Bike ride around the southern part of Kvaløya
Bike ride around the southern part of Kvaløya
ca. 140 km, 1 or 2 days, road / touring bikes
Downtown Tromsø - Eidskjosen - Kattfjorden - Sommarøy - Straumsbukta - downtown Tromsø
This is a fantastic one/two days bike ride around Tromsø with the possibility to stay overnight at Sommarøya. You can camp in a tent, or stay in a high-standard fishermen’s cottage or hotel room in the Brennsholmen/Sommarøy area.
You start in the city centre and head out in the direction of the airport over Sandnessund Bridge over to Kvaløya. Here you turn south to Eidskjosen, where you turn right at the junction by Eide Handel towards Sommarøy. It is the last shop before Brensholmen and one of the oldest grocery stores in the vicinity. You can step inside to enjoy hot lunch or dinner and ice cream in the buffet there. Their meat and fish desk is also famous for selling locally produced goods including whale and reindeer.
You are now in the Kaldfjorden and continue for 4km until you come to Henrikvik. Here you turn left, signposted Sommarøy, and reach a relatively steep and long climb ahead until you are on top of Kattfjordeidet, which is about 150 meters. The good news? This is the only serious climb on your way. In Kattfjordeidet there is a nice picnic area with tables and benches. A good place for a break.
When you roll down from Kattfjordeidet you come down to Nordfjord, which is part of Kattfjord. Here follow the signs to the left (direction Sommarøy), and follows the fjord to Sommarøy.
If you feel like doing a little detour, continue straight forward towards Vasstrand and Lauklines. This is a 10km long charming dead-end road with a few nice picnic areas with tables and benches. You can also experience the old cabin environment at Lauklines and Tulleng brewer. A good tip is to hike Vasstinden, where there is a marked path up from Lauklines. At the top, you have amazing views over Kvaløya, down North Senja, Malangen and the islands, as well as the sea. For a bit shorter hike Stortuva is a dream destination.
On the way towards Sommarøy, you will pass Sjøtun, where Sjøtun Brygge can offer cabin accommodation. This is a popular place for fishing so you would need to prebook. Their cafe may be open during the main season. It is also possible to turn left and follow a dirt road to Rødfjellet. This is a relatively hard ride with a rise of 450m, and the gravel road has some rough places. We do not recommend taking this route without an MTB.
Further out towards Sommarøy you need to pass a tunnel. Remember to press the button informing drivers that you are cycling inside! A few kilometres after the tunnel you reach an intersection in Sandvika, where you turn right. After a few hundred meters you can take to the right again, down to the sea and a sandy beach which we recommend as a camping spot. In this place, you can enjoy the midnight sun and the tranquil atmosphere. A nice tip; if this is your first trip out to Sommarøy before you unpack the tent in Sandvika head first to explore Sommarøy. This is where the road stops and the end point of the trip. On Sommarøy you will find hotels, a grocery store, a campground, toilets and otherwise an active fishing village.
The next day, head towards Tromsø again but this time on the south side of Kvaløya. The first village you will come to is Brensholmen. Here you can catch the ferry over to Botnhamn on Senja. Brensholmen also has a grocery store. The road continues in the gently flat and little hilly terrain, mostly along the waterfront, past the villages Buvik, Greipstad and Bakkejord. The next bigger village on your way is Straumsbukta. A warm and sunny agricultural village. Do not miss the outdoor museum on your right-hand side at the end of the village! A few cabins and boat houses with grass on the roofs create a picturesque landscape worth a stop.
A few miles past Straumsbukta you arrive at Hella and Rystraumen maelstrom - an outdoor area with tables, benches and toilets. Ryastraumen is also known for its fine fishing on the rocks down to the sea. Just past Hella is also a rock carving that is now opened to the public. You turn left about 1 km after Hella.
Cycling further you reach Tisnes. Take a small detour to the right to enjoy good views of Tromsø Island and the mainland. If you are lucky, you may get a chance to see a moose! Tisnes is known as an area which is popular for moose observation. Back on the main road if you continue a few more kilometres you will reach Tromsø Villmarkssenter. It is Norway's largest dog kennel. Their huskies work during dog sledding tours in the winter. During the summer months, they run a cafe and you can spend some time with huskies or play with the puppies before you get to Håkøybotn with Håkøya.
A visit to Håkøya would be another detour. It is worth stopping for a moment and finding the memorial to the roughly 1200 people who died when the German battleship Tirpitz sank just outside the island during World War 2. All the steel was salvaged after the war and only the salvaging platform remains.
From Håkøybotn you are just a short ride away from Eide Handel and almost back in Tromsø. Ride through Kvaløysletta, Sandnessund back over the bridge and downtown. You can choose whether you want to ride over Tromsø island, or around the southern tip of Tromsø. The road across the island has a slope of approximately 100 m and follows cycleway number 11 Eidkjøsen-Soligården, while the ride around the southern tip is slightly longer but follows the sea without incline.
