Eggum Unstad Hike on the Coastal Path

Eggum Beach and Unstad beach are two of the most beautiful beaches in Lofoten. With white sands, beautiful surroundings, and crystal clear water, these Lofoten beaches are a must-see during a trip to Lofoten.

You can do the Eggum Unstad hike which takes you on a rocky coastal path, past a museum and lighthouse and between the two beaches.

It’s a great hike with some gorgeous views of both beaches at the start and finish.

If you’re looking to do the Unstad-Eggum hike then here’s your Lofoten hiking guide.

Read more: Hiking to DNT Nøkksætra cabin in Svolvær

How to get to the trailhead for the Eggum Unstad trail

You can start the Unstad beach to Eggum beach hike from either end of the trail.

You need to pay for parking at both locations.

For Eggum parking, you need to drive down a private road after dropping 40 NOK into a post box at the beginning of the road.

For Unstad, there is parking right next to the beach, as well as some washrooms.

Plus, Unstad Arctic Surf is just up the road and they do some really good cinnamon buns. They claim they’re the world’s best and while the jury’s still out on that one, they’re definitely the perfect post-walk fuel!

Read more: Hiking Reinebringen in Lofoten Islands.

It doesn’t really matter at which end you start. We started from Eggum and went around to the lighthouse before heading back.

If you don’t plan on doing the whole hike, you might want to start from Eggum and walk the path as there are some art pieces, a lake and the amphitheatre along the way.

Things to know before hiking the Eggum Unstad hike

The Unstad to Eggum coastal path is very narrow and rocky. If it’s raining, wet or snowy I wouldn’t really recommend this trail as the ground can be very slippery and you wouldn’t want to fall here!

There are also some sections where you’ll need to use your hands to climb up and over boulders.

In addition, you should pay attention to the following on all Lofoten hikes.

• Always practice leave no trace ethics. Not sure what those are? Get a refresher here.
• Remember to respect the terrain, environment, and other users while you are enjoying the trails.
• Follow the three Ts—trip planning, training, and taking the essentials.
• Don’t leave home without your 10 essentials. They could save your life!
• Do not walk off the trail – this damages the environment which is very fragile and leads to trail closures being put in place.
• Read up on the Lofoten Code of Conduct to minimise your impact.

Read more: Hiking Delp and Matmora in Lofoten

Unstad Eggum hike

We started the Eggum Unstad hike from Unstad after watching some of the surfers catch waves on Unstad beach.

There’s a clear trail from the parking lot to the right-hand side of the beach as you look out to sea, which takes you over to the Unstad-Eggum coastal path.

Unstad to the Lighthouse

The trail starts off quite wide as you walk parallel to the sea but it’s not long before the trail starts to climb and becomes rockier.

Right away there are sections where you’ll likely need to use your hands to climb up and over some of the rocky sections of the trail.

The path is pretty narrow and can get very muddy and slippery. It’s not recommended to do the Eggum Unstad hike after lots of wet weather.

As you round the corner and walk away from views of Unstad beach behind you, you’ll see more of the rocky terrain ahead of you and get a glimpse of the lighthouse!

Kleivheia lighthouse it a great point at which to turn around and head back to Unstad if you’re not doing the whole trail.

Lighthouse to Eggum

The path from Eggum to Unstad starts at Borga, a circular World War II radar station. The trail here starts off easier than tackling it from the other direction and you’ll get the sea to your right and beautiful mountains to your left.

Keep your eyes peeled for sea eagles that might be flying overhead!

As you walk along this trail, you’ll come out to Heimredalsvatnet lake which sits at the bottom of some imposing mountains.

There’s also the ‘head’ sculpture made by artist Markus Raetz, which is the reason many people start this walk from Eggum.

Make sure to walk all the way around the head while looking at it, as the shape is said to change as you do so.

Beyond the head statue, the path gets rockier and narrower (much like from the Unstad – Eggum direction) and you’ll need to pay a bit more attention.

Eventually, you’ll meet up with the lighthouse which is a great turnaround point.

Read more: Best places to camp in Lofoten Islands

Eggym Unstad hike on the coastal path stats

Eggum to Unstad and back is:

• Distance: 16.5 km
• Elevation: 216
• Duration: 4-5 hours
• Difficulty: Intermediate (due to the rocky terrain, not steepness)

What to pack for the Unstad – Eggum trail

What to pack for this hike depends on what season you’re hiking in.

• Check out my day hike packing list here.
• If you’re hiking in summer you should pack sunscreen, sunglasses, layers, water and bug spray as well as everything in the 10 essentials for hiking list.
• Here is what to wear hiking in hot weather
• Check out this post on the best leggings for hiking or what to wear hiking in summer for more details and my gear recommendations.
• If you’re hiking in winter after the snow has started falling you’ll need microspikes at the very least. If there is a lot of snow you will probably need snowshoes.
• You should also take plenty of layers including a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are also necessary as well as a good backpack to keep everything in.
• You should also pack water and some snacks too to keep you going as they’re part of the 10 essentials for hiking!
• Planning a hiking date? Check out what to wear on a hiking date but still look cool.

Last Updated on June 2, 2023 by Hannah