From Senja Island, we headed towards the Lyngen Alps, specifically aiming for Blåvatnet. Blåvatnet is a glacial lake formed by the meltwater from the Lenangsbreen glacier above. On our previous trip, we missed visiting it due to torrential rain, but this time the weather looked promising, and we managed to visit the lake.
Blåvatnet hike trail
Distance: About 9 km out and back
Difficulty: Moderate
Starting point: Blåvatnet parking
Elevation gain: 222 meters
Scenery: The trail is varied, with a well-maintained, leveled trail, boardwalks, and a basic trail that meanders along the riverbed. After the initial stretch, the trail becomes more rocky, heading straight towards the goal, with the glacier looming ahead all the time. The reward for reaching your destination is a stunning blue glacial lake surrounded by glaciers and mountains.
Blåvatnet trail description
Blåvatnet is an excellent destination for a day hike, and the trail itself is relatively easy, although the terrain is quite rocky for the most part.
The round-trip route is about 9 kilometers long, mostly flat with an elevation gain of just over 200 meters. The trail starts at the Blåvatnet parking lot, where you’ll find restrooms and a small kiosk offering food. However, the kiosk was closed during our visit, so we don’t have details about its offerings or opening hours.
The parking lot is paid and relatively spacious, so finding a spot shouldn’t be a problem. There are also charging stations for electric cars, allowing you to top up your battery if needed. Parking can be paid via the EasyPark app. A bit further along the road, there are also a few additional parking spots available.
The beginning of the trail is very easy and well-marked, following maintained paths, boardwalks, and traditional forest trails, sometimes winding pleasantly near small streams. After the initial section, however, the trail becomes rockier, with no clearly defined path except for occasional stretches. This rocky terrain continues all the way to the lake.
The route is marked with red-painted stones placed at regular intervals, but even without them, it’s hard to get lost if you simply follow the river flowing from the lake toward the glacier.
A pessimist might describe the route as “a long and rocky road”, and although the rocky road in particular is a perfect fit for the route description, the entire journey is nevertheless very pleasant to walk surrounded by magnificent mountains. Sometimes the river flowing from the glacial lake gurgles closer and sometimes diverges a little further away.
Only towards the very end of the route do the boulders grow in size and the path climbs between the boulders towards the final peak.
Destination rewards
After the final ascent, you are greeted by a turquoise lake, behind which rise rugged mountains and between which the glacier that gave birth to the lake itself is visible. Quite a magical sight! The water in the lake is, as expected, ice cold.
The landscape is very impressive and the color of the lake manages to amaze. It is worth noting that the lake sometimes has a really strong and cold wind. I managed to run after Lippis a few times, but luckily it didn’t fly into the lake.
During our visit, we were treated to a magnificent sunset that painted the sky a beautiful orange. We enjoyed the scenery in peace, as there were only a few other people around, allowing us to have a quiet moment. Eventually, the cold wind became too chilly, and we decided to head back.
The hike was definitely rewarding, and we were glad to finally complete it without the weather spoiling our plans again. We highly recommend visiting Blåvatnet when you’re in the Lyngen Alps area, or even making a special trip there. You should also read about the Steindalsbreen glacier hike located in the Lyngen Alps ➛
After visiting Blåvatnet and the Lyngen Alps, we started our journey back home to Finland. We had spent nearly three weeks traveling through Swedish Lapland, the Lofoten Islands, and Northern Norway. It was an amazing trip once again, and we were delighted with how comfortable our bed in the car turned out to be. We really enjoyed our time there!
