h2g2 - The top 10 hikes in Norway

If we disregard Nordkapp, Holmenkollen, The Lofoten Wall and Monolitten in the Vigeland park, Norways most famous touristic assets are the fjords and mountains. Norwegians love to tell everbody about how we are sons and daugthers of the nature and spend more time in the wild life than in our living room. Well, that is not entirly true, in fact only a few have really good knowledge of the fjord kingdom or the mountains. For the record, I am not among the few, I belong to the former category, but as favor to my self and everybody that enjoy hiking I have enclosed the following top 10 mountain tracks in Norway submitted by the Norwegian Tourist Association.

1: Mørkerisdalen, Jotunheimen
The incredible trollish mood in Mørkerisdalen is just awesome. The area is untouched and makes you feel in synch with the nature. You will find Morkerisdalen in Jotunheimen. The recommended route commence at Arentzbu and terminate at Skjolden.

2: Aurlandsdalen, Skarvheimen
One of the areas in mountain Norway which offer the greatest variety. The most beautiful leg you will find between Osterbo to Vassbygd. This track takes you through a long valley where the path is broken out of the mountain. It is both unaccessible and facinating at the same time. The cultural landscape is also unique as you go you will get an impression on how life was in the mountains of Norway ages ago.

This is one of the most popular tracks in Norway. If you wish you can walk the whole way from Finse to Vassbygd, or choose the shortest route from Osterbo to Vassbygd, which takes approx. 6 hrs. Worth mentioning is the famous Nesbogalgen and the steep descent from Bjornestigsvarden. If you have problem with heights there is an alternative route down.

3: Slogen, Sunnmørsalpene
This area is quite unique in Norway (it is also my personal favourite okay maybe I am a bit biased since it is also my home county). You will have the possibilities to walk between some of the sharpest peaks in the country. The track from Stranda to the Patchellhytta (the Parchell cabin) is probably the most popular one. The most beautiful peak in the alps, called Slogen, can easily be reached from the cabin. The view from the top is just awesome (if you are lucky with the weather I must add, it is raining quite often in the area). The trip from Stranda to the Pachellhytte takes approx. 4 hrs and takes you through a fascinating landscape encircled by the peaks Storhornet, Leirvasshornet, Smorskredtindane (on the one side), Dalmannshornet, Bolten and Brekktind (on the other side).

4: Stavali til Kinsarvik, Hardangervidda
This track takes you alongside the Kinsarvikvassdrag (the Kinsarvik watercourse) and it is probably one of the most untouched valleys on the west-coast. The track takes you from Stavali to Kinsarvik and you should expect to use at least 6 hrs on the walk. Worth mentioning are the waterfalls Sotefoss, Nykjesfoss and Nyastolfoss. In the area there is also a 13th hundred century stone church. Kinsarvikvassdraget is now fortunately preserved against hydro-power development .

5: Katterat stasjon til Cunojavrrehytta, Narvikfjellene
High mountains, nice cabins and beautiful scenery (when the weather allows it). This is up north in Norway and the track goes from Katterat station to Cunojavrrehytta (cabin) and takes about 8 hrs. Follow the construction road from the station to Passmyra, wade across the river and continue in to the Djevlepasset (the Devils pass) and further up to Oalavàggì along Sealgajohka to Cunojavrrehytta. The area is featured by ore mining and the belonging roads (rallarvei). The landscape has great mountain formations, with beautiful peaks and the glaciers makes a sharp contrast to the more greenish valleys.

6: Preikestolen, Ryfylke
Preikestolen (the Pulpit) is quite unique and one of the most used images on post cards from the Norwegian mountains. As you get closer to the edge you will feel the gravity suddenly increase forcing you down on your knees and the last cm you probably will crawl until you carefully pop your head over the edge and look down on the Lysefjord 600m below. The trip up to Preikestolen takes you 1½ hr from Preikestolhytta (cabin).

7: Besseggen, Jotunheimen
More than 30.000 people walk this track every year. Hence, it is definitely worth a visit. The track takes you along a sharp edge whilst you look down on two glacier lakes below. Gjende and Besseggenvannet. One is green the other one is black. The hike commence at Gjendesheim and terminate at Memurubu approx. 6 hrs. later. The track is breathtaking but for the record, if you are afraid of heights, maybe you should choose another hike on the list. Expect to meet a lot of people tough.

8: Lyngsalpene, Troms
We are back in the north of Norway. This a nice place for day trips. The area is surrounded by big and beautiful mountains and it is just to pick one of them. I.e. Steindalen, Fastdalen, Strupskaret and Reindalen. The most predominant peaks in the area is Jiehkkevarri, of many, claimed as the most beautiful peak in Norway.

9: Gjevilvasshytta til Trollheimshytta, Trollheimen
Trollheimen is located in the middle of Norway and has beautiful mountains and an impresing culture landscape. It is perhaps not as astonishing as the Lyngsalpene, but it is easier to access. The track takes you from Gjevilvasshytta (cabin) to Trollheimshytta (cabin) and you should estimate approx. 8 hrs. for the trip. The area is most famous for the rich fauna due to the calcium in the surface.

10: Stabbursdalen Nasjonalpark, Finnmark
The best pick in Finnmark, the northen most of all the counties in Norway. Stabbursdalen is a national park in the biggest mountain plateau of Norway. The nature is quite different from the other tracks on the list since the altitude is low. Here is great fauna and animal life. Amongst other, eagles and reindeers. A recommended hike goes between Okselv and Bastinjavrri and between Batinjavrri and Snekkernes


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