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Reinebringen hike

Reine

Reinebringen hike gave us the most spectacular view during our stay in Lofoten, but it also had the most annoying and dangerous ascend. To be honest, I wouldn’t go there again, as I am pretty sure there are plenty of other hikes with magnificent views that are way less bothersome.

The Trail

The trail is short (roughly 1 km) but steep, with around 1560 stone steps, which will take you almost all the way to the summit. The stone stairway was build in July 2019 by a Nepali Sherpa team, but unfortunately, the final stretch to the top remains incomplete, as the last 50 m to the summit is only mud and stones – my boyfriend’s favorite terrain 🙂 For me, the stone stairs were pure torture. I am fine going up the mountains, but stairs are killers. Good thing I had my sticks with me, as my knees would be busted while going down. 

Now imagine hiking up all those stairs in a queue… It is, after all, one of the most popular hikes around Reine. Pictures from it overflow social media, attracting thousands of people. Everyone goes there. It is estimated that 800-1000 people ascend the mountain on an average summer day. 

There was barely enough space for people going up and down to pass each other when we were there, making resting quite a challenge. Fortunately, stone benches have been placed along the stairway but are often occupied. 

Additionally, as mentioned, the last 50 m of the ascent is still on the old worn-down trail. That means it is slippery and muddy if it rained recently; there are also many small rocks. It makes it especially dangerous as many inexperienced hikers during summer sometimes cause loose rocks to fall down the trail due to the heavy erosion. It goes without saying that getting hit by a falling rock is something you’d like to avoid 🙁

There is not much space once you reach the summit, which might be problematic on a busy day when everyone wants to have their picture taken next to the, admittedly, gorgeous vista. I would suggest hiking a little further up, as the further you go, the fewer people you encounter.

The silver lining is that the views are simply breathtaking! You get a panoramic view of the village and fjord of Reine and all the surrounding mountains. Simply magnificent. 

So can I recommend this hike? Maybe…

If you do not find walking up and down stairs for hours boring, and you do not mind going off-hours to avoid the crowds (or you just don’t mind getting chummy with a lot of strangers on a cliffside), then perhaps yes, you will get rewarded with an amazing view over the fjord and nearby towns. However, I would recommend finding other nearby hikes such as Munkan, Brunakseltinden, and Helvete that offer incredible views and probably a much nicer hiking experience.

GPX track © hiking-lofoten.net

Where to park

It can be quite hard to find a parking spot nearby as it is a super popular trail. You are not allowed to park alongside the road, even though many people do it. However, there are a couple of parking spots close by, so you can try your luck there:

  • Djupfjord viewpoint. It is the largest free parking in the area located along the E10, 1.3 km west from the trailhead.
  • Ytre Havn in Reine. Located in the outer harbor in Reine, 1.8 km from the trailhead. It costs 50 NOK/day, but you need to have cash or a Norwegian parking app (unfortunately, as a foreigner, I could not get it to work, as you need a Norwegian social security number)
  • Reine Kultursenter. Located just before the center of Reine. 150 NOK/day
  • Reinehalsen viewpoint. Located at the corner of the E10 and the turn into Reine. It is supposed to be a short-term parking place, not to be used for longer breaks. Nonetheless, it is still full of cars.

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