Trail Distance: 2.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,400 ft
Hike In: 9:03PM
Hike Out: 11:19PM
Terrain Rating: Moderate
Mud Scale: 2 out of 10
Trailhead: Follow the E10 towards Leknes until you see a sign for “Utakleiv.” Turn here and keep going towards Utakleiv. After you pass a sign for “Voie” on the left, you will see a large parking area on the right. The trailhead is adjacent to this lot.
Holdandsmelen is a really good option for watching sunsets in the Lofoten Islands. It is near the town of Leknes. The drive to the trailhead from Stamsund Hostel only took about 10 minutes. We started a bit late and were racing up the mountain. We made it just in time for sunset! This hike is really popular because it’s relatively mudless for Lofoten standards.
The trail begins to the left of the parking lot. You will pass a farm before you reach a gate. Go through this gate. From here, you might run into a little bit of mud, but it’s nothing compared to most hikes in Lofoten. You will walk for about half a mile towards the mountain (the round lump in front of you), through shrubbery and some small rocks. There aren’t very many trail markers, so make sure you stay on a worn down trail. If in doubt, head towards the mountain.
Once you’re at the base of the mountain, you will begin a StairMaster ascent up rocks. It’s really exposed here, so I was happy to have a windbreaker with me. The rocks can also be loose. I found that hiking shoes weren’t really necessary for this hike though. Chacos worked great. Be sure to bring a headlamp if you are heading here for sunset.
The gate The round lump in front of you is Holandsmelen. Great sunset in the Lofoten Islands!
