Reinebringen, Lofoten

Reinebringen above Reine is the best-known viewpoint in the Lofoten. We have been up three times, in September 2021, August 2022 and September 2026. A stone staircase built by Sherpas from Nepal leads up the steep slope.

In 2022 and 2026 we park for free at the Steffenakken car park on the E10 south of Reine. From there it is 1.3 km along the road to the trailhead. In 2022 this takes us about 25 minutes, in 2026 about 15. In Reine itself, after 15 minutes at the visitor centre of Lofotodden National Park in 2026, EasyPark shows a little over 8 Swiss francs.

In September 2021 there are 1566 steps, some of them very high, and where the stairs stop, the path carries on through deep mud and over rocks. It starts to rain lightly on the way up, and at the top it is heavily overcast and foggy. After the muddiest stretches we wash our shoes in a mountain stream.

In August 2022 it is still sunny for a short moment when we reach the top, then it gets increasingly cloudy. We eat our homemade sandwiches up there. When we get back to the car, it starts to rain lightly.

In September 2026 the forecast says it is the nicest day of the week. The stairs now have 1976 steps and reach all the way to the ridge. From the trailhead it takes us about 45 minutes, and because of the fine weather there are plenty of people on the stairs and at the top. Below us lies Reine with its small islands, linked by bridges. On the other side a long fjord reaches inland between the mountains, and towards the sea you can see the road running along the coast. We stay up there for a long time and take photos of each other.

The descent on the same stairs is easier on the lungs but harder on the legs. In winter the climb is strongly discouraged because of avalanches and rockfall.