Lofoten Ultra-Trail // 100 Miles

Welcome

In the unique surroundings of the Lofoten Islands we offer you an amazing race in the never-ending light of the midnight sun. That's right, you will not need your headlamp for this one.

This manual covers the 100 Miles distance from Kirkefjorden to Svolvær. The organizers provide all support; external support is only accepted at service points 4 and 7, where your special-needs bags are. That means you can come to Lofoten and run an amazing ultra without bringing a support crew and car. You save money and effort, and we all save the environment.

Back to nature

The Arctic Triple has a strong environmental focus. We want to organize the most environmentally friendly races in the world. Hundreds of support cars on narrow island roads simply doesn't fit that picture, so the organizers provide all support. The roads stay less crowded and safer for athletes and crew.

The route is marked to make the experience safer and better, and we actively avoid producing items that would end up as trash or at the back of a closet.

We are lucky to race in the wild nature of the Lofoten Islands. For that to continue, we take care of it: throwing trash anywhere along the course is strictly forbidden. Use the bins at the service points, and nowhere else.

Leave nothing but a "thank you" behind.

Summary

• 100 miles (~165 km) with about 7 000 m of positive ascent. The terrain legs are especially hard
• Basecamp in Svolvær; finish line on the town square
• Entry fee covers all race support. External support only at stations 4 and 7 (special-needs bags)
• Mandatory equipment carried in your backpack for the whole race
• Bus Svolvær–Reine and boat to the start included; supporters can book the boat too
• 10 service points, 4 of them checkpoints, three of those with cut-off times
• The route is marked from start to finish
• Age limit 18 years · classes: women and men
• Every finisher earns the finisher shirt

Event venue in Svolvær

Everything centres on the harbour in Svolvær: registration and start kits at RETUR, briefings at Thon Hotel Lofoten, and the start/finish on the town square.

Tap a location in the list to zoom to it. Start, finish, transition zone and the swim course are plotted from the official race GPX; the square outline, hotel and bus stop from OpenStreetMap.

What's included

• Start kit and The Arctic Triple buff
• Boat ride to the starting line
• Two special-needs bags handled at stations 4 and 7 (bring your own bags, marked with the start-kit sticker)
• Drink and food stations along the whole route
• First aid and evacuation transport
• Timing and live GPS tracking
• Warm meal after the finish
• Early breakfast for athletes staying at the event hotel
• Finisher shirt

Mandatory equipment

Packed in your backpack or worn on your body from start to finish:

• Cup for drinks/soup at the service points (available at RETUR)
• Identification (driver's license or similar)
• Wind- and water-repellent jacket
• Wind- and water-repellent pants
• Long-sleeve base layer (top and bottom)
• Hat and gloves
• Whistle
• Emergency blanket/shelter
• GPS with the route loaded and sufficient battery (watch or smartphone approved)
• Fully charged cell phone (extra battery/power bank recommended)
• Basic first-aid kit (tape, bandage/compress, blister tape, safety pin)

Recommended

Trekking poles (if you start with them, you carry them the whole way), a change of clothing, compass, knife, string, sun cream, anti-chafing cream, needle and thread.

Service points & checkpoints

The service points are our most important contact with you during the race. At every checkpoint: make contact with the crew and identify yourself. If you and your equipment are in decent condition, you continue.

All positions are approximate distances from the start. Checkpoints 1–3 have toilet facilities.

Drink: unlimited water and sports drink. Hot coffee and tea at the larger stations.
Food: The Arctic Triple bun, chips, nuts, fruit and pre-made sandwiches. Warm soup with vegetables/pasta at the larger stations.
Also: warm blankets and a basic medical kit at every point.

Cut-off times

Special-needs bags

Two special-needs bags per athlete, handed out at station 4 (Napp, 56 km) and station 7 (Torvdalshalsen, 114 km). Fill them with your favorite food and drink, fresh shoes, dry socks, whatever fits. The bags are transported back to the finish after the last runner has passed.

Course map & GPX

Explore the course on the live map. Drag, zoom, and slide along the elevation profile to see exactly where every climb hits. Numbers are measured from the official GPX track.

Course description

This race has everything. Mountains. Beaches. Villages. Farms. Peaks. Iconic bridges. 100% Lofoten.

There will be trails: some easy, some technically demanding, some still holding snow. Parts of the terrain legs have no visible trail at all, whatever your map claims. A few flat kilometers of asphalt and gravel are scattered in between. The course is marked from start to finish, but keep your GPS and map at hand for quick checks. GPX files are published at least 14 days before the race; the route may change with the weather.

Leg 1 · Kirkefjorden → Fredvang · 23 km

Trails and three mountain passes. A 20-minute boat ride from Reine drops you at the start deep in Reinefjorden. The first 20 km are perhaps the hardest of the whole route: technical trails, several passes, and the beaches of Kvalvika, where you run on the actual sand, before the climb over to Fredvang.

Leg 2 · Fredvang → Napp · 35 km

Flat running over scenic bridges, then a historic fishermen's trail with panoramic views into iconic Nusfjord. Expect light scrambling over rock and a short ladder. From Nusfjord, a coastal trail with relentless ups and downs leads to the first checkpoint at Napp, where your first special-needs bag is waiting.

Leg 3 · Napp → Leknes · 17 km

Through the 1 780 m underwater tunnel, then sharp right onto the trail around Offersøykammen. Past a stone-age cave the trail all but disappears, so follow the rocky coastline. Flat, scenic road running carries you into Leknes.

Leg 4 · Leknes → Brustranda · 17 km

Scenic road running: up over Hagskaret, a long downhill towards the fjord, then the beautiful Valberg road along the water to Brustranda.

Leg 5 · Brustranda → Torvdalshalsen · 24 km

Up the valley along Steinbakkelva, east over Vårliheia and Tjønndalsheia, down to Lauvdalen, then gravel and asphalt around Innerpollen to Torvdalshalsen, where your second special-needs bag is waiting.

Leg 6 · Torvdalshalsen → Kleppstad · 30 km

Mountain crossing in the footprints of Vikings. Farm roads give way to fainter trails over Vardheia to the magically flat summit ridge of Daltuva, surrounded by peaks. Down past small lakes to Vikjorden, then about 10 km of asphalt over the Gimsøystraumen bridge to the crucial Kleppstad checkpoint, with a cut-off and a medical check. Too late, or not fit to continue? This is where it ends.

Leg 7 · Kleppstad → Svolvær · 16 km

The final mountain passes. Enjoy them. Gravel and tarmac lead to the trail at Olderfjorden, then tough climbs along the technical ridge from Jordtind to Nonstind. Descend past the lakes behind Dronningtinden to the final checkpoint at the power station. Then one last mountain: Tjeldbergtinden. Over the top, down to the road, through the tunnel, right at the harbour, then along the quay to the finish line. Congratulations.

Race support

The organizers do all support. External support is only accepted at stations 4 and 7, where the special-needs bags are.

Race language: English

English is the official race language. All briefings, course markings, manuals and safety instructions are given in English, and our crew must be able to communicate with you quickly and clearly, especially in an emergency in the mountains or on the water.

• Every athlete must fully understand and speak English to start the race
• By registering, you confirm that you meet this requirement

Rules

General

Rules are kept to a minimum. We trust you to use common sense, and to act if another athlete needs emergency assistance. The most important rule of all: read this entire manual. There is nothing in here you can afford to miss.

Classes

Two classes: women and men. Simple. We like simple.

License

All athletes need a national license to start; a day license can be purchased at registration. Foreign athletes use a license from their own country or sign a release-of-liability form at registration.

Mandatory equipment

Random gear checks will happen. Missing or substandard equipment may lead to disqualification.

Navigation & GPS route

The route is marked, but study it in advance. Download the navigation map and GPX files from this site and load the route on your device before the start. The route must be followed at all times. No shortcuts.

Time chip

Wear the time chip on your right ankle, pointing outwards, for the whole race. If you lose it, contact The Arctic Triple crew for a new one (EUR 50 fee).

GPS tracker

Wear the GPS tracker for the whole race. It is a key safety device, and it lets supporters follow you live. Tell the organizer as soon as possible if it is lost. A tracker not returned by Sunday incurs a EUR 400 fee.

Violations & liability

Rule violations, unsportsmanlike behavior or knowingly exposing yourself or others to unnecessary risk can result in time penalties or disqualification. All athletes sign a release from liability at registration.

Anti-doping

The Arctic Triple stands for clean sport. All our races are organized under the anti-doping regulations of Anti-Doping Norway (Antidoping Norge) and the WADA code.

• By registering, you consent to our anti-doping policy, and consent is gathered as part of the registration process
• The use of prohibited substances or methods is strictly forbidden, in and out of competition
• Random doping tests by Anti-Doping Norway may occur at any time: before, during or after the race

For supporters

Join us to send off the 100 Miles runners! Supporters can buy a seat on the boat from Reine out to the start at Kirkefjorden and back again. Seats are limited, and you get yourself to and from Reine. Follow the whole race on live.thearctictriple.no.

Do the whole Triple?

Many athletes aim to complete all three races. To get an official Triple result you must complete all three individually within 12 months:

Triple finishers are awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze jacket by our main partner Klättermusen, plus a spot on the Lofoten Wall of Fame.

You can sign up for all three at once: at register.thearctictriple.no, tick The Triple and choose your distances, and you get 10% off the standard prices.

Cancellation & transfers

The entry fee is non-refundable, regardless of the reason for cancellation.

You can transfer your entry to another athlete until 14 days before the first race day. Log in at register.thearctictriple.no and start the transfer from your registration. The transfer fee is NOK 150.

Last day to transfer for the 2027 edition: 20 May 2027.

Entries bought with a discount code that does not allow transfer cannot be transferred. If an earlier deadline is set for an edition, the registration system shows it, and that deadline applies.

Norwegian law (LOV-2007-06-29-86) prohibits selling tickets to cultural and sporting events at a higher price than the original.

Weather & safety

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Lofoten is far milder than Alaska or Greenland at the same latitude. Normal day temperatures in late May and June are 12–18 °C.

Safety

The Arctic Triple has a strong safety focus. Our safety crew is well prepared and works closely with the local rescue teams.

Withdrawal

If you withdraw at any point, informing the organizers is mandatory. Transport back to Svolvær may take a while, but we will keep you safe and warm while you wait.

Travel & stay

Flights, boats, buses and beds. Everything is gathered on our Travel & stay page: four airports, the express boat, the Hurtigruten coastal ferry, and where to sleep by the harbour.

Open Travel & stay →