Drangen
1,022 m
Norway
Also known as StortindenAlso known as
Stortinden
- Elevation
- 1,022 m
- Prominence
- 1,022 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain 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
- the line does not follow 'Sulvatnet', the route's namesake (220 m away): mislabelled
- unresolved waypoints: Rundtinden
- waypoints not on the route line: Sandvatnet (241 m off the trail), Sulvatnet (220 m off the trail)
Sources differ: YDS class 2 (prominent-mountains.no (Bjørstad)) · DNT red (krevende), Hamnvik approach (UT.no)
A long but straightforward marked hike to the highest point of Rolla: a hydro-scheme road from Indre Forså to Sandvatnet, a good path to Sulvatnet, a steep pull onto the west ridge of Rundtinden (about 740 m), a gently rising ridge or ledge past Mellatinden and easy, marked scrambling to the summit (also called Stortinden). About 16 km and 1,000 m of ascent return.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- ≈ 7.9 km
- one way
- Ascent
- ≈ +999 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,022 m
- Time Up
- ≈ 4h 20m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- ≈ 3h
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start at Indre Forså on the west side of Rolla, just under 10 km from Hamnvik; a sign reads 'Nord-Forsa vassdrag' and 'Drangen', with a car park by the road about 100 m west of the hydro construction road. Follow the road (Drangenveien) for just under 2 km to Sandvatnet, gaining a little over 200 m, where a sign marks the start of the path. A good path climbs gently towards Sulvatnet (about 494 m). From here many sheep tracks criss-cross the slopes, but the route is marked with red-painted wooden posts and easy to follow. After about 5 km of gentle ascent comes the steepest slope of the day, up to the west ridge of Rundtinden at about 740 m. Bjørstad describes this as climbing between the sharp tops above the lake and Rundtinden, a grassy hump (872 m), then following a broad ledge round Rundtinden's west side to the saddle on the main ridge just north of it. For just over 2 km the well-marked route then follows the ridge or runs just below it on the west side, rising gently past Mellatinden (975 m) and several smaller tops. Below the final slope red paint marks two alternatives, 'Alt.1' and 'Alt.2'. The sources disagree on which is which: Bjørstad describes Alt.1 as a path to the left that circles the summit to an easy way onto the top plateau and Alt.2 as a line to the right with easy scrambling, while kugo.no calls alternative 1 the shorter, steeper line. There is a visitors' book on top. Return the same way. Kugo.no reports about 16 km return and 6 hours at a very relaxed pace with a long wait on top; Bjørstad took 2.5 hours up and 2 hours down. The ridge is exposed to wind: Bjørstad met storm-force gusts and kept just below the saddles on the west side. A second marked route from Kobbetjønna, 1.5 km north of Hamnvik, climbs past Ibestadvatnet and through Stappedalen to Rundtinden and joins this ridge (UT.no: 15.6 km and 1,072 m return, about 3.5 hours each way). In winter the mountain is a ski tour from Indre Forså; the final steep metres onto the summit plateau usually need crampons and an ice axe.
Start
Indre Forså28 m
- Local buses on Rolla stop at Indre Forså (timetables not checked).
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indre Forså → Drangen | 7.9 | 999 | 6 | 4h 20m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Indre Forså28 m
- Feature: Sandvatnet242 m
Signed start of the footpath (not on route line)
- Feature: Sulvatnet494 m
Bjørstad: keep to the left side of the lake (signed Solvatnet at the start) (not on route line)
- Shoulder: Mellatinden960 m
Passed on or just below the ridge on the west side
- Summit: Drangen1,022 m
Key Passages
- Steep slope onto the west ridge of Rundtinden
- Ridge and west-side ledge past Mellatinden
- Final easy scramble (two marked alternatives)
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
The 1,022 m high point of Rolla, an island in Ibestad east of Harstad, also known by the name of its summit, Stortinden. A long, marked hike over grassy slopes and a gently rising ridge leads to a summit with wide views over Andørja, Grytøya and the Troms fjords.
Drangen rises in the middle of Rolla, the southern of the two inhabited islands of Ibestad municipality in Troms, linked to neighbouring Andørja by the subsea Ibestad tunnel. Because Rolla is an island, the mountain's prominence equals its height, and the summit gives an uninterrupted view of the Andørja peaks such as Snøtinden and Åtinden, of Grytøya and, on clear days, as far as Møysalen and Stetind.
The mountain is a hiker's summit rather than a climber's. Two marked routes, from Indre Forså on the west side and from Hamnvik on the east side, join on the ridge over Rundtinden and Mellatinden. The lower half crosses sheep-grazed grassland rich in mountain flowers in July; the upper half is a broad ridge with a short, easy scramble to finish. Expect about 16 km and 1,000 m of ascent return.
In winter and spring Drangen is a ski tour for experienced skiers, with many descents sheltered from south-westerly winds that can hold powder when other slopes are wind-blasted; the steep final metres usually need crampons and an ice axe.
Climbing Notes
In summer this is a long but technically easy day: allow 6–7 hours return at a steady pace. The route is marked with red-painted wooden posts, which matters above Sulvatnet where sheep tracks lead in all directions, and the final metres need easy scrambling on one of two marked lines. The ridge is exposed to the weather and the summit is often in cloud, so carry windproof layers and a map.
For winter ascents on skis, the approach follows the snowmobile track along the hydro road and a flat 2 km stretch east of Mevatnet before about 300 m of slopes at around 30° up to the ridge north of Mellatinden: avalanche training and equipment are needed, and parties often leave skis in the col and finish on crampons.
Season
Best Jul–Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Good
- 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 and winter conditions
- Feb
- Ski touring for experienced skiers; short days
- Mar
- Ski touring; crampons and ice axe for the summit; avalanche risk
- Apr
- Spring ski touring; avalanche risk
- May
- Snow melting; awkward conditions
- Jun
- Hiking season begins (UT.no: June–October); old snow on the ridge
- Jul
- Mountain flowers; midnight sun until mid-July
- Oct
- Short days; first snow likely
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Polar night
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Sheep graze the slopes in summer: keep dogs on a lead
- The Drangenveien hydro road is used as a snowmobile track to cabins in winter
- Getting There
Hamnvik (Ibestad); Harstad
Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes (EVE)
- Car from the north via Salangen and Andørja, then through the subsea Ibestad tunnel to Rolla; Indre Forså is about 9–10 km south of the tunnel and Hamnvik
- Ferry from Harstad to Rolla, then by car (UT.no)
- Hamnvik start: car park at Kobbetjønna, 1.5 km north of Hamnvik centre
Hazards
- Weather
- Avalanche