Senja Hiking and Travel Guide – The Best Hikes in Senja, Norway

The Island of Senja in Arctic Norway is without a doubt one of the regions with some of the best hikes in Northern Norway.

It s sometimes referred to as “Norway in miniature” because of its unique and beautiful scenery. Fjords, cliffs, beautiful mountains, a stunning coastline, and, of course, epic views.

Segla lit by the early morning light, from the trail to Hesten. Perhaps the most iconic landmark on the Island.

The Island of Senja is the second largest Island close to Mainland Norway, so it’s no surprise there are so many great locations to visit. Senja is also ideal if you are in the Lofoten or Tromso and want to explore hiking trails in another corner of Norway or visit a new place.

Some, including myself, have started looking at Senja as a possible alternative to the increasingly crowded Lofoten. However, as soon as I visited for the firs time, I realized how beautiful of a location Senja is in its own right. Before I knew it, I was in Senja for the fourth year in a row.

I kept discovering more and more trails to hike, so, for anyone thinking about vising this beautiful island, here’s the list of what I think are the best and most scenic hikes across Senja.

Table of Contents

Why should you visit Senja

If you are into hiking or the scenic outdoors in general, you should consider visiting the island of Senja. Even if you are not a hiker, the Senja Scenic Route is one of the most beautiful coastal drives in Northern Norway. Well worth the drive just for the views. the landscape is absolutely amazing and second to none in Norway. And, to be fair, many other locations in Norway are second to none too, but Senja definitely is a special place.

The views of the steep, dramatic mountains along the coastline are just epic. Plenty of mountain peaks rising steeply above the fjords, all packed together, with cliffs dropping down back into the sea for a few hundred meters vertically.

The hikes range from easy ones like Hesten, Barden, or also Husfjellet to very challenging ones like Breidtinden and Inste Kongen. In any case, you are guaranteed epic views.

How to get to Senja

Senja is a rather remote Island, so getting there requires time. finding a good flight option requires time and planning too. So in this section, I’ll some tips to best plan your trip.

First tip – definitely get a window seat on your flight above Norway. I am an aisle guy, but whenever I fly to northern Norway, I’ll take the window seat.

Mountain, glaciers, and Lakes on a northbound flight above Norway.

There are several different ways to reach it and the “best” way to get there depends on several factors. Also, “best” depends on what you value most among these factors:

• Flight/Drive Time
• Other nearby areas you may want to visit
• Cost

Compare as many flight options as you possibly can, to find the best possible connection in terms of flight time and cost.

I drove to or from all of the following locations myself, and I can testify all the drives are extremely scenic. However, keep in mind there are no “highways”, and speed limits are between 80 to 90 km/h on the fastest routes – and often much less. This is to say you should account for more driving time than you may expect.

On driving – renting a car is the best option. There usually are several car rental agencies at each airport, so it pays off to search and compare the best car rental offers at each one of these locations.

From Tromsø

Tromsø is perhaps the town with the most direct international flights from other countries. That makes it an easy choice as it saves travel time compared to flights with one or two stops. It is also a great choice if you want to explore more of the area around it, such as the Lyngen Alps.

Driving to Senja’s Western coastline takes about three hours, so a direct flight to Tromso is a great option. This is especially true if you have a flight that arrives before noon so you don’t lose the entire day traveling.

There also are express boats from Tromso. If you are not planning to use or rent a car, that’s a quick and efficient way to get to Senja.

Tromsø is also a very nice town to visit, so landing here would also give you the opportunity to spend a day or a night here exploring the town.

Tromso is a nice town to visit and a good starting point ti visit Senja.

From Bardufoss

Bardufoss is the closest airport to the Island of Senja but has no direct flights from outside Norway. Even within Norway, it also only has inbound flights just from Oslo.

If you can make it work, it just takes just shy of two hours to drive from Bardufoss to Fjordgård. So, if you can fly directly to Oslo and catch a connecting flight to Bardfoss, then rent a car there, you could get to Senja relatively quickly.

And, by the way, it also takes less than two hours to drive to The Lyngen Alps from Bardufoss. So, again, this is also a good option if you are planning to explore that part of Northern Norway, which I’d highly recommend too.

From Narvik

Narvik is another airport with few international flights so most likely getting there requires a stopover in another Norwegian airport. At the time of writing, there are direct flights from some airports in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, and Denmark.

If you can catch a direct flight from there, it is a great choice because driving to Senja requires about 3-4 hours. So, with no stopovers, you can get there relatively quickly. If you have to catch a connecting flight, you should probably plan to leave as early as possible in the morning to get to Senja in the early/late evening.

Narvik is also a great choice if you want to combine Senja with a few days in the Lofoten or Andøya or even Sweden, specifically the Abisko National Park. I did all of those already and while the drive is relatively long, they are also very scenic.

Landing in Narvik at Sunset.

From Bodø

Bodø is another airport where some international flights land. it is mostly a good choice if you want to visit Senja via Lofoten, but not if you are planning to visit only Senja. In that case, other airports are better choices.

You can technically drive directly from Bodo to Senja too, but that’s a long drive. So if you are considering Bodo I’d recommend looking for other options first – unless it’s way cheaper for you to fly there.

How long should you spend on the Island of Senja

You could easily spend a week or more on this island exploring all the main hiking routes. And the more time you spend there, the more trails you’ll find. It’s one of those places where the more you look the more places you’ll add to your list.

I’ll provide a full list of what I think are the best hikes in Senja below, plus some alternatives. You’ll see there are more than a handful of them.

Also, while you could easily spend a week there, you could just as easily include Senja in a longer itinerary around Northern Norway – adding places like Andøya, the Lyngen Alps, or, of course, the Lofoten Islands. All while traveling along the scenic road along the coast.

Senja’s scenic road – from a local board.

However, as I said, you could easily spend a lot of time here and not get bored. Plenty of hikes and sightseeing opportunities as well as activities like whale watching, kayaking – or northern lights hunting and skiing/snowshoeing in winter.

Where to Stay

The hiking hotspots on the island of Senja a all relatively close to each other. For instance, you can drive from Skaland to Fjordgard in less than an hour. So that provides flexibility on where to stay.

• Fjordgård is a good choice for hiking Hesten, Segla, Keipe, and Grytetippen. Though accommodations on Fjordgard are rather limited. There is paid parking where you can stay in a van, but only 2-3 places you can book. Husoy usually has more accommodations available.
• Mefjord is a good choice in the middle of everything.
• Skaland is also another location worth staying at. You can hike to Husfjellet from anywhere in the village and there are basic facilities.

Apart from camping, I spent the night at – and I can vouch for all of them:

• Segla Bed & Go, offers very nice studio apartments with their own bathroom and fjord view. You can hike Hesten, Segla, and Barden directly from here.
• Skagi Senja Lodge in Skaland, a quiet, cozy location with a good breakfast. You can hike to Husfjellet directly.

There are several rest areas along the main scenic routes for vans and campers. Do note that the same Allemannsretten applies to vans, too.

Some of these areas are free, while some are paid. The most popular locations are Ersfjord (free), where you’ll find a large parking lot with basic facilities (covered restrooms) and a stunning beach, and Steinfjord (paid). Regarding campsites, Skaland Camping has great facilities with indoor bathrooms, a proper kitchen, and Electric hookups. Fjordbotn is another popular location, also with locals. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but just a collection of what I think are the main ones along the road.

Fjordgård, the small town in this photo, is a good place to stay – although accommodation options are limited.

Senja – The Best and most Scenic Hikes

Here is a map of the best and most Scenic hikes on the Island of Senja. Each section/hike links to its dedicated page, so if you want to explore the details and see more photos from each location, click on the linked title to access the content.

If you could choose only three hikes purely based on the views, I would recommend Hesten and Stavelitippen, Keipen and Grytetippen, and Husfjellet.

If you want to combine more hikes in one day, then I’d recommend adding Segla to Hesten and Stavelitippen, and Barden to Husfjellet.

You can do these on the same day. For instance, I hiked to Hesten for sunrise and Segla in the afternoon ( and back to Hesten for Sunset). Likewise, I Hiked to Husfjellet in the morning and hiked to Barden in the same afternoon.

So here’s the list, in no particular order, of what I think are the best hikes in Senja. YOu can click on each tile to see the in-depth hike description of each location.

Hesten (and Stavelitippen)

Of all the hikes on the Island of Senja, the Hike to Hesten is probably the most popular, and for good reasons. The view of Segla, and the views from Hesten’s cliffs are just epic.

The hike is also quite easy and relatively short, and absolutely worth the effort.

View of the Cliffs from the trail to Hesten.

View of Segla, from Hesten

Segla is a seemingly inaccessible mountain that looks like a giant needle pointing to the sky. Not only that, but the views from the cliffs, plunging a few hundred meters down into the sea, are incredible.

It’s quite an easy hike and requires little time or effort. You can do it either for sunrise or sunset, the catch the vibrant, warm glow of the sun coloring the whole mountain. I did both, an absolutely incredible view.

View of Segla from Stavelitippen.

Also close to Hesten is another peak, Stavelitippen, which is much less visited. Hiking there and back only takes 40 minutes. From there too, you can see incredible views of Segla.

If you are here for the scenic views, this is the hike you can’t miss.

Mount Segla

Senja’s most Iconic mountain appears as an impossible-to-climb mountain. The first time you see it, you probably won’t even think about hiking it. Yet, while the ascent is relentlessly steep, it is relatively easy to get to its summit – at least compared to the looks of it. This hike is a leg-burner but well worth it.

View from Segla’s Summit.

The climb is steep and exposed on the side of the fjord. However, the trail is wide enough that you can easily avoid the most exposed sections.

Once you reach the top you have 260 degrees panoramic views. And, again, incredible views of the cliffs, meters down into the fjord. That alone is not something you can see in many other places, and is not a sight if you even remotely suffer from Vertigo.

Keipen and Grytetippen

Of all the hikes, this one offers the most amazing panoramic views of the island’s fjords. It is also unique in that you get views from two different summits in one hike.

View from Grytetippen

It is most common to hike to Grytetippen first and the Keipen – for no particular reason. The views are incredible from both peaks. The hike is one of the muddiest in Senja at least in the first part. There are two trailheads actually, and both are equally muddy.

There also are a couple of steep boulder fields to cross. The trails are marked but sometimes you have to look carefully for the painted trailmarks. All in all, it is a tough hike ut well worth the effort it requires.

The views from Gtytetippen are probably the best views of the whole coastline and its fjords. Very similar to Keipen – and equally beautiful.

View from Keipen.

Husfjellet

Husfjellet is another one of the most popular hikes on the Islands of Senja. Also a relatively easy hike, if not for – again – some boggy sections, though not as bad as other hikes on this list.

View from the cliffs around the summit.

Starting in the small village of Skaland, the view starts to open up in the second half of the trail. The best views, however, are all from the summit.

As soon as you reach the top, the views will open up in all directions. 360-degree panoramic views of the fjords and the mountains around. Particularly beautiful is the view toward Steinfjord and Tungeneset.

The summit itself is surrounded by beautiful, jagged peaks and cliffs that should be approached with care.

Inste Kongen and Kongeporten

Inste Kongen is a mountain that captured my imagination right from the first time I saw it. There was little information about it, no tracks that I could find online – and even fewer photos.

Inste Kongen, the pointy and mighty mountain in. the middle.

This is a very long and challenging, alpine hike that requires some light climbing in exposed areas. Yet, despite tha challenges, I can safely say this is my favorite hike in Senja. the views from the top are great, of course, though not as breathtaking as Keipen and Grytetippen or Hesten and Segla.

What sets this hike apart from me is both the amount of research and planning that took me to find the best route, its difficulty, and navigating off the beaten path, as the trail is not visible for most of the hike.

Konge Porten

Plus the view of Kongeporten, it’s worth the trip in itself. Kongeporten is a natural stone arch in a narrow ravine, and it looks straight out of a fantasy novel. and with such a name – Kongeporten meaning the door of the king – I could not be otherwise.

Again – keep in mind this is a long and demanding hike on difficult terrain that is not free of risks – and climbs.

Barden

While popular with locals, Barden is less frequented by foreign hikers or visitors. I get it, everyone would hike Hesten or Segla first, they are the main nearby attractions.

Still, the landscape is absolutely worth it. It’s also a relatively easy hike with two different trails. One from Fjordgard, and one from the intersection between roads. Both are similar in length and difficulty.

View from Barden

The views from the top are spectacular. You’ll have the whole coast with (in order of appearance) Segla, Hesten, and Inste Kongen in view right in front of you. Plus all the other mountains around it, on both sides of the peninsula.

Also, more of those views from cliffs plunging vertically into the sea for a few hundred meters.

Roalden

The hike to Roalden is another challenging one, with some of the worst bog I’ve seen on the Island of Senja. Roalden is also a very steep mountain to hike, with some moderately exposed sections.

Progress is quite slow, especially in the first half of the hike. The bog and the birch trees will test your will to get to the top. if you make it past the first part, the second part is easier, though still steep.

The top is a somewhat flattish and narrow ridge, completely exposed toward the west.

Breidtinden

Last but not least, Breidtinden is the highest peak on the Island of Senja and is also the most challenging to summit. Even more than Inste Kongen, Breidtinden requires climbing skills and a good head for heights.

In the last two hundred vertical meters, you will have to climb a rather narrow, steep, and exposed ridge that does not offer much in terms of foothold/handhold for the average hiker like me, with a little more scrambling capabilities.

I had to turn back just shy of 100 vertical meters from the summit. So if you are enticed by the challenge of climbing Senja’s highest point, be prepared to turn around as needed.

Other than that, the views are good enough to justify the hike even without summiting. Plus, it’s a trail that sees less traffic compared to other major points of interest – so it makes for a more relaxed experience.

The last part of the “hike” to Breidtinden is a climb on an exposed rifge

Glæret

Last but not least, Glæret. This short hike in Gryllefjord is also moderately challenging. It’s a rather short hike but it is steep and progress is somewhat slow. So it’s a bit harder than what it looks on paper.

there are ropes you can use for balance and to pull yourself up on the steepest and most slippery sections. The top is a rather wide and flat area that offers fantastic views of the fjord and the mountains around it.

Great for sunset as the sun will set right in front of you.

Sunset from Glæret

More Hikes to consider on the Island of Senja

Also consider the following hikes, which are also on my list: Sukkertoppen, Skøyteneset, Sandsvika, Lonketind, and Strytind. Just throwing the names out there in case you want to explore even more – and if you have more to recommend, feel free to add them to the comments below.

Other Activities

If you are looking for other activities in between hikes and/or scenic drives, there’s plenty to do on the Island of Senja in all seasons: kayaking, Whale watching, Snowshoeing in winter, Northern Lights tours, self-guided tour packages, and more.

Additional Resources

Check out more Norway guides:

• Lofoten Island – tips to plan a trip
• Check out more Hikes in Norway, with Maps!