In addition to being Norway’s second-largest glacier, Svartisen is also the country’s lowest-lying glacier. In Meløy, the glacier tongue Engabreen, or Engenbreen, stretches down to about 200 meters above sea level. This hike takes you from the quay, past Brestua, along Engabrevatnet, and up to the cairn near the glacier’s edge.

The hike starts at the boat quay at Engen. To get there, you’ll need your own boat or take the passenger ferry across Holandsfjorden, which runs several times daily during the summer months. From there, most of the route follows a well-maintained gravel road along Engabrevatnet. The road ends near the far end of the lake, and you’ll need to continue on a trail and across rocky terrain for the next 1.5 kilometers. Good hiking shoes are recommended here, especially if the ground is wet, as the rock surfaces can become slippery.

After a short distance, the trail splits—keep to the right. The path to the left leads to the much longer and more demanding hike to the DNT cabin Tåkeheimen. The final 500 meters are steeper than the rest of the route. When you reach the cairn, you’ll get a close view of the glacier and a beautiful view down toward Engabrevatnet below.

From the cairn, you can follow the marked trail back, or continue about 600 meters further to Svartisgryta. This glacial pothole has been carved out by ice and water over thousands of years and makes for a refreshing swimming spot for the adventurous on a warm summer day.