Lake Norddalsvatnet
(Norway – Lofoten – Unstad)
This lake lies hidden within a lonely valley basin, sheltered and protected between two mountains.
No signs, no directions, no trail markers, yet there is a path leading to it, climbing through part of a valley that
is nothing short of enchanting…
Starting point: Unstad (Vestvågøya Island–Lofoten)
Starting elevation: 0 m.
Arrival elevation: 102 m.
Elevation gain: 102 m.
Difficulty: E [hiking scale]
Terrain: trail
Time: approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes uphill from the Unstad parking area to Lake Norddalsvatnet,
and about 50 minutes for the return
Best period: year-round, depending on terrain conditions, visibility, and available daylight
Required equipment: standard hiking gear
Trail markers: none
The Lofoten Islands are home to countless lakes: some easily accessible, others hidden deep inside mountain basins.
One could easily dedicate an entire holiday (and still not have enough time) solely to discovering these treasures,
often located in isolated, rugged places visited by very few, if anyone at all.
What surprised us most in Lofoten was the complete absence of signs or information leading to these wonderful
bodies of water.
It almost feels as if the Norwegians wish to guard them jealously. Even online, searching for the names of these
lakes rarely provides useful details, either about how to reach them or about their history.
I cannot explain why.
Perhaps it is intentional, or perhaps these places simply attract little attention, though that seems rather unusual.
We relied on both paper and digital maps, studied them carefully, and selected a few lakes we wished to explore in person.
Today we take you to discover Lake Norddalsvatnet: fairly large, yet almost invisible, hidden between two mountains
descending in a great “V” shape.
The trail seems at first glance to disappear into nowhere, crossing a landscape where human presence feels
entirely absent.
But appearances can be deceiving…
Today’s hike begins in the tiny and secluded village of Unstad, on the island of Vestvågøya,
a settlement made up of just a handful of houses and little more than a dozen inhabitants.
It is impossible to get lost here, as Unstad has only one road.
Shortly before reaching the famous Nordic beach, the road splits into two directions for about 300 meters before ending.
Our suggestion, facing the Norwegian Sea, is to keep right and park near the beach.
However, taking the left road works just as well, you will simply enjoy a pleasant walk along the shoreline
to reach the right side of the village (see map).
From the parking area, walking toward the sea, you pass through a gate and continue along a wide dirt
road for about 250 meters.
On your right you will notice a small pine grove with a faint trail entering it.
Take this path toward the trees.
Within a few minutes you will reach a curious wooden shelter, protected only on three sides.
Inside the shelter there is a small wooden box containing the summit guestbook and a few booklets,
one of which tells the story of Unstad.
On the shelves we found cutlery, barbecue tools, a cutting board, and even a few cans of tuna.
Here, on one of the shelves, we left one of the painted stones created by Andreina.
During our hikes we collect stones with unusual shapes.
Once home, they are washed, brushed, painted, and decorated.
On future treks, we place them once again along the trails, hoping to bring a smile to those who find
them and perhaps keep them as a small good-luck charm from us.
A simple and heartfelt gesture made possible thanks to Andreina’s artistic talent and generosity,
for which we are deeply grateful.
Leaving the shelter behind, we walk around both it and the pine grove, keeping them to our right, and enter a valley
that only now reveals itself.
The trail is fairly visible, although in some sections, due to the limited number of hikers, it is partially hidden by vegetation.
The path climbs gently through a long and solitary valley leading deep into an isolated landscape where the only
encounters we had were with sheep.
Looking back, we could admire the Norwegian Sea shimmering silver beneath the sunlight, while the golden
light illuminated the tall grasses surrounding us.
Patches of blue sky, together with white and gray clouds clinging softly to distant mountain peaks, painted this magnificent
natural setting with extraordinary beauty.
The trail winds through this remote and deserted place, where one can truly appreciate the untouched beauty
of landscapes that have fortunately been forgotten by mass tourism.
To our right we could often glimpse, and at times cross, the stream flowing directly from the lake.
The ascent remains gentle throughout.
As we move deeper into the valley, the Norwegian Sea gradually disappears from view behind us.
This elegant environment is also fragile, and for this reason visitors are strongly encouraged to remain on the trail
in order to preserve the delicate yet lush vegetation.
After about an hour of pleasant hiking, today’s protagonist suddenly appears before us almost unexpectedly:
Lake Norddalsvatnet, with its dark brown color, likely reflecting a lakebed made partly of stone and partly of muddy earth.
The silence that fills this remote place is interrupted only by the soft sound of tiny waves pushed across
the water by the wind.
Looking around, one cannot help but admire the grandeur of this mountain landscape, so distant from civilization,
a distance that is not missed in the slightest.
Here one appreciates the simplicity and perfection of nature, which seems to have placed everything exactly
where it belongs: flowers, colors, mountains, sea, stones, grass, streams, and pine forests.
The beauty, charm, and enchantment of this place are difficult to express in words.
We hope these photographs may convey at least part of the feeling we experienced here.
Near Lake Norddalsvatnet we left the second painted stone created by Andreina, our humble gift to a place
we deeply loved for its purity, solitude, and hidden beauty.
If you are in the area, allow yourself this detour and discover this paradise: a vast basin resting at the foot
of two mountains, one crowned by an endless green meadow broad and rounded like a giant panettone,
the other sharp and narrow like the blade of a knife.
Such is the magic of landscapes.
The return journey follows the same trail back to Unstad.
This simple hike, with just over 100 meters of elevation gain, allows you to reach Lake Norddalsvatnet in about an hour.
If you find yourself nearby, this place is truly worth a portion of your time.
Everything else around you will simply become wonder and enchantment.
Text and photographs by: Michele Giordano and Andreina Baj
Notes: an easy yet deeply rewarding hike through a solitary valley trail, where your only companions will likely be sheep,
leading all the way to Lake Norddalsvatnet.
No signs. No trail markers. No cairns.
Everything here remains in its natural state.
Places like this must first be discovered on maps.
Then you reach the area and search for the trail, rarely marked, but still possible to find.
What extraordinary places.
What a fairytale.
