How To Do Reinebringen Hike Sherpa Stairs In Lofoten From A Local (2025)
The Reinebringen hike, or more precisely, the ascent of the almost 2000-step-long Sherpa stairs to the top of Reinebringen mountain in western Lofoten, is super popular, and not without good reason.
After moving to Reine in Lofoten last year, the hike to the top of Reinebringen was the first thing I did – the first chance I had.
By “first chance I had,” I mean I had to wait a few months because Reinebringen is not a safe hike under all conditions. When I arrived in October, the mountain was already “closed” because the autumn storms had started, and cold rain, wind, and wet snow are not the conditions you want when you hike these steep stairs.
So I had to wait until May, and I share this to make sure you understand that you should do that, too.
But it was truly worth the wait. I am here to tell you all about it and make sure you have all the details you need to plan your ascent/hike here as well. If you love spectacular views, you will love Reinebringen!
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How To Hike Reinebringen Sherpa Stairs in Lofoten
After you have found your way here to Reine (read all the ways to get here later in the article) and parked, you need to get yourself to the start of the hike, which is also the start of the stairs.
You need to walk from the center of Reine village, back up to the E10 road, turn left, follow the path next to the road, and continue on the old road outside the mountain along the coast for less than 8-10 minutes.
The start of the ascent is well marked on the old road tarmac, and even if you should miss that, you will see the stone stairs starting immediately off the road.
And it starts ascending right away.
The Reinebringen “Summit”
Once you leave the tarmac, you are on the stairs, and you start ascending immediately. The good thing about that is that you quickly get a taste of the views.
These views you have during your ascent are of the ocean, though, towards the mainland and to the south, towards Å in Lofoten.
As the stairs are on the back side of the mountain, you do not really see the amazing views of the tiny islands of Reine until you reach the top.
The stairs will wind their way up the mountain, and although steep, they are built evenly and with a little bit of a tilt, which makes them comfortable to walk up.
Also read: 7 Best Restaurants In Reine Lofoten From A Local
There will be three “breaking points” on your way up, where the sherpas have made stone benches for you to relax on, where you can enjoy the view and your progress up the mountain.
During the last 50 meters or so towards the ridge, there are no stairs.
So, the last bit you will hike along a path for a few minutes before you get your reward, the incredible view of Reine and the Lofoten Mountains, or The Lofoten Wall, as it is called.
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The moment you peer over the ridge and see down on the islands below, lying like a chain of uneven beads, feels almost like a big reveal.
The views will take your breath away, and if you are lucky enough to summit this mountain on a clear summer day with blue skies, you will see all the way over to Bodø, the mainland, and infinitely towards the north.
From the bottom of the stairs to this point, the hike will probably take you between 45 minutes and one hour, more or less.
Congratulations, you made it!
The REAL Reinebringen Summit
Or did you?
Well, this spot where you can enjoy this unique view of Reine and the Lofoten Wall is not the actual summit of Reinebringen. If you can stomach a couple of narrow ridges and a small but super airy traverse, you have a second summit to conquer. Ready?
From the first viewpoint where most hikers stop, the next few steps are actually downhill from the rocky ridge top, where you have to climb a little, but this part is not very narrow and does not feel that airy.
Get past that, and you follow the path towards the second, real top.
Most of this path runs along a wide ridge and feels safe and uncomplicated for most people, unless you are very scared of heights.
However, two short parts of the path cross over really narrow ridges, where the ridge is no wider than the path, about 50-60 centimeters, or 15-20 inches. And here, the drop on both sides is steep and far.
So if heights tend to make you dizzy, this part might not be for you.
If you get past here with no problems, the last obstacle is a rock to climb, which is like a short traverse. There is no path here, and no points to secure you on the rock, and the drop is straight down on both sides of the rock.
This is where I turned back in May, hiking alone. The rock was wet, muddy, and slippery, and I did not feel comfortable returning down here on my own (remember, you are not just going up – you are coming back down as well).
However, if there is no wind, and the rock is dry, and you are comfortable with the height, you will be fine getting past this “obstacle” as well.
After this rock, you only have a few hundred yards left until you are on top of the world. At least you will probably feel like that, with mountain peaks in three directions, and the beautiful fjord of Reine and the islands below you.
Now, for real, congratulations – and enjoy the view. You have before you a unique and simply stunning scenery, unlike anything anywhere in the world, so savor it.
Technical Hiking Tips
If you are an experienced hiker, you might not need to hear this, but just in case, I will mention a few tips that can come in handy (these are good tips for any mountain hikes in Norway, actually).
- Never underestimate the mountain. Even though this is a short hike, the elevation, the weather, and the elements can make it tougher than it might seem.
- Choose shoes with good soles, bring snacks or food, water, and extra clothes. If the weather is a bit schizophrenic, ask locals or the tourist information for advice on whether the hike is safe today.
- Dont start too hard! It will make your hike so much easier and enjoyable if you go “slowly and surely” up the stairs. Find your pace, stay below your muscle acid threshold, and dont worry, you will probably be spaghetti legs by the time you get down regardless.
- Take breaks, but not too long breaks. If you sit down (there are several stone benches on the way), you dont want your muscles to cool down too much, and make it harder to restart
- Even though it will just take you an hour or so to ascend, dont forget to drink water underway, especially on (rare) warm days. It is easy to get a little dehydrated, and it has a big impact on how you feel and your energy
- Bring a day pack with extra clothes, and maybe a change of t-shirt or sweater, and even socks. If you sweat a lot, you might start to freeze when you sit down in your wet clothes, and it is so much nicer to enjoy the view feeling dry and comfortable
- If you can, bringing a pair of binoculars might also come in handy in addition to your camera
- You need to get back down as well. Descending all these stairs can be hard on your thighs and knees, so you might throw in a few short breaks, shaking your legs on your way down as well. You dont want to trip on these steep stairs, either heading up or down. Consider hiking poles?
- After the hike, don’t just go home and sit down! Unless your legs are very used to this kind of hike, you will feel it in your muscles for a few days. Walking off the stiffness after the hike can be a good idea.
What To Wear
In the Norwegian mountains, even in summer, my number one tip is “layers”.
You want to be able to put on more clothes and take them off easily as your pace changes, or the weather changes, which can happen real quick up here (so you can not completely trust the weather forecast).
I know you have seen the photo above before, but please notice what I am wearing. A thin warm top, then a woolen jacket outside that I can open and close as I need to.
Around my waist at this time, I have a thin insulated jacket that I put on while sitting still on the top, enjoying the view. And in my day pack, I had water, one more sweater, a hat, and some snacks.
So with that in mind, here are my suggestions on what to wear:
- Thin wool or thermal underwear, wear the top, and bring the trousers in your backpack
- Bring one extra top if you know you sweat a lot when hiking
- Warm sweater
- Warm wool or thermal jacket (easy to take on and off)
- Thin down or insulated jacket
- Water and windproof jacket, Gore-Tex or similar
- Hiking trousers
- Consider packing waterproof trousers (rainwear) if the weather is unstable
- Breathing fabric socks (extra in your daypack)
- Windproof hat to protect ears and head
- Hiking boots with a good gripping sole
FAQ Reinebringen Hike In Lofoten
Where Is Reinebringen?
Reinebringen mountain is in Reine, Moskenes Municipality (the Moskenes Island) in western Lofoten.
This is the last municipality when you drive westbound in the Lofoten Islands, and the whole area consists of small islands and villages.
How To Get To Reine Lofoten?
You have a few options to get to Reine in Lofoten.
- Fly to Bodø and take the ferry over to Moskenes Ferry Dock. The ferry ride is 3,5 hours, and is free for pedestrians for “drop-in”, if you do not book beforehand. Be aware that opting for a drop-in ticket is a risky business in the summer, as lots of people choose this, and you might risk being left behind if the ferry is full.
- See the ferry schedule and tickets on Torghatten
- The ferry takes cars and camper vans
- Fly to Bodø, and then onwards to Leknes with Widerøe airline. The flight is normally around 700 NOK, and takes about 25 minutes. The drive from Lekens to Reine is about one hour.
- Buses in Lofoten on Reis Nordland
- Fly to Bodø and then onwards to Svolvær with Widerøe, a bit further northeast in Lofoten. The flight is about 25 minutes, and the drive from Svolvær to Reine is about two hours.
- Fly to Evenes Airport close to the towns of Harstad and Narvik, northeast of Lofoten. The drive from Evenes Airport to Reine is just under five hours, so this is a road trip through the entire Lofoten Islands.
When To Hike Reinebringen?
First of all, hiking the Reinebringen mountain is a summer activity. The period from mid-May to the end of September is when you want to do this hike.
This year, the mountain “opened” around the 14th of May (we dont really close the mountains in Norway, but this is when it was considered safe to hike when the snow is gone at the top).
Towards the end of May is also when the summer tourists start arriving, so if you want the mountain to yourself (almost, at least), the last two weeks of May are a good time to do this hike.
There are “crazy many” tourists in Lofoten in the summer months, so take that into consideration.
Hence, during the high summer season, there are going to be a lot of people hiking to Reinebringen. The annual number of visitors is around 400.000 in just over four months.
Towards the end of September and maybe early October is also when you will meet few other hikers, so this can be a good time for solitary hikes.
However, what time the mountain “opens” and “closes” will vary from year to year.
Note: there can be “a lot of weather” even in summer, so if there are heavy winds or rain, please ask for advice at the tourist information in Reine whether the conditions are good to hike on such a day.
Where To Park For The Hike?
The Reinebringen hike parking area is in the center of Reine village, and this is a paid parking space.
Be aware that in the high summer season, June through September, there are lots of visitors in Reine and parking spaces can be scarce. Get there early.
Where To Stay In Reine?
There are a lot of things to do in Reine, and hiking Reinebringen is just one of the amazing experiences you can have in this part of Lofoten.
So why not stay here for a few days?
If you do, you might want to have the rorbu experience, stay in a traditional fisherman’s cabin, the red wooden cabins you find scattered all around the Lofoten Islands.
Here are a few options:
- Reine Rorbuer in the center of Reine
- Sakrisøy Rorbuer on Sakrisøy Island
- Toppøy Rorbuer on Toppøy Island
- Eliassen Rorbuer on Hamnøy Island
You will also find quite a few private home stays in this area listed on Airbnb.
Wrap Up Of The Reinebringen Hike In Lofoten
So, are you motivated yet?
I really hope so, the spectacular views of Reine, the Lofoten Wall, and the West Fjord from the top of Reinebringen are truly worth it.
You can be up and down to the first viewpoint in between two and three hours, depending on your pace and how long you decide to stay. So it is a half-day hike, but dont underestimate it – the stairs can take a toll on your legs!
So come prepared, ask the locals for advice, and enjoy.
