Arnøyhøgda
1,169 m
Norway
- Elevation
- 1,169 m
- Prominence
- 1,168 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Aug
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: Krevende (demanding) (ut.no)
A largely pathless sea-level ascent of Arnøya's highest point: up the protected valley of Tjuvdalen, past a small lake, to the col below point 937, then over block scree to the south ridge and a short, airy traverse just before the summit. About 1,170–1,290 m of ascent and 12–14 km return.
About 100% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 4 check notes
- 100% approximate geometry
- low confidence 0.4
- Tjuvdalen → Arnøyhøgda: dem (snap_failed, 6.0 km)
- unresolved waypoints: Fossbakken, Col below point 937, Point 937, South ridge
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 6.0 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,164 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,168 m
- Time Up
- 4h 38m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 06m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Take the ferry from Storstein on Kågen to Lauksundskaret and drive about 5 km north along Lauksundveien to the mouth of Tjuvdalen (Elvmo / the harbour just south of Lauksletta Overnatting), where there is a small roadside parking area. Walk west along the north side of the river into the Tjuvdalen landscape protection area on intermittent sheep and reindeer trods. After about 1.5–2 km the ground rises to Fossbakken: climb beside the waterfall to a small lake at about 380 m and cross the outlet. Above, the slope is steep (keep to its east side to avoid the steepest part); aim for the ridge below point 822 and the col between point 839 (Silstøaksla) and point 937, where snow patches lie well into summer. From the col follow the ridge east, passing right of the rocky knob of point 937, over big-block scree and loose gravel to the south ridge at about 1,100 m, with views down to Lillefjellvannet. The south ridge leads onto a broad, flat plateau that ends in a rock step. A short, exposed traverse here (about 10 m) is the airiest point of the route, and early in summer it can be covered by a snow cornice or hard ice. The summit with three cairns (logbook in the largest) follows immediately. Return the same way; allow about 5 hours in total.
Start
Tjuvdalen8 m
- Ferry Storstein–Lauksundskaret, then the local bus along Lauksundveien to Lauksletta skole is possible but infrequent; a car is more practical.
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Tjuvdalen8 m
Small roadside parking at the valley mouth near Elvmo
- Summit: Arnøyhøgda1,169 m
Key Passages
- Fossbakken waterfall step
- Block scree right of point 937
- Short exposed traverse below the summit (snow cornice early in summer)
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 40%Overview
The highest point of Arnøya (1,168 m) in Skjervøy, northern Troms, climbed from the fjord through a protected glacial valley. Rarely visited, largely pathless, and with a view from the Lyngen Alps to Øksfjordjøkelen.
Arnøyhøgda crowns Arnøya, a large, thinly populated island north of the Lyngen peninsula in Skjervøy municipality. Its prominence equals its height, and it is among the highest island summits in Norway; Inger Lise Innerdal and Otto T. Lund call it one of the finest island peaks they have climbed in their book 'Norges beste toppturer'.
The usual approach climbs from sea level at Lauksund through Tjuvdalen, a landscape protection area set up in 2004 for its moraines and other landforms left by the retreating ice at the end of the last ice age. Above the valley the route crosses block scree and loose gravel, then follows a broad ridge to a flat summit plateau and a short exposed step to the top. The summit register placed in September 2018 had only six signatures by July 2019.
The view takes in the Lyngen Alps, the Kåfjord Alps, the Skjervøy peaks and the remote mountains around the Øksfjordjøkelen ice cap near the Finnmark border. The long snow season also makes it a ski-mountaineering objective from winter into early summer.
Climbing Notes
Allow about 5–6 hours for 12–14 km and roughly 1,200 m of ascent from near sea level. There is no continuous path above the valley floor, so navigation skills and a GPS track are useful in fog. Good mountain boots are essential for the block scree. The short exposed traverse just below the summit can carry a snow cornice or hard ice into early summer; bring an ice axe and crampons for spring and early-summer trips.
As a ski tour the season is long: carrying skis the 2 km into Tjuvdalen, skiing is possible well into July, and the south flank gives a good descent. Check varsom.no for avalanche conditions.
Arnøya is reached by car ferry from Storstein on Kågen to Lauksundskaret; check ferry times before setting out, as departures are limited. Treat stream water above 400 m with care because of grazing sheep and reindeer.
Season
Best Jul–Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Best
- May: Good
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Polar night
- Feb
- Ski touring for experienced parties; short days
- Mar
- Ski touring
- Apr
- Ski touring; hard ice possible on the upper ridge
- May
- Spring ski touring
- Jun
- Snow on the upper route; cornice on the summit traverse
- Jul
- Best hiking month; snow patches in the cols
- Sep
- Shorter days; autumn storms
- Oct
- First snow
- Nov
- Dark and stormy
- Dec
- Polar night
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Tjuvdalen landscape protection area (since 2004): no new structures, camping trailers or other measures that alter the landscape; walking is permitted
- Getting There
Skjervøy
Tromsø Airport (TOS)
- Car ferry Storstein (Kågen) – Lauksundskaret, then about 5 km north on Lauksundveien (Fv7940) to the mouth of Tjuvdalen
Hazards
- Exposure
- Weather
- Remoteness
- Avalanche
- Cornices