Breitinden
1,008 m
Norway
Also known as Breidtinden, Breidtind, +1Also known as
Breidtinden · Breidtind · Reaiddaidčohkka
- Elevation
- 1,008 m
- Prominence
- 1,007 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Aug
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Approximate line — not for navigation
An automated check found that parts of this line could not be matched to mapped trails, so it may stray far from the real route. Use it for planning only, with a map and a guidebook.
Why? 3 check notes
- danger scan: Svarthola → Breitindvatnet: connector line 212 m (limit 200 m)
- danger scan: Breitindvatnet → Ridge crest regained: connector line 212 m (limit 200 m)
- unresolved waypoints: Svartholvatnet, Ridge foot
Sources differ: YDS class 3 (prominent-mountains.no (Bjørstad)) · DNT black (ekstra krevende) (UT.no)
Senja's highest summit from the road at Svarthola above Mefjorden: a steep, rough path with ladders and ropes to Svartholvatnet, a fine ridge path to Breitindvatnet (474 m), then a red-marked ridge with repeated short, airy scrambling steps to the summit block. About 8–9 km and 1,000 m of ascent return; 4.5–6 hours.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- ≈ 4.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- ≈ +1,083 m
- −99 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,008 m
- Time Up
- ≈ 4h 25m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- ≈ 3h 05m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Park at Svarthola on the road (Hwy 861 per Bjørstad, signed Senjahopen) between Mefjordbotn and Senjahopen, just after the Svartholla avalanche gallery and tunnel (about 35 m; Bjørstad gives 56 km from the top of the Senja bridge at Finnsnes). The path starts at the low rock wall opposite the car park and climbs a steep, rough gully, with ladders and ropes in several places, to the north end of Svartholvatnet (about 200 m), where there are a few cabins. This is also the start of the Senja på langs route. Before the cabins, red-painted wooden posts mark a newer path that turns left and winds up close to the right-hand side of the ridge on the east side of Svartholvatnet, with views down to the lake, to Breitindvatnet (474 m). Cross the outlet and the stream on the left side of the lake; beyond the cliffs that drop into the lake the path and marks fade, so either drop back near the shore and cross grass, avoiding the boulders, to the foot of the ridge, or traverse high above the boulders to join the ridge at 650–700 m. Head up between Kjørakeisen and Breitinden. On the ridge (from about 560 m) a red-marked path zigzags upward. Around 850 m a short steep rock section is bypassed on the right before the marks lead back onto the crest. From here to the summit the route stays on the ridge: a vertical step needs hands, with more steps higher up, often with two possible lines; some sections are narrow, slippery and very exposed. Follow the marks carefully, as it is easy to get stuck. The summit has a cairn and a visitors' book. In descent Bjørstad warns of a red-marked gully on the right (looking down) ending in loose gravel with an exposed move round a corner; a more solid line lies further left. UT.no advises against taking dogs to the top.
Start
Svarthola23 m
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Svarthola → Breitinden | 4.8 | 1,083 | 99 | 4h 25m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Svarthola23 m
- Feature: Breitindvatnet474 m
Cross the outlet; path and marks faint along the lake
- Crux: Ridge crest regained789 m
After bypassing a steep step on the right; scrambling steps on the crest from here to the summit
- Summit: Breitinden1,008 m
Key Passages
- Ladders and ropes in the gully above the road
- Pathless ground along Breitindvatnet
- Steep step around 850 m (bypass on the right)
- Exposed scrambling steps on the upper ridge
- Loose gully on the descent (keep to the more solid line further left)
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
The highest mountain on Senja and the island's only summit over 1,000 m, a granite peak rising straight from Mefjorden in the north of the island. A steep path to two lakes and a red-marked ridge with short, exposed scrambling steps lead to a summit block with a 360° view over Senja's sharp coastal peaks.
Breitinden (also written Breidtinden or Breidtind; Northern Sami Reaiddaidčohkka) stands above Mefjordbotn in northern Senja, Norway's second-largest island, with Senjahopen about 10 km to the north-west. It has two tops: the southern and higher one (about 1,008 m by Kartverket's terrain model; maps give 1,001 m) and a northern top of 984 m. Because Senja is an island, its prominence is almost equal to its height. The rock is granite, and the north-east face seen from Mefjordbotn is impressive.
The ascent is short in distance but steep. A rough path with ladders and ropes climbs from the road at Svarthola to the lake Svartholvatnet, a pleasant ridge path leads on to Breitindvatnet at 474 m, and the upper ridge is a marked line with repeated short scrambling steps, some narrow, slippery and airy. In good conditions most fit hikers who are comfortable with exposure manage it in 4.5–6 hours return.
The summit view takes in the jagged peaks of northern Senja such as Segla and Barden, Mefjorden opening to the ocean, and the mountains of Kvaløya and the mainland.
Climbing Notes
This is a hike for experienced walkers with a head for heights: the upper ridge has several steps where hands are needed and some exposed sections, and the route-finding matters, as it is easy to get stuck off the red marks. Go in dry weather, as the rock is slippery when wet, and avoid it in strong wind. A helmet is a good idea on the upper ridge because of loose gravel in the gullies.
The season is June to September. Snow lingers on the slopes above Breitindvatnet into summer; outside the season the ridge needs crampons and an ice axe. Breitindvatnet has good camping spots for an early start, and the hike can be combined with the multi-day Senja på langs route, which passes Svartholvatnet.
Season
Best Jul–Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Possible
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Polar night until mid-January; winter conditions
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Winter conditions; avalanche terrain
- Apr
- Experienced winter mountaineers only
- May
- Snow on the ridge; midnight sun from late May
- Jun
- Season starts; snowfields above Breitindvatnet
- Jul
- Midnight sun until late July
- Sep
- End of the UT.no season; shorter days
- Oct
- Early snow and icy rock
- Nov
- Polar night begins late November
- Dec
- Polar night
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Norwegian right of access (allemannsretten) applies
- UT.no advises against taking dogs to the summit because of narrow, slippery sections
- Getting There
Finnsnes; Senjahopen
Bardufoss (BDU); Tromsø (TOS)
- Car: from E6 to Finnsnes, over the Senja bridge, then Hwy 861 (signed Senjahopen); the Svarthola car park is about 56 km from the bridge, just after the Svartholla tunnel and avalanche gallery (about 45 minutes from Finnsnes)
Hazards
- Exposure
- Weather
- Rockfall
- Avalanche