ANDENES Explanation of symbols BLEIK Open fi re area Wheelchair user friendly Rest area / lean-to shelter ANDØY Cabin Parking STØ Summit point / Height in metres NYKSUND RISØYHAMN Recommended route MYRE Route descriptions / Map ØKSNES BUKSNESFJORD FORFJORD Tour & Bike-map Vesterålen SORTLAND 1:100 000 BØ STRAUME SORTLAND STOKMARKNES Vesterålen Hiking Association’s «På tur i HADSEL MØYSALEN Vesterålen» - only in norwegian (2011) NASJONALPARK Hiking Association’s cabins: LØDINGEN • Ingemannhytta LØDINGEN • Guvåghytta • Trollfjordhytta TROLLFJORDEN • Snytindhytta www.turistforeningen.no/vesteralen Published by Vesterålen Friluftsråd: www.vestreg.no/friluftsraad/ This brochure is intended to give you an idea of some of Møysalen National Park is one of the country’s smallest the fi ne hiking experiences we have in Vesterålen. We national preserves, only 51.2 km2 in area on Hinnøya, have selected a few suggested routes in each of the mu- Norway’s largest island. Towering in the centre of the na- nicipalities. For more detailed information and several tional park is Møysalen, the 1262-metre-tall mountain that other routes, we highly recommend the Hiking Asso- the Norwegian outdoor magazine Ute designated in 2009 ciation’s book: «På Tur i Vesterålen» (ISBN 978-82- as «Norway’s most beautiful natural attraction». Guided 995236-2-2). Available only in Norwegian. tours are arranged to the summit, starting at Hennes. See: www.moeysalen.no There are marked hiking trails throughout the entire Vesterålen area, and they may be used during both sum- There is a touring map with several suggested trip itinerar- mer and winter. The routes are easily accessible and are ies. The map is also very suitable for use as a road map. found almost anywhere one wants to explore. There are There are also marked trails to the Norwegian Trekking two marked coastal trails, each described by a separate Association’s cabins in Vesterålen. brochure. One is located in Bø (Straumsjøen – Spjelkvå- You can visit the home page of Vesterålen Hiking Associa- gen) and the other in Andøya (Stave – Bleik). tion, www.turistforeningen.no/vesteralen, if you want in- formation about the seasonal excursion programme or the Dronningruta is a marked hiking trail about 15 km long be- local hiking association’s cabins in Vesterålen. tween Stø and Nyksund. This is the route that Queen Sonja We also recommend www.ut.no for further hiking sugges- enjoyed so much in 1994, and which was thereafter called tions. the «Queen’s Route». The trip can be done as a round trip with the starting point and return either at Stø or Nyksund (see the pages for Øksnes municipality). Måtinden. Photo: Ståle Jenssen ANDØYA Farthest north in Vesterålen is Andøya island with its moors and jagged mountain peaks. Con- trasts are great between the northwest side of the island, where barren mountains plunge almost vertically into the open ocean, and the moor- lands that cover half of the island’s ground sur- face. On the average, the moor areas rise only some ten metres above sea level. The varied natural surroundings with abun- dant beaches, moors, mountaintops, rivers and fi shting lakes make Andøya a fantastic area in which to hike. Bleiksøya with its characteristic peak just off the shores of Bleik village is a favourite destina- tion for bird-watchers. Be aware that Bleiksøya is protected and that it is illegal to go ashore dur- ing June and the fi rst half of July. KVASSTINDEN OBS/NOTE: The three kilometres long stretch of road between Rising 705 mas, Kvasstin- into Norddalen and then shift Åknes and Norddalen may be in a very poor condition, and it is den is the highest point on course southward towards not recommended to drive if you are afraid of damaging your Andøya. The summit can be the ridge of Kvasstinden. car. It takes approximately half an hour to walk from the barrier reached from several sides; From here, you follow the in Åknes to Norddalen, where the route starts. we recommend a simple ridge directly to the top. This route from Norddalen on the is a more gradual route with outer side of Andøya. From a softer hiking surface – a the main road at the entrance good alternative for people to Norddalen, set your course with weak knees. towards the south-southeast From the summit there is a heading towards Bulltinden. good view out towards Øks- This is a fast and dry route in nes and most of Andøya. elevated terrain. From Bull- GPS starting point: X - coordinate 0517731 / Y - coordinate: tinden, you follow the ridge 7648327 (UTM zone 33W) in a southeasterly direction GPS summit point: in good, easy terrain up to X - coordinate: 0519370 / Y - coordinate: the summit. 7646645 (UTM zone 33W) An alternative route is to Marked trail: not marked. Good trail follow the trail a distance Level of diffi culty: medium Kvasstinden. Photo: Ivar Steiro ANDØY MUNICIPALITY – MORE RECOMMENDED ROUTES, SEE «PÅ TUR I VESTERÅLEN» (ONLY IN NORWEGIAN). Kvasstinden Kvasstindheia Bulitinden (371) Norddalen Svindalen (footpath) Norddalselva Åknes / Risøyhamn ANDØY HAS THE COASTAL TRAIL «STAVE – BLEIK». SEPARATE BROCHURE, AVAILABLE AT THE TOURISTE OFFICE. BUKSNESFJORDEN Photo: Andøy Friluftssenter «SÆTERVEIEN» The physically challenged If you follow the route to- erosion of the terrain when The Sæterveien hiking rou- can also enjoy parts of the wards Langvassdalen for the ice receded some ten te/trail between Buksnes- hiking trail, provided you about 4.7 km, you will thousand years ago; it is fjord and Langvassdalen start in the north, at Buk- come to a large lean-to characterised by a quater- in Forfjord snakes through snesfjord. A couple hundred shelter at the southern end nary geologist as a glacial moors, forests, hills and be- metres from the main road, of Kringelvatnet – a perfect valley. tween mountains of up to there is a detour off the main stop where you can light 700 m in height. Along the trail running about 400 m a fi re in the fi replace and Length: 8 km, with certain route there are several look- up towards the little fi sh- steep a pot of coffee. After sections rising up to 100 m out points with wonderful ing lake of Manndalsvat- another 2.5 km, you can above sea level. panoramas of fi shing lakes, net, adapted for wheelchair turn off the trail and take a salmon rivers, the Eikeland users with a road, pier and detour up to Skavdalsvatnet Sæterveien is designated as natural preserve, and far-off open campfi re area. This at- at about 160 mas. a medium easy hiking trail. places such as Andfjord and traction is also an experi- the Senja mountains. ence of nature that is acces- The extensive valley be- sible to everyone. tween Buksnesfjord and Forfjord is the result of ice ANDØY HAS THE COASTAL TRAIL «STAVE – BLEIK». SEPARATE BROCHURE, AVAILABLE AT THE TOURISTE OFFICE. Andenes (106) Sortland Lynghaugtinden Spikarheia Trolldalen Fjærvollfjellet (161) Fjærvoll Gimstad Straume LYNGHAUGTINDEN / fjellet and on to the forest/tractor road leading to Soppåsen. After VETTEN Soppåselva, you follow the ridge The trip we describe here is only south of Trolldalsvatnet – up to one of many possibilities taking the summit of Vetten (467 mas). Fjærvoll as your point of depar- From Vetten, take the trail ture. In the area east of Fjærvoll- northward to the fl at Spikarheia fjellet, you will fi nd a number and on to Lynghaugtinden (504 of well marked trails and forest mas). The return trip runs along the shooting range or the elec- GPS starting point: roads where you can start your trical power shed at Steine. But X - coordinate: 0477775 / Y - coordinate: Revelten and across the moor 7615355 (UTM zone 33W) trek into the mountains or re- to Fjærvoll. At Nøkktjønna – a Straume can also be used as a main on the lowlands between point of departure to get to Vet- GPS summit point: (Vetten) small detour north of the main X - coordinat 0481395/ Y - coordinate: the villages of Straume – Fjær- ten. The length of the trip varies route – the villagers of Fjærvoll 7614207 (UTM zone 33W) voll – Steine. according to the choice of route, have built a cabin for day out- GPS summit point: (Lynghaugtinden) Towards Lynghaugtinden: from 3 to 7 km – depending on ings. X - coordinate 0481226/ Y - coordinate: From the car park at Fjærvoll your starting point. However, it should be pointed 7616915 (UTM zone 33W) kindergarten, you follow the path out that most residents of Bø Marked trail: marked on the northern side of Fjærvoll- who hike to Vetten begin from Level of diffi culty: medium BØ MUNICIPALITY – MORE RECOMMENDED ROUTES, SEE «PÅ TUR I VESTERÅLEN» (ONLY IN NORWEGIAN). Vetten Skredtinden Veggfjellet Hundsdalen Rundtuva Øyjorda Nilåsen Steine SKREDTINDEN / municipality. The trips include Gaukværøy, Litløy, the birdwa- VEGGFJELLET tching trail at Straume, Sinahula Starting from the ski cabin at Øy- and the route from Ringstad to jorda near Straume, your trip can Klakksjord – all well worth a run across Rundtuva and Øyjord- visit. See further info on Bø mu- heia to Veggfjellet and Skredtin- nicipality’s home page. den (442 mas). The return trip runs GPS starting point: along the ridge towards the south- X – coordinate: 0479993 / Y - coordinate: west, via Hundsdalen and Nilsåsen 7619549 (UTM zone 33W) and back to your starting point. GPS summit point: (Veggfjellet) There is a view of most of the Bø X - coordinate 0481845/ Y - coordinate: 7620358 (UTM zone 33W) settlements and also of large areas GPS summit point: (Skredtinden) of the Vesterålen islands. X - coordinate 0481622/ Y - coordinate: Bø municipality has been ac- 7621263 (UTM zone 33W) tive in the project Ringelihorn Marked trail: not marked. Good trail The photo to the left shows the summit of Vetten, with a view and has signposted and marked Level of diffi culty: medium out towards Gaukværøya.