The 6 best hikes in Norway – Canada Media Market

Hiking in Norway, right? Sweet potato, you’ve got something tasty ahead of you. But hey, where are you going? There are loads of nice hikes in Norway where you can have perfect overviews of fjords, mountains and an incredible wildlife. Many parts of Norway’s wildlife have actually become protected national parks in the past 20 years, allowing Musk Ox, wolves and reindeers to roam massive areas for new vegetation to feed on. The global warming issue is slowly ruining the wildlife of Norway, turning big snow plateaus (with unique animal life) into regular forests, which there already are plenty of in Scandinavia. If you plan on going for a long hike in Norway, Hardangervidda is a very good choice since it will probably be something completely different in 20 years from now.

Besseggen Ridge

The best part of the hike is the view at the Besseggen Ridge. More than 30,000 hikers complete this journey during the season every year and the cool part is that the season is only active between the end of June to mid-September. That’s an average of 375 hikers per day, an impressive number for such a small hiking trip. The complete hiking trip takes roughly 6-7 hours of walking time, so the time-frame of 6-7 hours can be reached if you are fit to walk from the first minute to last. There are some spots that are quite steep, so try to wear good shoes with solid soles to fight the friction against your feet.

Dovrefjell

Dovrefjell is an area that covers mountains, 2 national parks and the majestic Musk ox! This place is more than a hiking route, you can hike up the Snøhetta mountain if you happen to pass by. Snøhetta offers great views at 2286 meters above sea level and provides great skiing opportunities as well as hiking trips. Dovre National park was established in 2003 and covers an area of 289 square kilometres while the Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National park covers 1693 square kilometres! The Musk Ox can be seen in the Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National park but please keep in mind that, although it looks like a hairy cow, can kill you in an instant if you manage to make it upset. Be respectful and calm in nature, do not stress animals for any reason.

Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen)

Preikestolen is the Norwegian name for the Pulpit Rock, it translates to “the chair of preaching”. The hike up to the Pulpit Rock is 3.8 kilometres long on a map but the hike also elevates 334 metres upwards. It takes around 2 hours to walk this hike (one-way) but it’s definitely worth the walk. You’ll walk out on a magnificent cliff out over the Lysefjorden. This fjord got its name from being “small” in the eyes of Norwegians, but the view of the fjord is in fact almost unbeatable from the Pulpit Rock, “the chair for preaching”. This beautiful site of nature is located in the south-west parts of Norway, south of Bergen. Lysebotn is the name of the village where “the chair of preaching” can be found, the village doesn’t have a school anymore but they still have their church.

Keipen

This is a shorter hiking trip but it offers some of the best views you can imagine. This hike is perfect for newbies and for those who (for whatever reason) are unable to hike for more than a day. I’d like to recommend you to bring some snacks and other semi-camping stuffs with you since you’ll have plenty of time to chill out at the top after the 1-hour hike. Getting down is just as quick so this is a great option for those who have cravings for a day out in nature. Walking and breathing fresh air is a great feeling for someone from the city but to be honest, the view is what makes this hike so amazing.

Hardangervidda

This is an area which is empty on trees and many plants, the 2 most common things around the Hardangervidda to see are snow and rocks. It is a huge plateau which is bigger than 10,000 square kilometres and is a habitat of a diverse range of animals. You can hike many various routes here on the Hardangervidda, the longest one takes up to 12-15 days to complete and is a renowned hiking trail since very few people actually completed it. By being proactive, you can easily make a custom hike wherever you see fit around the Hardangervidda. Just make sure to bring comfortable shoes & clothes, food and something to keep you warm and dry during the nights such as a tent or tarp & rope. You can hike the Hardangervidda for 2 days and more, just make sure to go prepared to the extent that you can remain self-sufficient throughout the hike.

Galdhøpiggen

Last but far from least is Norway’s biggest mountain, climbing 2469 metres high above sea level! The name basically translates to “the super high & slippery mountain”. To hike up and down this massive mountain, you need to spend roughly 5-6 hours of hiking and crossing a glacier where a guide is required to pass the glacier. There is however an alternative, you can actually hike Galdhøpiggen from Spiterstulen lodge in Visdalen without crossing the glacier – allowing you to hike all the way up without renting a guide to you (and your friends). The mountain also offers the highest ski resort experience in the whole Scandinavia.