Midnattsoltrappa – 2,117 steps

Built by volunteers

Midnattsoltrappa was largely built by volunteers. The work has been funded partly by selling named steps and sponsorship of the resting places.

The staircase was completed in 2023 and can be walked during the snow-free season.

Easy to find

There are clear signs from the E6 road and, closer in, from the road through Spansdalen.

You can leave the car in the car park by the steps; from there it is a few hundred metres' walk to the foot of the staircase.

And then it begins

There is about 360 metres of climbing and 2,117 steps ahead of you – and, of course, the same steps back down afterwards.

Bring water, but there's no need to rush. Several resting places along the way let you split the climb into sections that suit you.

The steps are marked every 100 steps. It's satisfying to follow your progress – at least until you start working out how many steps are still left.

Our 7-year-old made it all the way up

From my own experience, the steps suit anyone in reasonable everyday shape as long as you allow enough time.

Our 7-year-old managed all 2,117 steps to the top.

With children it is of course worth going at their pace and taking plenty of breaks. The resting places make it easy to break the climb up.

Want to time yourself?

If a steady walk isn't enough, Midnattsoltrappa also exists as a Strava segment.

Start Strava at the bottom, time yourself to the top and see afterwards where your effort lands.

Judging by the Strava results, the fastest ascents have been seriously quick – some have made it up in under 20 minutes.

Carry on to Henrikafossen

The trip doesn't have to end at the top of the steps.

From there a path of just under a kilometre leads towards the area above Henrikafossen, one of the most striking waterfalls in the region.

The falls are at their strongest in early summer, when the snow on Spanstinden melts and the river runs high.

The path beyond the steps is nothing like the staircase itself. The ground can be wet and muddy, and ordinary smooth-soled trainers get slippery quickly.

If you plan to continue towards Henrikafossen, proper outdoor footwear is a good choice. Keep well back from the edges around the falls.

And then a swim

Once you have climbed 2,117 steps and walked back down again, the cold water of Spanselva feels rather good.

Right near the bottom of the steps there is a bend in the river where we have swum ourselves.

We usually put swimwear on under our clothes before setting off. After the steps it's just a matter of taking off the outer layers and getting in.

There is no changing hut here. This is not an official or supervised swimming spot either: water level and current in the river vary with conditions, so always judge the spot and the current on site before getting in.

How the trip unfolds

• Parking and a short walk to the steps
• 2,117 steps up, marked every 100 steps
• Resting places along the way
• Top of the steps at around 400 m
• Path onwards towards Henrikafossen
• The same steps back down
• A swim in Spanselva afterwards