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A Small Guide to Hiking in Norway by Erik Haaland

TrodlaTysdal mountain farm (Photo: Erik Haaland)
TrodlaTysdal mountain farm (Photo: Erik Haaland)

Norway – the land of fjords and mountains. I am lucky to live here and try to enjoy our natural environment to the fullest by hiking as much as possible. And if you want to hike in Norway, I will try to give you a little info on where to start and what to do.

The Norwegian Trekking Organization

Founded in 1868, Norway’s largest outdoor organization, The Norwegian Trekking Organization (DNT) has more than 240,000 members in 57 local member “chapters” across the country, from Kristiansand in the south to the North Cape in the north. These local chapters operate cabins, mark routes and arrange trips, tours (more than 4000 each year) and different courses so there is something for everyone, at all ages. They have senior, junior and childrens groups as well.

Boersteinen self-service cabin during winter. (Photo: Stavanger Trekking)
Boersteinen self-service cabin during winter. (Photo: Stavanger Trekking)

Ut.no

DNT has a website called www.Ut.no. Here you will find all the info you would need to plan a trip in the area of Norway you would like to hike (route, cabin info etc. etc.) . Google Translate should work, and the site is pretty straightforward to navigate in, giving you a map with suggested routes, areas to hike in, cabins as well as the difficulty level of the route. The cabins are spread around all of Norway and are, for the most part self-service, in which you pay a small fee. So if you are not into tenting and would like a little more comfort, it is both convenient as well as cheap. They are also usually stocked with some food so if you do not have your own, you pay for what you use. Many people in Norway plan hikes over several days going from cabin to cabin.

 ut.no smartphone app
ut.no smartphone app

Now, the good folks at ut.no have been smart enough to also put their website in an app for smartphones. With this app you can get driving directions to the start of a route, as well as a map that can be used for navigation. Or you can let the app search for routes near your location. Unfortunately it is only in Norwegian but I believe they are in the process of updating this (don’t hold me to it though!).

Guided Hike (Photo: Sindre Thoresen Lønnes/DNT)
Guided Hike (Photo: Sindre Thoresen Lønnes/DNT)

Guided hikes

All the local DNT chapters also arrange many guided trips, all from simple day trips to ones that run over several days. My local chapter is the Stavanger Trekking Association and a click on their page gives me all their upcoming and planned activities. As a “tourist” you are welcome to join in!

Hiking up to Fannafjellet
Hiking up to Fannafjellet (Photo: Erik Haaland)

More Information

I will be happy to help any of you that are considering hiking in Norway. Send me an email to post (at) norhiker.com and I will to try and answer any questions you might have.

About Erik Haaland

Erik Haaland lives in the coastal town of southwest Norway called Stavanger. Married with two children, he works in the drilling industry and tries to hike every weekend. You can follow his adventures at his hiking blog, www.norhiker.com

Written 2013.

21 comments

  1. You are sowing my seeds of discontent! Another life list hiking destination.

  2. Yes, Norway is on my list for sure. We’re hoping to add walking holidays to Norway to our website as well soon.

  3. I live in the Netherlands and have been in Norway a couple of times. One of the most beautiful countries for “outdoor” and really really nice people. Everybody speaks English so that makes things much easier. You can easily go unguided, but conditions can be really harsh. So prepare for all conditions. One thing to remember…It ain’t a cheap country.

  4. I like the idea of pre-provisioned huts. What kind of food to they have and how expensive is it to buy? I assume payment is based on the honor system, but how does it work?

  5. Hi!

    There are two main types of cabins. Fully staffed or no-catered self-service.

    For info on the fully staffed; https://www2.turistforeningen.no/files/DNT-Oslo/PriserEngelsk2013_print.pdf

    Prizes quoted are in Norwegian “Krone” (10 NOK is about US $1.72)

    For the no-catering selfservice cabins, which there are the most of, the food is sold at whatever they buy it in for more or less. It is your basic spreads, jams and crisp bread, sometimes soups, butter and juice for dilution.

    Also, if you do not have any money with you there is always the possibility to pay with a credit card. Either way (cash or card) you fill out a form with info about your type of stay (day or overnight, with/without food) and drop this in the safe in the cabin.

    You can also google translate the following cabin guide (with video in Norwegian also):

    https://www.turistforeningen.no/hytteguide/

    Erik

  6. Hiking in Norway is every hikers dream, almost. You can walk anywhere you like (not in gardens or farmed fields), you can camp anywhere you like (as long as you are at least 150 meters away from any house), and the water is drinkable without any need of purification.

    Hiking in Norway is expensive. Norwegians have high wages, so the price of everything is tuned to that fact. A liter of milk is about 2 dollars, half a liter of beer is about 7 in the shop, double that if you are in a restaurant. If you plan to make a longer hikingtrip, bring your own gear, and your own freezedried food (check for tollclearence and rules for import of food).

    The times given for walking paths on the pages Erik referes to, are based on steady walking at 3,5 km/hour without breaks. The real time you use will be longer. You should also always have clothes with you (when on multidaytrips in the mountains) that can handle tempratures down to freezing (O C)even in high summer. Also know your map and compass skills.

    If you use the huts, you are expected to take part in the chores like washing up, cleaning the place before you leave etc.. In fully staffed and self-service huts you will only have to bring a liner for sleeping, no sleepingbag is required.

    Be openminded and ask for help, and you shall get it! Pick the right spot and you can be alone for days in a row, no sound apart from what nature gives you and an amazing landscape.

    Welcome!

    P.s. (please excuse my spelling, I don’t usually write in english)

  7. Excellent additional info Ole – Thanks!

  8. Great guide, Erik! Norway is a must-visit destination for hiking. Are there any long distance trails similar to America’s Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail?

  9. There are a few trails…

    St. Olavs ways, a pilgrimsroute from the middle ages from Oslo to Trondheim https://pilegrimsleden.no/en/
    The Rondane path from Oslo to Rondane https://ut.no/tur/rondanestien
    The Jotunheimen path from Oslo to Jotunheimen https://ut.no/tur/jotunheimstien

    and the real big one, Norway from the southernmost point Lindesnes to the northermost point Nordkapp (Cape North) or Kinnarodden
    (Kinnarodden on Norkyn is the northermost point of the European mainland but as wikipedia points out “Nordkapp is, however, the northernmost point to which one can drive a car.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordkapp)

    Willem has a great tripreport here https://transscandinavia.wordpress.com/trip-report/

    James Baxter did a two way trip and skied from Lindenes to Kinnarodden, then biked to the russian border
    and kayaked back down the Norwegian coast to Oslo https://www.skipaddlenorway.com/

  10. Hey! thank you so much for the information.

    Small question, is it possible to rent gear in oslo? my girlfriend needs a down sleeping bag.

    Thanks,

    Guy

  11. Hi
    I live in stavanger and would love to do one of the hikes with my family this summer where you stay over in a fully staffed hytte. I’m finding the website you mentioned hard to navigate in English. Is there any information you could give me?
    Thanks

  12. Hi Rebecca! If you go to https://ut.no/kart/ you will se the different cabin icons on the map there. The ones that are fully staffed by the Norwegian Trekking Association are marked with a full red cabin icon, the ones that are fully staffed by a privately owned company are marked with a full blue icon. Hope this helps! If not, please email me directly at erikhaal (at) gmail.com

  13. Hello Erik- We are so looking forward to our first visit to Norway this summer. My husband and I are experienced backpackers. We will hike in the Ryfylkeheiane area. Our 5 nights will be at huts: Langavatn, Borsteinen, Grautheller, Nilsebu and Viglesdalen. Are there any side trips worth adding on to this hike? We have maybe an extra day or so. Is there a side hike worth incorporating? We will head back to Stavanger and then drive to Bergen at some point. Not sure if we should take the fjord route or Harrdangervidda route. (we’d like to bike the road near Flam that parallels the train 50 miles or so)
    BIggest question is about any side trips you would recommend.

    Thank you

  14. Hello Stacy!

    You seem to have researched a fantastic trip already :-) I would go from Viglesdalen to Trodla-Tysdal if you have the chance, there is a fjord there called “Øvre Tysdalsvannet” which is amazing. Other sidetrips in this particular area I am unsure if you will have the time to do.

    If you are going to bike the Rallarvegen bike road AND do the Flåmsbanen railway you are in for what must be one of the best trips possible and is truly getting Norway in a nutshell. All that is missing is the Lofoten area. Going up to Flåm, I suggest driving the scenic Hardangervidda route, it is much nicer.

    When do you plan to do the trip? I might meet up with you at one of your Ryfylke cabin stays.

    Feel free to email me directly also, erikhaal at gmail.com.

    Erik

  15. Hi Erik –

    You have a great website!
    I’m spending about 10 days in August between Oslo and Bergen with my wife and 2 daughters (12 and 14). We’re looking for a great, not too hard 3 day hike that starts / stops at a train station. We’re tentatively thinking about starting in Finse, but would consider anything you might think would be interesting.

    Thanks!!

    Brian

  16. Brian, thanks for the kind words! Please email me directly for feedback to your question :-) erikhaal (a) gmail.com

  17. Hi Erik,
    Headed to northern Norway next week (backpacks in the Lofotens, Senya, etc) and just wanted to confirm that I can leave my water filter here in California per Ole’s post. I get a bit concerned when I see sheep on many of the trail photos that I have seen from that area.
    Thanks,
    Dave

  18. Hi Erik
    My friend and I er planning er trip to Norway this summer. Our plan so far is:
    Day 1: arrival to Stavanger and transport to Preikestolen
    Day 2: Hike Preikestolen and transport to Kjerag.
    Day 3: Hike Kjerag.
    Day 4: Transport to Trolltunga and rest.
    Day 5: Hike Trolltunga
    Day 6: Transport to Bergen and go home to Denmark.

    My questions are:

    1. Is this plan realistic?
    2. We are on a low budget so we are considering sleeping in a tent? Is this a good choice or would you rather recommend the cabins that you talk about? We would also like to meet other young hikers and people. Is this possible if we chose tent?

  19. Hi Erik!

    My family is visiting Norway this summer for the first time, and we will be hiking trolltunga and kjerag. We were wondering what the situation is with drinking water? (Sorry we’re new to this) will there be streams on the way with drinkable water? Thank you!

    Jin

  20. Erik Hi,

    First thanks for the information on this page it’s very useful.

    We’re planning our first visit to Norway for July this year.
    We’re planning a three weeks trip with our two kids, 15 and 10, that are used to walk.

    We thought starting at Hardangervidda going from Haugastol to Myrdal following the path suggested at https://www.ut.no/kart/?lat=60.5059013612141&lng=7.84478136604845&zoom=15&ao=2.19857.

    Thus we have some practical questions that we couldn’t find answer for.
    1. Do we need a guide if we want to see the hardanger glacier? If we do, where can we hire one?
    2. According to UT site there’s only few cabin on route, it seems they are located at a reasonable distance for our expected pace however can we and do we need to book places ahead? if we can’t should it be safer to bring camping stuff in case there is no room for us?
    3. We also consider an alternative path going from Finse to Trolltunga. Is it realistic to do it in 7-8 days? Are they enough cabin on route? and can we return to Bergen via public transportation from there?

    Thanks in advance for any help,
    Oren

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