Kleppstadheia Lofoten hike

Kleppstadheia in the Lofoten Islands was the first hike we did in Lofoten (and there ended up being many!).

We hike this trail on a pretty cloudy and wet day but the views were still very impressive.

We didn’t see a single soul on the trail apart from some ptarmigans nesting in the rocks on the way up, which was super cool to see!

This hike is one of the easy hikes in Lofoten as it doesn’t have any exposure along the way, and there’s nowhere where you have to really climb up and over boulders.

If you’re not a fan of steps like on the Reinebringen hike or on the sherpa steps to Fløya and Djevelporten, then have a go at this beautiful hike in Lofoten: Kleppstadheia.

If you’re looking for the best hikes in Lofoten, then check out this guide to Kleppstadheia.

Read more: Things you should know before travelling to the Lofoten Islands.

How to get to the Kleppstadheia trailhead

The trailhead for Kleppstadheia is on Brennaveien (7628) which is accessed off the E10. There is a small pullout area for a handful of cars on the right side of the road if you’re coming from the E10 onto the 7628.

It’s roughly at this location (coordinates: 68.25883312717434, 14.276558093754122).

If this parking is full, you can park at the rest area near the bridge: Gimsøystraumen. There’s quite a lot of space here as well as washrooms though it may be busy in the summer months.

Read more: Best things to do in Lofoten in winter

Kleppstadheia hike in Lofoten

Starting from the pull-out on the Brennaveien road, you’ll head up along some rocky terrain, to begin with.

The trail is easy to follow as it’s well-trodden, although using AllTrails or a similar hiking app, helps ensure you stay on the correct path.

Just before you get to a small patch of forest, you’ll see a branch in the trails. One goes off to the left and another to the right.

You’ll want the path to the right which goes through.

You’ll walk through a fairly small section of forest and then come out of the trees again where you’ll start getting some good views of Gimsøystraumbrua – the bridge behind you – as well as the surrounding peaks.

Continue hiking up until you reach a point where you can’t go any further due to the sheer drop-off on the other side. Don’t go too close to the edge!

You can get an amazing view here of the fjords and lakes below you.

If you wish, you can take a walk along the ridge line for different vantage points and, when you’re done, head back down the way you hiked up Kleppstaheia.

Read more: Best beaches in Lofoten.

Kleppstadheia trail stats

Here are a few of the details of the Kleppstadheia trail in Lofoten.

• Distance: 4 km
• Duration: 2-3 hours
• Difficulty: Easy – moderate
• Elevation gain: 500 m

AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.

Things to know before hiking in Lofoten

Make sure you follow these rules to stay respectful and minimise your impact on the trails of Lofoten.

• 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.

What to pack for hiking Kleppstadheia

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.

Read more: Where to find the best camping in Lofoten

Can you hike Kleppstadheia in winter?

Yes, you should be able to hike Kleppstadheia in winter. However, as with all winter hikes, you should ensure you have knowledge of avalanches and how to rescue people in case of avalanches and carry all the necessary gear with you.

You will need snowshoes if the snow has recently fallen, or microspikes if it’s been a while since the last snowfall and the path is likely well-trodden.

Kleppstadheia also makes a great route for ski touring in Lofoten!

If you do not have avalanche training, I would recommend another hike in Lofoten such as Tjeldbergtind.

Last Updated on June 2, 2023 by Hannah