Ryten Lofoten – Incredible Hike above Kvalvika Beach

RYTEN LOFOTEN HIKE

A trip to the magical Lofoten Islands of Norway, made famous in the movie Frozen, really should include a hike to Ryten Lofoten.

As Lofoten hikes go, this one, you’ll be happy to hear, is one hike that ticks all the boxes and is one of our best hikes in Norway.

We tackled this spectacular hike as part of our Lofoten road trip.

Photography Tip: Time your climb carefully – we arrived at the top in mid-morning in September and had the sun directly in our eyes which doesn’t make for the best photos when capturing Kvalvika Beach.

RYTEN LOFOTEN HIKE MAP

RYTEN HIKE VIDEO

WHERE TO START THE RYTEN LOFOTEN HIKE

Ryten is a mountain on the northern part of the island of Moskensoya, Lofoten in northern Norway.

Head towards the northern town of Fredvang.

From there, follow the 814 road north, and then head west for about 1 kilometre.

This will bring you to a road named ‘Strandveien’ and it’s here on the corner that you turn into a fenced, dedicated Ryten hike parking area (see map).

This is the nearest parking to the Ryten Lofoten Hike trail. The owner of the land, who lives in the closest home nearby, is vigilant to new arrivals and will ensure that you have paid up before starting your hike.

It’s a cash-only deal and costs 100Kr (approximately 10Euro) for a day’s parking.

HANDY HIKING TIPS

As with any hike in Norway, it’s always wise to have the latest updates on weather and we exclusively use the free weather app ‘YR.no’ which is updated by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.

Another super handy free app we use is ‘maps.me’ which works off-line and has the added bonus of having hiking trails marked on it which means you can also log your route for later scrutiny.

Plan your route, pack plenty of drinking water, wear hiking shoes and if the weather is marginal, pack some waterproof clothing.

RYTEN HIKE, LOFOTEN

Leaving the parking lot, the official trail start is about 100m further down the road to the west.

From here the early part of the trail leads you gently up a single-lane farm track where you eventually veer off onto the trail proper and continue to gain altitude.

The paths can be boggy in places but luckily in the worst spots, there are wooden planks placed over the ground to keep those pinkies out of trouble.

This first part of the Ryten hike is more of a gentle climb and after reaching the top of the first line of hills, it flattens out for a time. Here you’ll find twin lakes with the largest of the two, named Einangsvatnet.

At this point, you are roughly about one kilometre from the car park. This spot also makes for a good photo stop as there are great views to be had down into the valley and out to Sandbotnen Bay.

At Einangsvatnet you can probably consider about one-third of the upward part of the hike to be completed. 

From here, the going gets a bit tougher with the incline steadily increasing as you pass over a series of small rises.

By now you’ve climbed high enough to be able to see above the closest hills and actually see above some of the distant mountain ranges giving some panoramic views.

It’s a good place to take a break, give those legs a breather and let your camera do some work.

This more or less marks the two-thirds point of the upward part of the hike.

Following the trail, another 800-odd metres will bring you to Forsvatnet, a lake with pristine waters (below).

Here is a decision point.

Either take the path to the right ascending to Ryten or follow the descending trail to Kvalvika beach.

We continued to the top and soon found that the trail rises rather steeply.

However don’t despair, as this incline is the last push to the top. Kvalvika beach views await.

I won’t lie to you, it’s a bit of a thigh burner but those views soon have you forgetting about any feelings of discomfort. A bit of grit and determination will see you through;)

KVALVIKA BEACH VIEWS REVEALED

The objective for most on the Ryten hike is the famous viewpoint which is a rocky outcrop that mimics Trolltunga of sorts — a mini version.

Here you can overlook Kvalvika Beach and grab some fabulous photographs.

You may have seen some photos from this epic spot (image above) on the rocky outcrop at the top of the Ryten hike that overlooks Kvalvika Beach. 

The image is quite deceptive and the good news is that you won’t have to risk life and limb to grab this photo opportunity.  There’s no sheer drop and it’s much safer than it looks but you can make that call.

Check out the image below showing the guy standing on the rocky outcrop — yep, it’s the same rock. 

At first sight of Kvalvika Beach, we were a little confused – two beaches? But no, it’s all the same beach. On a rising tide, the headland causes a division making for some captivating photos.

RYTEN HIKE RETURN TRIP

The downward journey is sometimes more difficult than the climb up and that’s the case here. Especially the first part of the descent, which is pretty steep and quite slippery due to the well-trodden path turning muddy.

There are plenty of amazing photo opportunities on the descent.

The sun had shifted, revealing another dimension to this spectacular landscape.

ACCOMMODATION NEAR RYTEN LOFOTEN

We stayed in Reine at the Lofoten B&B which is 25 kilometres from Fredvang or roughly a 30-minute drive so a great location as an overnight stop. 

For more accommodation options check out other deals in Lofoten on Booking.com.

FAQS – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on RYTEN LOFOTEN

Would this be a suitable hike for families? 

Yes, most definitely. The trails to Ryten and down to Kvalvika Beach are both suitable for families.

Can I see Northern Lights in September in Lofoten? 

Yes … and we did. The months of September to April are the best months to view the Northern Lights however be mindful that this period falls over the Winter period and is prone to wet and windy conditions.

Do I need any special hiking gear to hike Ryten Lofoten and Kvalvika Beach?

No, however hiking footwear and a small backpack, to carry food and water, is recommended.

Can you use a drone in the Kvalvika and Ryten areas? 

No

I have a dog, can I bring him to Ryten and Kvalvika Beach? 

Yes, but under strict conditions. From the 1st of April to the 15th of November your dog will need to be on a leash. Your pooch is able to drink from the lakes along the way.

How much time do I need to hike Ryten? 

Set yourself aside a morning or an afternoon.

GOOD TO KNOW

RYTEN HIKE … That’s a Wrap

If you’ve made it to Lofoten, then we strongly recommend adding the Ryten hike to your Norway itinerary. It has spectacular views, the trail start is close to parking and you won’t need to set aside the whole day or require a high level of fitness to complete it.

The hike could be completed in either the morning or afternoon, meaning it won’t compromise a tight schedule.

Surprisingly, the hike wasn’t overwhelmed by tourists. We guessed we passed about 50 other hikers during the busy part of the day in mid-September.

Remember that September is the month that the Northern Lights in Lofoten begin their dance — something you just have to see for yourself.

We hope you have the opportunity to enjoy this Ryten Lofoten hike as much as we did!

If you’re the type who enjoys epic hikes then a 4.5-hour drive north of Ryten lies the Dronningruta Hike – The Queen’s Route.

Happy hiking!

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