Lofoten Ultra-Trail // 50 Miles

Welcome

An amazing race in the never-ending light of the midnight sun, so no headlamp needed. This manual covers the 50 Miles distance from Leknes to Svolvær.

The organizers provide all support; external support is only accepted at service point 3, where your special-needs bag is. Come without a support crew. 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

• 50 miles (88 km) with about 3 500 m of positive ascent
• Basecamp in Svolvær; finish line on the town square
• Entry fee covers all race support. External support only at station 3 (special-needs bag)
• Mandatory equipment carried in your backpack for the whole race
• Bus transport to the start in Leknes can be booked; supporter transport available
• 5 service points, 2 of them checkpoints with cut-offs
• 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
• One special-needs bag handled at station 3 (bring your own, 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

All positions are approximate distances from the start. At every checkpoint: make contact with the crew and identify yourself.

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 bag

One special-needs bag, handed out at station 3 (Vikjorden/Valbergveien, 55 km). Fill it with your favorite food and drink, fresh shoes, dry socks, whatever fits.

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

Mountains, beaches, villages, farms, peaks and iconic bridges. 100% Lofoten. The 50 Miles starts in Leknes and joins the 100 Miles route. The course is marked from start to finish, but keep your GPS and map at hand. GPX files are published at least 14 days before the race.

Leg 1 · Leknes → Brustranda · 17 km

Scenic road running: through town, up over Hagskaret, downhill towards the fjord, then the Valberg road along the water to Brustranda Fjordcamping.

Leg 2 · Brustranda → Torvdalshalsen · 24 km

Up the valley along Steinbakkelva, east over Vårliheia and Tjønndalsheia, a trail down to Lauvdalen, then gravel and asphalt around Innerpollen to Torvdalshalsen.

Leg 3 · Torvdalshalsen → Kleppstad · 30 km

Mountain crossing in the footprints of Vikings, over the magically flat summit ridge of Daltuva. Down past small lakes to the service point at Vikjorden, then about 10 km of asphalt over the Gimsøystraumen bridge to the crucial Kleppstad checkpoint, with a cut-off and a medical check.

Leg 4 · Kleppstad → Svolvær · 16 km

The final mountain passes. Road and gravel to Olderfjorden, then trail, and then no trail at all, over the ridge. Past two small lakes behind Dronningtinden, down to the final checkpoint at the power station, and over the last mountain, Tjeldbergtinden. Down to the road, through the tunnel, right at the harbour and along the quay. Done. Congratulations.

Race support

The organizers do all support. External support is only accepted at station 3, where the special-needs bag is.

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

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 →