MOUNTAINS & HIKING
Håen
Mountain peak on Værøy island in Lofoten, second highest peak offering panoramic views.
About Håen
Håen, also called Håheia, is the second-highest peak on Værøy island in the southern Lofoten archipelago, rising 438 meters straight out of the Norwegian Sea. The mountain sits at the very edge of the archipelago — beyond Værøy there is only one more inhabited island, Røst, and then 100 kilometers of open ocean before the next land. That position makes the summit of Håen one of the most exposed viewpoints in Northern Norway: on a clear day you can see the full sweep of Lofoten's outer islands to the north, the open Norwegian Sea to the south, and on rare occasions the silhouette of Røst on the horizon.
The hike is a half-day affair that punches well above its altitude. From the trailhead in Sørland (the main settlement on Værøy), a marked path climbs through coastal grass and old farmland, then onto open ridge before reaching the summit plateau. Total distance is roughly 5 km one way, with about 430 meters of elevation gain. Most hikers complete the full out-and-back in 2 to 3 hours, though the views at the top often stretch that to four or five.
What makes Håen historically unusual is its connection to Norway's eagle-catching tradition. From the 17th to early 20th century, men from Værøy climbed these slopes to hunt sea eagles using small stone houses called ørnehus — eagle houses. A hunter would lie inside the low stone shelter holding a piece of meat, wait for an eagle to land on the roof, and grab its legs through the opening. The practice was dangerous, lucrative, and entirely local to the southern Lofoten islands. Several of these eagle-catching structures still stand on the mountain and along the ridge — small, square, partially collapsed stone boxes, easy to miss unless you know to look. They are one of the few visible reminders of a tradition that has otherwise disappeared from Norwegian life.
Værøy itself, the island Håen rises from, is one of Lofoten's most overlooked stops. It is connected to the mainland by ferry from Bodø and a smaller link to Moskenes on the main Lofoten chain. There is no road bridge — Værøy is reached by boat, plane, or helicopter only. Roughly 700 people live here year-round, mostly along the southern coast in Sørland. The island is also famous for stockfish (tørrfisk), produced from cod hung on wooden racks every winter and exported primarily to Italy, where Værøy stockfish is considered among the finest in the world. Many of the hiking approaches on the island pass alongside these drying racks in winter and spring.
The Håen trail itself is accessible most of the year, but the conditions transform with the seasons. From late May through September the path is dry, the days are very long (the midnight sun shines on Værøy from late May to mid-July), and the summit is reliably climbable. In late autumn and winter the same route turns into a serious mountaineering objective: strong wind, snow, fog rolling in within minutes, and no rescue infrastructure on the island beyond basic search-and-rescue from the mainland. The local tourist information clearly recommends summer hiking for first-time visitors.
The mountain is free to climb. Parking near the trailhead is also free, and there is a public toilet at the start. From the parking area to the summit is around 2-3 kilometers depending on the exact route — the trail forks once near the top, with a slightly shorter direct path and a longer ridge route that passes closer to the old eagle houses. Both are visible from a distance once you are above the tree line, which on Værøy means about 100 meters of elevation.
Did you know?
- Håen is 438 m tall — the second-highest peak on Værøy island after Nordlandshornet.
- The stone eagle houses (ørnehus) on the mountain were used by hunters until the early 20th century to catch sea eagles by hand.
- Værøy is reached only by ferry or helicopter — there is no road bridge to the rest of Lofoten.
- From late May to mid-July the midnight sun never sets on Håen — you can hike at 1am in full daylight.
- Værøy stockfish, hung on wooden racks across the island, is considered some of the highest grade in the world and is exported almost entirely to Italy.
Practical tips
Distance and elevation: about 5 km round trip from the Sørland trailhead, 430 m elevation gain, 2-3 hours typical hiking time. The path is well marked with cairns and visible from above.
Best season: late May to early October. The trail is technically passable in winter but exposed to strong wind, fog and snow with no nearby rescue. First-time visitors should hike in summer.
Weather: check the forecast before you start. Værøy sits at the edge of the Norwegian Sea and fog can move in within 15-20 minutes even on a clear morning. If clouds drop below the summit, the eagle houses and ridge views disappear completely.
Clothing: layers, windproof shell, sturdy hiking shoes. The summit is exposed and 5-8°C colder than sea level even in July. Bring water — there are no streams along the trail.
With kids: suitable from around age 10 if they are confident on uneven terrain. Younger children must be carried. The path is not technically difficult but the final ridge is exposed on both sides.
Getting to Værøy: ferry from Bodø (3-4 hours, daily in summer, less frequent off-season), ferry from Moskenes (1.5 hours), or helicopter from Bodø. There is no road connection.
At the trailhead: free parking, public toilet. From the parking area to the summit is 2-3 km depending on which fork you choose. Both forks reach the top — the longer ridge route passes more of the old eagle houses.
On the map
Address: Natoveien, Værøy
Nearest settlement: Værøy — 4.4 km (~10 min by car)
Fylke: Nordland
