Reinebringen — Attraction in Moskenes

Should be on everyones "bucket list"!

One of the most popular hiking trails in Norway, Reinebringen, is located in the municipality of Moskenes, in the southern parts of Lofoten.

The Reinebringen hike: Duration: approx 1-2 hours. Altitude: 448 metres above sea level. Season: May - September. Difficulty: Medium. Incline: ca 45 degrees. Distance: 2 km (round trip). Starting point: Reine outer harbor.

Tour description As always, hiking in Lofoten is at your own risk, so make sure you follow the path. Even if the path towards the top follows the Sherpa steps, it is very steep and parts of it can be demanding. You follow the stairs built into the steep mountain side and if you need a break, there are several nice spots with benches built along the path. The stairs finish ca 150 metres before the top, so make sure you walk very carefully and watch out for loose rocks. If a rock comes loose, it may roll down the mountain side and cause injury to other people further down. The hike is not recommended for young children and for safety reasons, this hike is strictly not recommended in the winter season. Reinebringen is far from one of the highest mountains in Lofoten, but the view from the top of Reinebringen is known for being one of the most spectacular ones. It is a favourite among many hikers and you will soon understand why when you reach the top. Sit down and enjoy the great view over the picturesque Reine village and the wild fjords and mountains. We also recommend the hike during the midnight sun season in Lofoten, as it is maybe even more beautiful at that time. And not least, there may be less people in the evening. The hike is extremely popular among locals and tourists alike.

It is very important to wear sturdy shoes, take plenty of water to drink and a wind proof jacket. An extra set of dry clothes is also recommended. Do not forget a fully charged battery, so you can bring your memories with you back home. Remember to enjoy the moment! The mountain can be closed in order to complete the work on the steps. It is therefore a good idea to visit the Reinebringen Facebook page for updated information, or visit the local tourist information. As of January 2021, the path had 1566 steps and several benches along the beautifully built Sherpa stairs.

Parking If you decide to travel to see Reinebringen and arrive by car – you will find the parking at Reine Ytre Havn (outer harbour). This is where the hike starts. You first walk through the centre of beautiful Reine towards Reinehalsen (viewpoint by the main road) and then walk further along the E10 direction Å. Follow the old road on the outside of the tunnel on the left of the road fence. If you arrive by bus, the nearest bus stop is «Reine...

This could be a hike of a lifetime, just make sure you know what you're doing! The start can be a little difficult to find. Head west towards Å on the E10 and park at the first parking lot (on the ocean side) when you leave the tunnel. Do not park next to the warning sign, it is prohibited. Then walk on the footpath that goes parrallel to the road until you reach the warning sign for the hike. Then just follow the arrows on the ground until the second warning sign where you turn left and the hike begins. The MOST IMPORTANT thing is NEVER attempt this if there is any chance of rain. It will be horrible. The whole mountain will be so muddy that it is a total nightmare to get down. And if it's rained recently it can be bad too. Most of this hike is dirt and it can all very quickly become thick mud. The first of the hike goes through a forest and can be a little unclear. If you are in doubts to where the trail leads cross over the large dividing stone face (can become very slippery and has no hand holds) and take the biggest path. IMPORTANT Do not miss the stairs (unless you want an extra challenge). Stay in the middle of the forest and do not go too far to the right or you will not hit the stairs. These save you a lot of trouble as they go about a quarter of the way up the mountain. At the top of the stairs it gets tough. Don't climb up unless you have a specific plan in your head of what path to take. It is often muddy. So you don't slip and die, stay away from the dropoffs in the muddy parts. Also be careful when climbing up the parts with small rocks as there is an "extreme" chance of rockslide (according to the Kommune) and it is very easy to set off. Eventually, you will reach the top and be rewarded with incredible veiws over Reine. This is the most photographed place in Lofoten and for good reason. Don't stay up there very long, however as even if it's not on the forecast rain can come in very fast and if that happens you are pretty screwed, to be honest. You do not want to be anywhere on Reinebringen in the rain. IMPORTANT The way down is MUCH harder than the way up. There are so many more places to fall and die at and it is much easier to miss the stairs. Keep to the right, and you will be fine. Don't take children unless they have had practice with less difficult hikes (I recommend climbing Tjellbergtinden near Svolvær first). If you keep all this in mind, bring the right equipment (great hiking boots are essential or you won't make it) and the weather stays clear (which is a lot to ask for and part of the reason the hike is so dangerous) you will have a wonderful experience to cherish your whole...

Absolutely spectacular peak, with sweeping vistas of Reine and the neighbouring peaks, just as expected. Few things to note though before you take off...

It's not a stretch to say that the climb itself is rather boring. Since you basically do 470 meters of elevation gain in just one kilometer, it's a serious uphill struggle on something like a thousand steps that they have just recently completed (as the route was closed for renovation). Your knees won't like you if you take them there.

When climbing it in August there was basically a line of people going up the peak, meaning so many hikers that if someone's looking for solitude away from all the irritating insta-crowds then this is the last place I can recommend. You can climb sooo many other peaks (Ryten, Helvetestinden, Offersoykammen, etc.), where you will probably not come across more than a dozen hikers and get the same type of views.

The location of the peak seems to be somewhat falsely and misleadingly advertised. 95% of people do not go further than the first peak on the top of the stairs - however, that is only 470 meters. To access the real peak that is called "Reinebringen" on the official maps (666 meters high) you need to do a bit of a descent from that one and climb on - around 45 mins more one way. Is it worth it? Yes! The views improve even further the more you climb up, and you leave all the crowds behind. BUT! For God's sake, I'm not one with a fear of heights, but for the first time in my life I had to turn back 10 mins before the end, as the ridge is insanely steep on both sides and at a few points so unsafe that I'm really puzzled as to why they couldn't install some chains or just close the whole thing off. I really didn't consider it safe, and I did my fair share of hikes.

Because of these it's not a five out of five for me, however still I would call it a must-do, especially since it's not a long one (you can do the first peak in...