We had a great time on the Isbjerg hike - it was easy and had fantastic views of Jutland.

Isbjerg was our favorite trail in Thy National Park. Here's what you need to know before heading out.

If you're after a simple hike when driving around Jutland's west coast, Hanstholm Reserve (Hanstholm Vildtreservat), with its vast heathland (the largest in Denmark), is the place to go. We chose the Isbjerg area because it's, with its mighty 56 meters, the highest point in both the Hanstholm Wildlife Reserve and Thy National Park. Plus, the trail promises amazing views, with not just sand dunes but also a beautiful large lake.

What made it awesome was that the Isbjerg trail was really easy, and the adventure was quick, fitting right into our Jutland plans. Plus, Lucie had been going on about it as much as Christiansfeld (which we checked out later), so there was no way we could skip it.

So, after a few hours at Hanstholm Fortress taking in all the WW2 stuff the museum had to offer, we needed a break. The museum was awesome, but all that info was a lot, and we figured some exercise and fresh air would be great for our tired minds.

Since we were already on the northern edge of Thy National Park, we decided to head back south and explore the Isbjerg area, which was less than twenty minutes away. Let's dive in!

Isbjerg is often called one of the most scenic trails in Denmark.

Driving to Isbjerg

The Isbjerg trailhead is located off the main road in Thy National Park, so driving from Hanstholm made the most sense (since we were on a road trip). Just before Sonderby, we turned right onto Vorringvej and continued for about five kilometers on a narrow single-lane road.

The last kilometer was unpaved, but the road looked fine. We've driven on dirt roads before, like at Bovbjerg Lighthouse or Mons Klint, but just like at Isbjerg, no AWD was needed - a regular car did just fine. If you want to rent a car in Denmark, you can compare all the prices here.

Isbjerg is roughly 90 minutes from Aalborg, two and a half hours from Aarhus and Skagen, and three and a half hours from Odense.

Bus or Bike: There's no bus that goes directly to Isbjerg, and with the nearest bus stop being five kilometers away, that option doesn't really make sense. But if you're exploring Jutland by bike and don't want to drive, you could definitely cycle there. If you're starting from Hanstholm town, take the cycling route that goes between Hanstholm Vildtreservat and Tved Klitplantage. When you get to Nors Sø lake, turn right and the trailhead is about 850 meters ahead.

Parking & Facilities at Isbjerg

The Isbjerg parking lot was on Hindingvej Road, just a couple hundred meters before the road ended. It was pretty small but free, and with only two other cars and a campervan, we had no trouble finding a spot.

By the way, those three cars were just a local family with kids having a picnic here. There were several picnic benches and toilets, and we found a few more and a fire pit about 50 meters from here on the lake shore. If you're looking for a great lunch spot or just a quick snack, Isbjerg is perfect.

The parking for Isbjerg is only a few steps from Nors Sø lake.

Isbjerg Trail Details

You can do the Isbjerg trail as a loop, which we think is the best way, or just hike to the highest point and back the same way. It's a bit more scenic, but since you'd walk the same path twice, it doesn't make much sense because both routes are about the same length. That was our logic when deciding whether to do the full loop or head straight to the highest point.

We found out there were two loop options: a 2.6-kilometer one and a shorter 1.6-kilometer one we did. Honestly, the longer version is only worth it if you have extra time. Otherwise, just head straight to Isbjerg. For the longer route, walk about 500 meters back the way you came. You don't have to walk on the road; there's a trail between Nors Sø and Barnsø (a much smaller lake). After that, turn left into Tved Klitplantage.

Isbjerg Hike

We began the loop counterclockwise, and it worked out well because we had the lake in front of us on the way back, offering better views. Given that it's a short hike, it didn't really matter in the end.

The first stretch of the trail was pretty sandy.

The Isbjerg hike was mostly easy, but the first small climb on the sand path was tougher than it seemed. The worst part was getting tons of sand in our shoes, so we had to stop and empty them out once the path leveled out. We were used to this from places like Romo Island and Grenen Trail, so it wasn't anything new.

Not long into our hike, we found ourselves in a forest - Tved Klitplantage - which was a completely unexpected but pleasant surprise. We had been exploring Jutland for a few days, and this was the first proper woodland area we'd seen. We didn't stay in the forest for long, as the trail turned west after a few minutes, and we emerged from the woods. Still, it was a nice change of scenery.

Next, we found ourselves at the western edge of Tved Klitplantage.

We also had a moment where we sort of lost the longer trail and ended up heading straight to the Isbjerg viewpoint via one of the well-trodden paths (it didn't matter much in the end).

Finding the highest point was easy since it was marked by a gray, futuristic-looking seating structure that really stood out. The views from the top were pretty cool as the entire heathland of Hanstholm Reserve opened up in front of us, once again showing how flat Jutland is.

The view to the west from Isbjerg showed us the expansive heathland that Hanstholm Reserve is known for.

Sure, if you're used to views from hikes in the Canadian Rockies or similar places, you might find the view a bit plain. But Denmark is very different in this regard, as we later confirmed by visiting Ejer Bavnehøj, the second highest point on the mainland.

Hanstholm Wildlife Reserve

A highlight of the Isbjerg hike was getting to see a small portion of Hanstholm Wildlife Reserve. Spanning 3,900 hectares, it protects the largest continuous dune heath in Europe (and North Atlantic) and is one of the most important parts of Thy National Park. This former seabed has dunes, heaths, swamps, marshes, and lakes, rare plants, and even various insect species.

Hanstholm Reserve is home to wildlife like red deer, ospreys, cranes, and sea eagles. But oddly enough, we didn't see any animals, which was surprising. It could've been the time of day or the fact that we were on the edge of the reserve. We didn't expect to see tons of deer or some huge flocks of startlings like we did during Black Sun tour, but we hoped for at least a few birds. Like I said, it was completely quiet.

Remember, the reserve is divided into three main protected areas with different access rules. The Isbjerg area is open all year with less strict regulations. A bit further west begins the second area (parallel to the western side of this trail), where access is prohibited between April and July due to breeding birds. The center of Hanstholm Reserve is off-limits all year round. You don't have to worry much since there are no marked trails in the restricted areas - just stick to the designated path.

Travel Insurance

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Heathland and Nors So Lake

After enjoying the views, we made our way back at a leisurely pace. This part was more scenic, with the open heathlands being pretty cool. We followed the trail, chatting about some of our hikes in Ireland, like Spinc Loop or Diamond Hill, which reminded us of this area (though without the mountains).

After a few minutes, we reached a wooden boardwalk with stairs that took us back to the main dirt road we arrived on. But before that, we enjoyed some amazing views from the top. Honestly, the views from here with Nors Sø in front of us were better than from Isbjerg since it felt like we were actually on a hill, and the lake added to the scene.

The views of Nors Sø lake from the Isbjerg trail were totally awesome.

We took the stairs, and then once back on the dirt road, we turned left and headed to our car. The whole hike was under 30 minutes, making it the perfect little adventure to explore more of Jutland's unique nature. If you find yourself in the area, Isbjerg is worth a visit, especially if you like simple hikes in national parks that are suitable for everyone.

It was getting pretty late in the afternoon, and we still had a stop or two to make. We were planning to see the sunset at Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse, but we also wanted to quickly stop by Bulbjerg Knude along the way. Anyway, we were glad we put Isbjerg on our Denmark itinerary. The scenery was pretty unique, and the trail was very easy and accessible.

Essential Tips for Isbjerg

Trailhead

The Isbjerg trailhead begins at the parking lot marked on Google Maps as P-plads ved Isbjerg (GPS coordinates: 57.04083, 8.61634).

When to Hike the Isbjerg Trail

We've talked about how Hanstholm Wildlife Reserve restricts access to certain areas, but Isbjerg isn't like that. You can hike the Isbjerg trail any time of the year. When we were there, the trail was well-maintained and dry, but hiking shoes would be better than sneakers after or during rain. It tends to get windy up here, so having a windbreaker in your daypack is a good idea.

Typically, the best times to hike Isbjerg in Hanstholm Wildlife Reserve are in the spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October). The weather is usually mild, and the area looks its best. Summer tends to be the busiest season, and winter is quiet but can be quite chilly.

The Isbjerg trail is beautiful no matter the season.

Entry Fee

No entry pass is required for Thy National Park, so you can enjoy the Isbjerg trail for free!

Accommodation

There are plenty of accommodation options within a short drive from Isbjerg. Hanstholm offers the popular Montra Hotel, a traditional holiday hotel with a pool only a few hundred meters from the coast. Another favorite spot is Klitmøller Hotel in the charming town of Klitmøller, nicknamed Cold Hawaii. For a more intimate countryside experience, B&B Langagergaard is a nice choice.

Travel Resources

Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.

Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.

Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.

We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.

Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.

Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.

Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.

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Hiking the Isbjerg Trail, Denmark