When I planned my trip to the Lyngen Alps in Norway, I had a few hikes planned but left plenty of time open for what I would find once I arrived. On day one, I picked up a brochure at a campsite in Skibotn and found a mention of the Arontinden hike on Uløya Island. The summit photo quickly grabbed my attention, and I knew right away this hike was unmissable. Raw, away from the tourist crowds, Norwegian to the core.
Total round-trip distance
8.2 kilometres / 5.1 miles
Elevation gain
570 meters / 1870 feet
Time required
3.5-4 hours
Overview of the hike to Arontinden
Arontinden is a summit on the Uløya Island just on the verge of the Lyngen Alps in the North of Norway. It reaches an altitude of 563 meters above sea level. For a seasoned hiker, this may seem like very little, but never forget that hikes in the Fjords start at sea level and the mountains seem much higher than they are.
With beautiful views over the coast, its turquoise waters and the two Follesøya Islands visible from the summit, Arontinden gives a little bit of Caribbean feeling (well, minus the snow and the cool Arctic summer temperatures). From the top, you will experience a 360-degree panoramic view of the Lyngen Alps and the Arnøya and Kågen islands.
With just over 8 kilometres, the Arontinden hike is neither long nor strenuous. Apart from a few short, steep sections, this route is accessible to those with very little hiking experience. The only thing to watch out for is a good weather forecast and decent navigation skills. Even though the hike is marked with red-painted dots, sometimes we really had to strain our eyes to see the next one to stay on the path. This is not a well-worn path, so sometimes the trail can be faded, especially at the start of summer.
The map & elevation profile of the hike to Arontinden
Important info about the Arontinden hike
Thanks to its relatively low altitude, the Arontinden hike is accessible as early as late May, but snow remains in some sections until June. In fact, there were a few small snowfields we had to cross, but nothing that would pose any danger. We’ve done this hike in the first week of June.
When to go: End of May to October
Trail difficulty: Moderate
Type of hike: Out and back
Highest point: 563 m / 1847 ft
Parking: Rotsund Ferry Terminal
Trailhead: Behind Arctic Panorama Lodge
Nearest towns: Hamnnes, Rotsund, Djupvik
Getting there
As mentioned above, the Arontinden hike is located on an island, and the only way to get there is by ferry. The ferry travels daily from the Rotsund Ferry Terminal (Rotsund Ferjekai) to Uløybukt. You can check for connections here. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes. No reservations are required; you can simply show up and board.
You can take your car or leave it at the ferry terminal in Rotsund and travel on foot or by bike. The ferry staff scan your car license, and you settle your bill online after completing registration. If you travel on foot or by bike, the ferry is free.
Because there is no direct parking at the trailhead for the Arontinden hike, and because we had bikes with us on our trip to Norway, we left our van at the ferry terminal in Rotsund.
Important: the trailhead for Arontinden lies 3 kilometres from the Uløybukt ferry terminal. You can reach it by walking for ca. 40 minutes or cycling in 15 minutes along the relatively flat gravel coastal road. This distance is not included in the stats above.
TIP: I highly recommend renting a car for your trip in Norway. For the best rates, check out my affiliate partner, Discover Cars. By booking through the link, you support my site.
Trail breakdown
Just behind the parking lot of the Arctic Panorama Lodge, you can spot a sign that says “Arontind 3.8 km”. It is easy to miss the sign from the road. You will have to walk up the gravel road to the lodge to spot it. The route follows red-painted marks and gains elevation gradually. In Norway, where trails often go straight up, this was very welcome. The route was also quite dry, unlike the boggy trails you often find in the Lofoten Islands.
In the first half of the hike, you will come across two wooden banks, where you can take a break and soak in the views. Around halfway in, you will reach a large grassy plateau with a few small lakes, reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands. Here we encountered a few snowfields, but crossing them didn’t pose any challenges, just slightly wet feet.
Once you reach the summit, you will find the traditional stone cairn, with a little box where a logbook is stored. Upon inspection, we were surprised to learn that only two other groups hiked to Arontinden during that week! We didn’t meet a single other person while we were there.
Ironically, the summit views aren’t the best. Follow the trail North for a few dozen meters, away from the summit, and you will see the three little islands: Lille Follesøya, Store Follesøya, and Vorterøya, surrounded by the turquoise and blue waters of the Fjord.
Overnight stay & dining possibilities
Hiking in the Lyngen Alps in Norway is far from the same experience as hiking in the Dolomites or the Austrian Alps, where you have alpine huts with restaurants every 2-3 hours along a trail. There are no huts on the Arontinden hike; however, we stopped for lunch and coffee at the Arctic Panorama Lodge after we finished.
We met the lodge owner before we took off, and she kindly offered to let us leave our bikes at the lodge for the duration of the hike. After we were back down, we sat in the restaurant and had a lovely chat with her. She told us how the lodge came to be, and about her childhood and adult life on Uløya Island, and their great tiny community of 26 people who live there. The lodge is busier in winter, with guests who enjoy ski touring, the Northern Lights, and whale-watching, among many other activities.
Where to stay nearby
While I do highly recommend the Arctic Panorama Lodge for an overnight stay, if you are following my Lyngen Alps itinerary, you might be better off spending a few nights in Djupvik, from where you will have easier access to other hikes in the area. Djupvik is a small town located only a 7-minute drive from the Rotsund Ferry Terminal, right on the Lyngenfjord. You’ll find a small 24-hour supermarket and a few hotels. Below are my recommendations for your stay.
Best Value
Arctic Lyngen Sjøcamp
This scenic waterfront campsite in Djupvik, Northern Norway, offers panoramic views of the Lyngen Fjord and the dramatic Lyngen Alps. Open year-round, it provides pitches for campers and tents as well as cosy cabins.
Top Rated
Nestled on the shores of the Lyngenfjord, Lyngen North is a boutique retreat offering elegant glass igloos and Sky Suites with panoramic views of the Lyngen Alps.
