We had arrived on Senja island the previous day and woke up at Ersfjord Beach, which was mentioned in an earlier post. The goal for the day was to hike Hesten, the peak next to Segla, offering a stunning and incredible view of Segla.
Towards the Starting Point of the Hesten Hike
We set off towards the starting point of the Hesten hike, which is just over 20 kilometers from the beach. On the way to the village of Fjordgård, where the trail starts, there is a rather nerve-wracking tunnel. It’s very narrow and feels endlessly long, making you wonder if you’re going the right way or if you should even be driving there. Fortunately, the tunnel is not very busy. Reversing a long distance in there would not be pleasant.
You can find the starting point of the trail here, and there is a small parking lot nearby where you can leave your car if there’s space. Another option is to drive to the designated Segla/Hesten parking area a bit further away. Note that this parking area requires a fee, although this is not always well indicated.
Heading to the Summit
The hiking trail is relatively easy to follow, although it steadily climbs upward. The round-trip distance is 5.3 km with an elevation gain of 545 meters.
At first, the trail winds through low vegetation as it makes its way towards the summit. Compared to Segla, there is also the option for an easier hike to a so-called intermediate plateau, which offers stunning views as well.
We decided to head to the summit and steadily climbed the slope. As we ascended, the view constantly improved, especially looking back towards the village. The views of Segla start to open up as the trail leads closer to the edge of the mountain. The very final stretch to Hesten’s summit is somewhat more challenging and could be described as climbing. The trail occasionally runs along the cliff’s edge, and there are larger rocks to traverse, but with careful progress, it is fairly manageable.
Reaching the summit was an incredible feeling, and the views were simply unbelievable. The mountain drops steeply into the sea on one side, and Segla stands magnificently before your eyes. It’s hard to describe the scenery; the photos can tell more, and I strongly recommend seeing these views with your own eyes😊️
Down to the Intermediate Plateau
At the summit, we took our traditional snack break and admired the views in all directions. After spending some time there, we decided to head down towards the intermediate plateau. This part of the trail was also somewhat challenging due to the steepness of the path and the uneven steps.
The view from the intermediate plateau is also stunning. Even though it’s not as high up, you can see the vertical wall of Hesten’s summit and, if you dare to look down towards the sea from the edge, it gives you a thrilling feeling even if you don’t have a fear of heights.
Hesten offers truly magnificent views, and in our opinion, it surpasses Segla when it comes to the scenery. So if you had to choose just one, we would recommend Hesten, but both are definitely worth experiencing, and both offer absolutely breathtaking views!
After the Hesten hike, we continued our journey from Senja island towards the Lyngen Alps, which we will cover in the next post.
