is the closest, as it takes a little over a couple of hours with ferries, or 3.5 without. Dame driving time from Harstad/Narvik.

• Driving Directions: from either airports, you would first need to drive toward Finnsness which is the “gateway town” to Senja, from there you can continue the scenic drive to Fjordgård. It’s all country roads, there is no highway, so it is slower going. Bit it’s a scenic drive regardless, with the beauty of the landscape around. From Tromsø, you also have the option to take the ferry at Brensholmen fergekai, that makes the trip much shorter if you can time it properly.
• Parking: There are two paid parking areas where you can park the car. One is down by the Harbour, on the opposite side of town from where you came. The coordinates for the Harbour parking are 69°30’44.4″N 17°37’40.5″E. The other is a paid parking close to the trailhead by the local Montessori school. Its coordinates are 69.5047121886322, 17.62691999041218. If you park there, I would recommend installing the EasyPark app first, as it can also be used to pay for this parking area.
• Public Transport: Realistically, you could do it with public transportation from Tromsø only. You can take the Express boat to Lysnes, and bus 370 to Fjordgård from there.

Segla viewed from the trail leading up to Stavelitippen.

Overview of The Hesten and Stavelitippen Trail, Map & GPX File

Overall the hike to Hesten isn’t overly difficult, and it is relatively short. The ridges are completely exposed, to the sea a few hundred meters below. So avoid getting close to them in case of string winds. So this also means it’s not a trail for those who are afraid of heights.

The path to Stavelitippen is much less travelled, and requires some light scrambling over moderately exposed rocks.

Here are the details of the whole hike, from the Parking area to Hesten and then to Stavelitippen. However, if you prefer hiking to Hesten only, that would make the trip a couple of KMs shorter.

Here is also the map of the hike. It’s interactive so you can zoom in, oud, see exactly where each photo was taken on the trail, and explore the area.

For the best hikes on the beautiful island of Senja, you can also read my full Senja Hiking guide.

Hike from Fjordgård to Hesten

From the trailhead, you will see what almost looks like a gravel road going uphill, with a row of lamp posts close to it. This is the first part of the trail. The trail is also marked with blue dots painted on the rocks, so look for those.

As you start hiking uphill, the gravel will disappear, turning the trail into a typical mountain trail. This part is relatively easy and never steep. It’s relatively quick going too, but it gets rockier the higher you go.

Segla, on the left, and Hesten, the ‘small’ summit on the right

From there, you will soon reach a flattish area leading you to the ridge called Seggelskaret. That’s the ridge between Segla and Hesten, and it already offers fantastic views of the fjord on the other side of the mountain.

From the ridge, you can continue to your left to reach the base of Segla’s vertical wall. To the right, you will continue the climb up to Hesten.

Going up to Hesten, the trail will increasingly become steeper and rockier, nothing too difficult, though. As you approach the summit, you may need to scramble up the last few rocks until you reach the sign marking the top of Hesten.

Enjoy the Views!

The sign marking the summit of Hesten.

Hike from Hesten to Stavelitippen

From the summit of Hesten, looking towards Segla, the trail continues on the ridge to the left. This part of the trail will initially lead you downhill to a saddle that connects to another trail to your left, the one to Inste Kongen. Keep going straight toward the small summit ahead of you. Here the trail will start ascending again.

Soon the trail will become a sort of boulder field with two or three sections that require scrambling. Some areas are moderately exposed but wide enough to keep a safety margin. However, I recommend carefully picking your line here since some areas are more exposed than others.

There are a couple of false summits on the way up, but soon enough, you will reach the actual summit too. Enjoy the views from your second summit of the day!

Inste Kongen, the mountain in the middle, viewed from the Summit of Stavelitippen

Photos and Photography Tips for the Hike to Hesten and Stavelitippen

There are several excellent spots that offer great views of Segla and from the cliffs. On the ridge, there are plenty of ledges that provide incredible views of the face of the cliffs dropping for a few hundred meters down into the sea below, almost vertically. It’s great fun but not for those afraid of heights; additionally, carefulness is required.

However, my favourite spot was the Seggelskaret ridge, where you have the best views of Segla and great views from the cliffs toward the sea. From the top of Hesten, you also have stunning views of the mountains on the other side, like the Inste Kongen.

From the top of Stavelitippen, instead, you have the best views of the fjord where Fjordgård is located. The are also several excellent vantage points to shoot Segla from.

In terms of lenses, bring anything from ultrawide to a mid-range zoom. All the photos in this post were taken with ranges between 14mm and 70, full frame.

Segla shortly after Sunrise.

Segla viewed from the trail leading up to Stavelitippen.

Inste Kongen, the mountain in the middle, viewed from the top of Hesten.

Segla lit by the early morning light.

Inste Kongen shortly after Sunrise.

Segla, on the left, viewed from Hesten.

View from Hesten.

Fjordgård and Ørnfjorden, viewed from the top of Stavelitippen.

Lastly, for landscape photography or for the scenic views, the hike to Hesten is great for both Sunrise and Sunset. At sunrise, you get some beautiful sidelight hitting Segla. While at Sunset, you get the view of the sun setting out at sea and lighting the fjord, as well as tinting Segla in warm sunset colors.

Again, it’s worth hiking it twice, once at sunset and once at sunrise. Or vice-versa :).

Segla at Sunset.

Sunset from the trail leading up to Hesten.

Sunset from the trail leading up to Hesten.

I’m really looking forward to visiting this mountain again sometime in the near future. Yes, the views are amazing!

Video of the Hesten and Stavelitippen Hike

If you want to get a better feel for the trail, here is a short video of this hike

Where to Stay

There are a couple of accommodations available in Fjordgård.

Wild camping is allowed within the Allemannsretten regulations, and there will likely be a few people camping up Hesten. There were also a few tents pitched directly on the trail when I was there. Guys, don’t do that; please. There is enough space up the mountain for you not to pitch a tent on the trail ;).

Additional Resources

• Here’s my full Senja Hiking guide, with the best hikes in the region and trip-planning tips.
• If you want to hike to the top of Segla, that’s also possible! Check out my post about that hike here. Also, you may want to check out these other amazing Hikes on the Island of Senja: Husfjellet, Keipen and Grytetippen, or Inste Kongen and Kongeporten.
• Check out the main page on Hiking in Norway for more hikes in Norway.

If you have any questions about this hike, let me know in the comments below.