3 short and fabulous multi-day treks; the easy way to hiking Norway in a nutshell!
Gjende boat approaching Memurubu mountain hut
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Are you thinking about a hiking trip in Norway this summer? Eager to put on those sturdy boots and strap on that backpack again, but can’t afford staying away for a week? Curious about the local hut to hut trekking traditions? Yet not sure where to start, what to expect, how much time you need, or how to get there?
Let yourself be inspired by these three fabulous treks that take you deep into the alpine landscapes of Norway. They are easy to plan, yet give you a true taste of local mountain hiking traditions and use public transport to get you to the trail head and back. Hiking is a national pastime in Norway and the country has a unique infrastructure to let you enjoy mountains safely, and (if you want) comfortably. And best of all: they do give you a real sense of having ‘earned’ your views. None of them is a walk in the park!
Three superb 3-day treks in Jotunheimen, Dovrefjell and Trollheimen. Hike all three and create your own Norway hiking in a nutshell itinerary! Happy, tired satisfaction virtually guaranteed!
delightful Gjendebu is one of the oldest mountain huts in Jotunheimen
visit the giants in Jotunheimen
data
Access: Bus from Oslo central bus station
Difficulty: Challenging due to exposed ridge section. Shorter lengths.
Length: 3 days
Total distance: 40.5km
Cabins: fully serviced in summer
what to expect
This three-day route is a great way to get acquainted with hiking in Norway’s arguably most alpine national park, Jotunheimen. It boasts the stunning walk of the Besseggen ridge, one of the most exhilarating and iconic hikes in Norway. It will almost guarantee to have you coming back for more.
The trek is also technically the easiest of the three presented here, and can be done by any hiker with a good level of fitness. If you are prone to vertigo though, then do check out information on the Besseggen ridge. It is an airy ridge that is only a few meters wide. Spectacular of course, but narrow in places.
My advice would be to start early on your westward journey from Gjendesheim to Memurubu. Chances are you will meet no more than a few people on the ridge, even on a beautiful summer day. (This hike is very popular with day hikers too, but they typically walk eastwards and arrive later.) Onwards and along Jotunheimen's two largest glacial lakes: Gjende, with the historic Gjendebu cabin, and then Bygdin lake, where the cabin at Fondsbu awaits you. You return by boat from here across the lake back to Bygdin town (or, alternatively, you could return from Gjendebu to Gjendesheim by boat over Gjende lake, making it a two-day adventure).
need to know
This is an easy hike to organise. In summer, the Valdresexpress bus from Oslo’s main bus terminal takes you to the front door of Gjendesheim, where the trek starts (and past Bygdin, where the trek ends). Book your cabins (see my Jotunheimen mountain hut information page), bus tickets on the Valdresexpress and the Bygdin boat and you are good to go. The three cabins used in this trek are all fully serviced in the summer, that means you can travel light and don’t need to lug around a tent or food. What’s not to like about this superb introduction to multi-day hiking!
Second, they are not difficult to get to, with Jotunheimen and Dovrefjell just a bus ride or train ride away from Oslo, and while Trollheimen is a little further, who wouldn’t want to get close up with a Troll’s head and eye!
Signpost in Trollheimen at the highest point of the first stage
Triple T: The Trollheimen Triangle
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Access: Train from Oslo to Otta, bus from Otta train station to Gjevilvasshytta
Difficulty: Challenging due to distance – long days
Length: 3 days
Total distance: 59km
Cabins: fully serviced in summer
what to expect
Norwegians often gather with their family or friends to go hiking together. Hiking is considered a great way to spend time in the outdoors and you will meet all kinds of groups at Trollheimshytta on this triangle route. Groups of childhood friends that meet once a year to hike, grandparents with their grandkids, a family with teenagers or students out for an active weekend. The Trollheimen Triangle makes for a perfect trek for all of them!
The breathtaking view from Skallen in Trollheimen is on many people's bucket list, while the second stage of this three-day trek can be scaled up or down depending on the group’s ability. There are three options with varying degree of difficulty. You can take the easier, but delightful valley route through Svårtedalen, traverse over Geithøtta peak, or take the Trollhøtta high traverse and come ‘eye to eye’, with the Troll’s Eye if you are a confident hiker without vertigo. And while the stages are long at almost 20km per day, at the end of each stage a large cosy mountain lodges await with good food, cosy common areas and comfortable rooms.
The Trollheimshytta cabin may charm you into staying a few extra days, whether it's for climbing Snota, picking berries, or simply relaxing by the river nearby. Trollheimen is known for its pristine, old growth Scots Pine forests, and serves as an important research ground. It’s no wonder that this destination is such a popular choice amongst Norwegian hikers! Join in and feel like a local on the Trollheimen Triangle route.
need to know
Getting to Trollheimen takes a little more planning. Just like for the treks in Jotunheimen and Dovrefjell there is public transport all the way to the start (and finish). A public bus services Gjevilvasshytta in summer, but it is not available every day of the week. Check out my guide ‘Hiking in Norway - South’, for all the relevant information on how to get there, route and stage descriptions, handy tips on equipment and what to expect on the trails, and of course go to my Trollheimen cabin practical information page to read up on the cabins and how to book them, if you want to book ahead.
smoking trout at Reinheim hut
Train anyone? Dovrefjell
data
Access: Train from Oslo to Kongsvoll
Difficulty: Challenging due to altitude, with risk of variable weather. Shorter lengths.
Length: 3 days
Total distance: 40km
Cabins: self-service and fully serviced
what to expect
Stepping off a train and having the chance to begin your journey right away is kind of cool, and it's even cooler when your trek involves scaling Norway's third-highest peak, Snøhetta, at 2286m! Welcome to Dovrefjell and Snøhetta. You can alight the train at Kongsvoll station and start your hike! The views from the top and down towards Åmotsdalen, when you descend towards some glacial lakes are truly spectacular. Regardless of how you approach the top of Snøhetta, you’ll have stunning views from every angle.
Due to this ascent, this route is the most challenging of the three described in this blog. 2286m might not sound that high if you have been hiking in other parts of the world. Keep in mind though that you are hiking at a far higher latitudes in Norway . Snøhetta lies at a latitude of 62.31N - that means it is colder here than at the same altitude in, for example, the Alps. Weather changes around mountains can happen fast and Snøhetta and the lesser peaks jut out of the Dovrefjell plateau. There is no other mountain to stop any weather fronts that approach. I have seen snow in August! So being prepared for this hike is important. Luckily the three mountain cabins in the area allow for some flexibility of planning, so you can take the weather forecast into account in planning your ascent.
Norwegians hold this National Park close to their hearts. It boasts one of the largest wild reindeer populations in Norway. Wolverines and the reintroduced musk ox thrive here too. You might come across some musk ox while hiking around Reinheim, but the wolverine is very shy.
need to know
Be aware of the reindeer calving season in early summer as parts of the Dovrefjell National Park might be closed for hikers then. My favourite time in Dovrefjell is at the end of the season towards autumn. You will find true nature lovers around Åmotdalshytta, fishermen and hunters as well as hikers. It makes for a unique mix of people and viewpoints on how we experience and view nature and its resources. With great wildlife and high mountains in Norway’s heartland this is a superb and challenging way for a unique hiking experience in Norway.
Don’t forget to check out practical information on Åmotdalshytta and the other cabins in Dovrefjell on the practical Norway page. And of course, the guidebook will give you information on each stage and how to plan this circular route.
And third, they are long enough to give you a true taste of hiking hut to hut, but as they have three stages only they give you plenty of options to explore more on your travels to Norway or of course combine them all for an epic adventure.
3x3 and you have a fantastic holiday
You can easily make a complete holiday out of these three options by combining them into one epic adventure. You would be hiking for nine days, plus needing a few days for transfers between destinations. In return you can very much experience a wide range of different alpine landscapes in Norway. Often when it comes to holidays in Norway, most people know two facts: it is a wonderful country to explore and it is a very expensive destination. If budgeting is on your mind, check out my blogpost on a real-life example for hiking in Norway in 2023.
need more reasons to plan your hiking holiday in Norway?
There are 20000+ reasons to keep hiking in Norway!
These 3 short treks are of course just a teaser of what Norway has to offer as a hiking destination. There are far, far more than 20,000km (these are just the marked trails in the country!) of good reasons why this country is so loved by hikers of all abilities and ages.
The three-day hikes, and many more are described in my book ‘Hiking in Norway - South’. You will find much more detailed information on each stage as well as all practical information to get going. Plus, of course longer multi-day treks, covering the best National Parks from Kristiansand in the South to Trondheim in the North.
Whether you want to challenge yourself because you've never hiked multiple days before, get a sense of what hiking in Norway is all about without spending too much time, or try it all - now is the time to start planning your trek to Norway. Happy hiking this summer!
