The Lyngen Alps rise straight out of the sea about two hours east of Tromsø, a jagged wall of peaks and glaciers on a narrow peninsula between Ullsfjorden and Lyngenfjorden. From the ferry across Ullsfjorden, the whole range seems to lift out of the water at once.
For skiers, the name is famous. For hikers, it is still a bit of a secret, and that is part of the appeal. Summer brings turquoise glacial lakes, valleys that lead right up to the ice and long evenings of midnight sun.
This guide covers the classic walks, how to get there from Tromsø, and what to know before you head into terrain that is wilder than it looks on a map.
The Lyngen Alps at a glance
The range runs for close to 80 kilometres, yet the peninsula is never more than about 15 kilometres wide. Around 50 summits top 1,300 metres, and the highest, Jiehkkevárri, reaches 1,834 metres, the tallest mountain in Troms.
The peaks catch moisture rolling in from the sea, which is why the peninsula holds around 140 glaciers covering nearly 100 square kilometres. Much of the area is protected as the Lyngsalpan Landscape Protection Area, known in North Sámi as Ittugáissáid suodjemeahcci.
One thing surprises many visitors. Lyngen has only a handful of properly marked trails, and many of the paths you see are unmarked routes or animal tracks. The easy classics are well trodden, but anything beyond them calls for a map, a plan and some mountain judgement.
Getting to the Lyngen Alps from Tromsø
Most people drive. From Tromsø, follow the E8 to Fagernes and then road 91 to the ferry quay at Breivikeidet. The crossing to Svensby takes about 20 minutes and gives you one of the best views of the range.
From Svensby it is roughly half an hour to Lyngseidet, the main village. If you want to avoid the ferry, you can drive around via Oteren and take road 868 north along Lyngenfjorden instead.
The Lyngen ferries do not take reservations, so on fine summer weekends queues can build up. Check the timetable before you set off, especially for the last evening sailings back, and leave room in the day for a wait.
Buses run from Tromsø towards Svensby and Lyngseidet, but services to the trailheads are limited. A rental car gives you far more freedom here. If you are still planning your base, our guide to hiking in Tromsø covers the walks closer to the city.
Blåisvatnet: the Blue Lake hike
Blåisvatnet, the Blue Lake, is the walk most visitors come for, and it lives up to the photos. The lake sits at the foot of the Lenangsbreen glacier, and on a sunny afternoon its meltwater glows an almost unreal shade of turquoise.
The trail starts at the car park in Sør-Lenangsbotn, signed Lyngsalpan from the road past Jægervatnet. Parking is paid by app, and the fee goes towards trail work in Lyngen municipality. The drive from Tromsø takes around two to two and a half hours including the ferry.
It is about 4 kilometres each way, or roughly 8 kilometres in total, following red-topped markers. Most hikers need around 90 minutes in and an hour back, so three hours is a fair estimate with a break at the water.
The lake lies only 189 metres above sea level, and most of the walk is fairly gentle. The final stretch is the catch: you scramble over large boulders and scree, so wear sturdy shoes and take your time. If that sounds like too much, the small lake Aspevatnet is only about a kilometre from the car park.
Summer and autumn are the best seasons. The lake is usually iced over until early June, and in winter the route turns into a ski or snowshoe trip that depends on avalanche conditions.
Steindalen and the Steindalsbreen glacier
If you want to stand in front of a glacier rather than look at one across a lake, head to Steindalen. The valley sits off road 868 between Oteren and Lyngseidet; follow the sign for IMA Tursenter and park by the Akselstua community hall.
The path climbs at first and then levels out towards Steindalshytta, a small cabin by the Tverrelva river 2.4 kilometres in. That stretch takes most people around an hour and makes a pleasant shorter outing on its own.
Beyond the cabin, the route stays fairly flat until a steeper section over the moraine ridge. The glacier edge is 6.2 kilometres from the car park, so the full trip is 12.4 kilometres and reaches about 480 metres. Allow five to seven hours.
Walking to the glacier is not the same as walking on it. Only step onto the ice with a qualified guide and proper equipment. In the valley, dogs must be kept on a leash because of grazing sheep and reindeer, and drones and e-bikes are not allowed.
Rørnestinden: a summit above Kjosen
For a real mountain day, Rørnestinden is one of the most climbed peaks in Lyngen. At 1,041 metres it is modest by local standards, but it rises almost straight from the head of the Kjosen fjord, and the views over Lyngenfjorden are superb.
The trailhead is a small car park on the road west of Lyngseidet towards Kjosen. Red markers lead through birch forest along the Gjerdelva river, up over Gjerdaksla and onto stony ground below the top.
You climb roughly 1,000 vertical metres, and the final section is loose scree. Plan for a long half day, and turn around if the cloud comes down. Reindeer often graze on the slopes, so give them space.
Lyngstuva: an easy coastal walk to the tip of the peninsula
Not every Lyngen hike has to be steep. The walk to Lyngstuva, the lighthouse at the northern tip of the peninsula, is an easy family outing with big views over Ullsfjorden, Lyngen and the islands of Vannøya, Reinøya and Fugløya.
Drive north from Svensby towards Nord-Lenangen and on to the end of the road at Russelv, around 45 minutes away. The path follows the shore, first as a gravel track and then as a trail, with a rest area along the way.
The round trip is about 6 kilometres and takes two to three hours. Look out for the signposted Sámi, Kven and Norwegian cultural heritage sites along the way. It is a lovely place for the midnight sun in early summer.
Hiking or skiing in the Lyngen Alps: when to go
The main hiking season runs from late June to September, once the snow has melted from the valleys. July and August bring the most stable trails, while September adds autumn colours and the first chance of northern lights on clear nights.
Winter and spring belong to skiers. Lyngen Alps skiing is world famous, with ski touring from fjord level to summits such as Goalsevarri, the 1,289-metre peak above Lyngseidet. Those same slopes carry serious avalanche risk, so a hiking trip in May or early June can still mean deep snow and closed routes.
Weather changes quickly this far north, even in July. Pack a warm layer, a windproof shell and rain gear on every walk, and read our tips on hiking in bad weather before you go.
Practical tips for hiking the Lyngen Alps
Bring a proper map. The Lyngenhalvøya og Karlsøy hiking map is useful, and an offline map app on your phone is a sensible backup, since coverage can drop in the valleys.
Supplies are limited outside Lyngseidet, so stock up on food and fuel before you leave Tromsø or in the village. Accommodation ranges from lodges and cabins to camping, and it fills up quickly in high summer.
Respect the reindeer herds and grazing sheep, use existing fire pits, and take all your rubbish home. Parking fees at the popular trailheads go directly into maintaining the paths.
Where the Lyngen Alps fit in a northern Norway trip
The Lyngen Alps pair naturally with a few days in Tromsø, and they make a good counterpoint to the island hiking further south. If you enjoy dramatic coastal mountains, our guide to Senja hiking is a good next step.
Start with Blåisvatnet or Lyngstuva, add Steindalen if you have a full day, and save the summits for clear, settled weather. Even the easy walks here feel like true Arctic wilderness.
Cover photo: Blåvatnet in the Lyngen Alps by Evgenii Salganik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
About Erik Lindqvist
Erik Lindqvist is a Scandinavian trail guide and outdoor writer based in Norway. He has spent fifteen years hiking fjord paths, mountain ridges, and forest tracks across Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.
