Litjforra
1,227 m
Norway
Also known as Lille Forra, Forra, +2Also known as
Lille Forra · Forra · Litlforra · Litl Forra
- Elevation
- 1,227 m
- Prominence
- 1,101 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? 8 check notes
- danger scan: Steigen tunnel north portal → Litjforra: straight line 1768 m (limit 200 m)
- danger scan: Steigen tunnel north portal → Litjforra: sustained 58° > 35° on a straight line
- last routed vertex 1768 m from the summit (closed by straight)
- 100% straight-line fallback
- 100% approximate geometry
- DIN time up 4.08 h vs published 2.7 h (+51%)
- low confidence 0.2
- Steigen tunnel north portal → Litjforra: straight (snap_failed; DEM rejected: DEM path 4449 m > 1.8× straight 1768 m + slack, 1.8 km)
Sources differ: YDS class 2+ (prominent-mountains.no)
A short, steep and pathless ascent from just outside the north portal of the Steigen tunnel: a trail beside a creek to the hillside, a traverse on sheep trails below the cliffs of Litjforra, then straight up the very wide gully on the north side to the summit ridge and a short, easy scramble to the cairn. About 1,150 m of ascent; roughly 2½–3 hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- ≈ 1.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- ≈ +1,158 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,227 m
- Time Up
- ≈ 4h 05m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- ≈ 2h 32m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Drive through the 8 km Steigen tunnel and turn left onto a small dirt road immediately after the exit. Park where you do not block anything, for example just up the short steep hill by the hydro-power tunnel entrance (about 70–80 m). Follow the small power line that runs straight up the hill from the road, cross a fence and continue to a larger pylon, where a clear trail climbs on the left side of the creek. Above the steeper part of the hillside bear left before reaching the large lake Forsanvatnet, aiming for the trees below the steep front of Litjforra. Make a rising traverse below the boulders at the foot of the cliffs on small sheep trails, passing between a few big boulders, to reach the lower part of the very wide gully on the north side of the peak. Go straight up the middle of the gully on surprisingly easy ground. Higher up, as the ridge on the left comes closer, turn right and climb steeper ground; near the top keep left, where the rock in the middle is loose. Continue steeply to the main, fairly flat ridge and col, turn right and follow the short summit ridge, with some easy scrambling that stays at YDS class 2+ if you use small ramps, to the cairn at the end of a short level section. Bjørstad took about 2 hours 40 minutes up and just over 2 hours down. Descend the same way.
Start
Steigen tunnel north portal69 m
- No public transport to the trailhead was found; car required (Bodø airport is the nearest arrival point).
- Parking at the trailhead
Waypoints
- Parking: Steigen tunnel north portal69 m
Dirt road left immediately after the tunnel exit; park by the hydro-power tunnel
- Summit: Litjforra1,227 m
Key Passages
- Power line and fence above the road
- Traverse below the cliffs on sheep trails
- Wide north gully
- Loose, steeper upper gully (keep left)
- Short summit ridge with easy scrambling
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 20%Overview
The highest of the Veggfjellan peaks on the Steigen–Hamarøy boundary in Nordland, a steep 1,227 m summit rising straight from the fjord road with about 1,100 m of prominence. A short, pathless and rather loose scramble from just outside the Steigen tunnel.
Forra, mapped today as Litjforra (also written Litlforra or Litl Forra, 'little Forra'), is the tenth and highest top of Veggfjellan, a chain of peaks whose other summits form the boundary between Steigen and Hamarøy municipalities and the watershed between Forsanvatnet and Sagfjorden. Despite its name it is higher than its neighbour Storforra (1,157 m) to the south-west. The summit has two points: a north-east top of about 1,210 m on the municipal boundary and the true summit about 160 m south-west, wholly in Steigen.
With about 1,100 m of prominence it is among the fifty most prominent mountains in Norway, yet it sees few visitors and there is no marked path. The usual way up is the broad gully on its north side, clearly visible from the road just outside the Steigen tunnel. From the top there are views out along the fjord and to Hamarøyskaftet.
The area is used for sheep grazing; sheep trails help on the lower traverse.
Climbing Notes
About 1,150 m of ascent in under 2 km of horizontal distance: a fit hiker needs about 2½–3 hours up and 2 hours down. The terrain is pathless above the first creek trail, the upper gully is steep with loose rock (keep left), and the summit ridge involves some easy scrambling (YDS class 2+). Good boots and a helmet are sensible; avoid climbing below other parties in the gully. In winter and spring the north gully is avalanche terrain. The start is a few minutes from the Steigen tunnel, so it fits into a travel day from Bodø.
Season
Best Jul–Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- 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 in early January; avalanche terrain
- Mar
- Experienced ski mountaineers only
- Apr
- Spring snow in the gully
- May
- Snowmelt
- Jun
- Snow may linger in the gully; midnight sun
- Jul
- Best conditions
- Aug
- Best conditions
- Sep
- Wet, slippery rock in autumn weather
- Oct
- First snow
- Dec
- Polar night
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Bodø
Bodø Airport (BOO)
- By car to Steigen through the 8 km Steigen tunnel; the trailhead is a small dirt road on the left immediately after the north (Steigen) portal
- Park by the hydro-power tunnel entrance without blocking access
Hazards
- Rockfall
- Weather
- Avalanche