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John and I hadn’t planned to do the Mannen hike in Norway’s Lofoten Islands. We had started off on Haukland Waterfront on the west tailspin of the Lofoten Islands with the intention of doing a loop hike withal the tailspin that included Uttakliev Waterfront and an old cart road over the mountain that linked the two communities.

On the trail/old cart road over the low point on the mountain you pass a couple of turnoffs to other trails. One takes you to Himmeltinden (the highest mountain on the island of Vestvågøy in the Lofotens with a NATO radar on the summit that has monitored Norwegian airspace since the 1980’s) and the other to Mannen.

When we got to the turnoff to Mannen Peak,we looked at each other and said – “We’re here, so we might as well do it and it doesn’t squint very far away.”

However, most people do the Mannen hike as an out and when from Haukland Beach. But if you’ve got well-nigh 4 hours, I highly recommend the increasingly tangled route via Uttakliev Waterfront and over the pass to reach the trail. That route will be closer to 10 km in total.

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Lots of zappy perches withal the trail to Mannen

Mannen Hike Summary

Distance: 3.5 km round trip as an out and back.

Elevation gain: 400 m (1,312 feet) up Mannen Peak.

Level of difficulty: Moderate but with some exposure.

Time needed: 2 – 3 hours.

Family-friendly: Not good for young kids. Older children ( 8 years) who don’t mind heights should be fine.

Parking: Haukland Waterfront at the parking lot. Vik Waterfront and a 20-minute walk would be flipside option.

Dogs: Allowed, but must be on a troika between April 1 – October 1 considering of animals grazing in the area.

Don’t forget: Pack water, energy bars, uneaten suit in specimen it’s windy at the top, and rain gear. Throw a bathing suit in your car for a quick dip without the hike.

I like puny abreast the mountains on the Mannen hike

Best time to hike Mannen

Ideally you want to hike Mannen between May and September when the weather is best. If it’s been raining hard, you may find the trail to be slippery, so take uneaten precautions under that scenario.

In summer in the Lofoten Islands, Mother Nature is capable of throwing lines balls related to weather. It can rain for a week at a time. The Mannen hike with its glorious views is weightier when the visibility is high.

In winter, once there is snow and ice around, a hike up Mannen is discouraged – expressly considering how narrow it the trail is in places and the number of drop-offs.

Beautiful scenery virtually Solstadvatnet - the lake you see on the Mannen hike — Beautiful scenery virtually Solstadvatnet – the lake you see on the Mannen hike

How to get to the trailhead at Haukland Beach

By car

Haukland Waterfront is located on the island of Vestvågøy which is easy to wangle if you have a car. It’s just 15 minutes from Leknes, the second largest town in the Lofoten Islands.

We had washed-up the Offersøykammen hike in the morning, just 13 minutes by car away. I’d recommend doing both in a day. It was a pretty momentum to Haukland Waterfront with part of it withal the tailspin and past Vik Beach.

If you need a rental car for your trip in the Lofotens trammels out Discover Cars. You can rent one in Leknes.

By public transport

According to the Guide to Lofoten website, you can take bus line 765 that leaves from Leknes with stops at both Haukland and Uttakliev Beaches – but only between June 21 – August 22.

The bus leaves twice daily from Leknes on a Monday to Saturday understructure at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM. It returns from Uttakleiv Waterfront at 10:05 AM and 14:05 PM – so you’ll need to plan your Mannen hike accordingly. Maybe a fellow hiker will be kind unbearable to momentum you when to Leknes.

Location map of Huakland Waterfront and Mannen

Mannen hike description

The Mannen hike starts right from the parking lot at Haukland Waterfront – named by Lonely Planet in 2023 as the best waterfront in Europe. The parking lot isn’t large, so get there early if its the middle of the summer. There are toilets you must pay for and a café in a shipping crate – though it was sealed by late August. Reportedly a new Visitor’s Centre is in the works for late 2024.

If you can stilt yourself yonder from the trappy white sand beach, throne for the wangle road and squint for the narrow-paved road. Hike up it for well-nigh 10 minutes to reach a trail heading left up the mountain. There are several trails to segregate from, so go with the one that’s most used. Switchback up the hill to reach the intersection with two trails – the one that goes up Mannen and the one that continues to Uttakliev Beach.

Starting out on the steeper part of the Mannen hike

The climbing starts in earnest. Zig zag up the mountain on a narrow, sometimes muddy trail. Occasionally there are rocks to scramble up, but it’s all straightforward hiking. There are a few lookouts withal the way, so be sure to trammels them out.

Looking lanugo to Uttakliev Waterfront — Looking lanugo to Uttakliev Beach

Much of the route to the top is via an airy, narrow-in-places ridge. There are some good perches withal the way where you get impressive views of Haukland Beach. Be very shielding if its raining or its just rained as some of the upper trail could get very slippery.

You can see that the trail isnt scary narrow on the way up Mannen Peak — You can see that the trail isn’t scary narrow on the way up Mannen Peak

From the smallish summit of Mannen Peak, the views are epic. Not only can you see Haukland Waterfront and numerous outer Lofoten Islands but Veggen – an in-your-face mountain you can moreover climb.

John at the top of Mannen Peak with Haukland Waterfront in the background — John at the top of Mannen Peak with Vik Waterfront in the background

Veggen - the mountain can moreover be climbed — Veggen – the mountain can moreover be climbed

We couldnt have asked for a largest day to do the hike — We couldn’t have asked for a largest day to do the Mannen hike

After enjoying the views from the summit (we were there on a windless day), retrace your steps to return to Haukland Beach. But don’t rush it – and instead enjoy the views looking to Haukland Waterfront in one direction and Uttakliev Waterfront in the other.

Beautiful views on the hike down — Beautiful views on the hike lanugo from Mannen

Were scrutinizingly when at the road to Haukland Beach — We’re scrutinizingly when at the road to Haukland Beach

A dip or a swim post hike?

If you want to revive your soul without a hike up Mannen, then throne for a dip in the dank waters off Haukland Beach. According to the World waterfront Guide, the water may be as warm 12ºC in August, but in May it’s just 6.5ºC. Either way, it’s going to invigorate you – and take your mind off your tired muscles.

If youre unflinching unbearable you could have a quick dip in the sea without the Mannen hike — If you’re unflinching unbearable you could have a quick dip in the sea without the Mannen hike

Parking for the Mannen hike

You can see that the parking lot for both the Mannen hike and Haukland Waterfront isn’t large. There is the option to park at Vik Waterfront and walk here – and it wouldn’t take increasingly than well-nigh 20 minutes.