Hardangervidda National Park

Hiking trips in Hardangervidda National Park

Hardangervidda offers fantastic hiking opportunities both in summer and winter. While you are free to explore Hardangervidda, it’s recommended to stick to marked trails. The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) maintains trails leading to seven staffed and five self-service mountain cabins within the national park. If you plan to hike from cabin to cabin, it’s advisable to check opening times and book accommodations in advance. Staffed cabins offer delicious homemade meals, while the self-service cabins provide a good selection of food items such as crispbread, spreads, and ready-made meals.

DNT cabins are available to everyone, but for cabins without staff, at least one member of your group must be a DNT member to rent the special DNT key (available at the Tourist Information in Geilo). Whether you’re hiking between cabins or camping, it’s crucial to bring a map and compass and know how to use them. Be aware that mountain weather can change rapidly, mobile coverage may be limited, so carry first aid supplies and inform someone of your plans.

Summer Hiking Suggestions

Family-Friendly Hikes in Hardangervidda National Park

Hardangervidda also offers shorter day hikes suitable for families, with some starting points in Geilo town center. For an easier start, you can take the summer lift. For other hikes, you might need a car or public transportation.

Tunga Bru is a suspension bridge over Numedalslågen. The hike to the bridge is easy, with a few short, steep sections manageable even for small children. It’s about 1.5 km from the parking lot to the bridge. Walking across the bridge, which sways over the waterfall and gorge, is exciting. During spring floods, you might even get a splash of water.

Hotel California is a small cabin perched on top of Glitreberget in Dagali. Here you’ll enjoy 360-degree views of Hardangervidda, Hallingskarvet, and Numedal. The cabin is open year-round, and you can sit indoors at tables and benches or outside in the sun. Inside, you’ll find pictures of other Hotel California locations from around the world.

Skjerja is one of the most famous fishing lakes in Geilo. It’s about an hour’s walk from Tuva Turisthytte. Combine a wonderful mountain hike with a fishing trip. Even if you don’t catch any fish, you’re guaranteed fresh mountain air and beautiful views. End your hike with the famous waffles at Tuva.

More hiking suggestions in summer

Hiking Map of Hardangervidda National Park

Ut.no provides an extensive interactive map offering a clear overview of hiking areas, huts, summer and winter trails, cycling routes, and more, both within and around Hardangervidda.

Hiking map at ut.no

Experiences on Hardangervidda

Humans have traversed Hardangervidda for over 8000 years, and you can still see many ancient traces of old pathways, hunting sites, settlements, summer farms, and shelters. In addition to its historical significance, Hardangervidda offers many exciting modern experiences.

Vøringsfossen is one of Norway's most famous waterfalls, with an impressive drop of 182 meters cascading from the Hardangervidda plateau into Måbødalen. The area is well-equipped to allow visitors to view the waterfall from both above and below, offering stunning perspectives from every angle. Hardangervidda presents a range of spectacular natural experiences. From Geilo, the road gradually ascends to the plateau, winding across the vast, open expanses before becoming narrower, steeper, and more winding as it descends into Måbødalen and Vøringsfossen, eventually reaching the small village of Eidfjord at the end of Hardangerfjord.

Rallarvegen is often regarded as Norway's most beautiful cycling route. This 82 km path stretches from Haugastøl in the east to Flåm in the west, providing a unique journey through breathtaking landscapes, cultural heritage, and historic sites. Whether you cycle Rallarvegen or stay at Finse, it’s worth visiting the Rallar museum in Østre Lokstall. Here, you can explore exhibits and photographs documenting the construction of the railway from 1894 to 1909.

Halnekongen offers boat transport from Halne Fjellstugu (located by rv 7) 13 km into Hardangervidda. This provides an excellent starting point for exploring the national park. The nearest DNT cabins, Heinseter and Rauhelleren, are popular spots for overnight stays before continuing further into the plateau or returning to Halne Fjellstugu.

In winter, Hardangervidda is exceptionally beautiful on sunny days, with a snow-covered landscape sparkling in the sunlight. You can use snowshoes or skis on Hardangervidda during winter. There are marked trails from cabin to cabin and opportunities to create your own path on cross-country skis. Check the interactive map on ut.no for an overview of cross-country trails and both staffed and unstaffed cabins on Hardangervidda.

Fishing on Hardangervidda

Some of the waters on the eastern side of Hardangervidda are managed by the Geilo Hunter and Fishermen's Association (GJFF). Fishing permits can be purchased at the Tourist Information Office and sports stores in Geilo town center, as well as at most tourist cabins. There are also several private fishing waters; permits for these can often be bought at the nearest tourist cabin or through inatur. For more information about fishing in Geilo, visit fishing in Geilo

National Park Centers for Hardangervidda

Hardangervidda has two national park centers:

Hardangervidda National Park Center at Skinnarbu in Tinn - Here you’ll find a prize-winning interactive exhibit about nature and wild reindeer, featuring 22 installations. The center also offers a mini-cinema with short films by Arne Nævra and a French cave exhibit with original tools made from reindeer bones over 17,000 years ago. Enjoy panoramic views from the café. The center is open year-round.

Hardangervidda visitor centre in Eidfjord - This modern center provides an in-depth look into Norwegian nature, climate, and environment and serves as an authorized visitor center for Hardangervidda National Park. Highlights include the spectacular panoramic film "Fjord Fjell Foss," directed by Ivo Caprino, and a three-story exhibition featuring interactive stations, rocks, fossils, an aquarium, and illustrations. The center also has a restaurant serving local cuisine and is open from April to the end of October.

Additionally, at Skinnarbu, you’ll find the Norsk Villreinsenter Sør. This foundation is dedicated to the conservation and sustainable management of wild reindeer populations and the reindeer mountains in Norway.

Flora and Fauna in Hardangervidda National Park

Hardangervidda is considered the southernmost point for several Arctic animal and plant species, notably the snowy owl and the Arctic fox. The Arctic fox was nearly driven to extinction in the early 20th century due to hunting for its fur but has been protected since 1930. However, maintaining a stable population of Arctic foxes in Hardangervidda remains challenging, partly due to the increasing population of red foxes. The Arctic fox population typically rebounds only every fourth or fifth lemming year.

The national park is also home to a rich array of wildlife, including golden eagles, moose, peregrine falcons, reindeer, and beavers. Although wolverines do roam along the national park routes, they are not known to reside there permanently. For birdwatchers, the quieter, less-traveled trails offer the peace needed to spot birds and wildlife. The areas around Sandhaug and Tinnhølen are particularly renowned for their diverse birdlife, and there are also excellent birdwatching opportunities near Tuva Turisthytte.

The reindeer herd in Hardangervidda is the largest in Europe, and one of the primary purposes of establishing the national park was to protect these crucial habitats for reindeer. The park provides vast, unobstructed areas for reindeer to roam freely. In addition to the modern reindeer, remnants of the original European mountain reindeer can still be found.

Hardangervidda is also famous for its numerous lakes and waterways. What is unique about this large area is the distribution of fish species: in the west and north, trout dominates the many calcareous, shallow lakes, while in the east and south, there are larger populations of char.

And don’t worry—there are no dangerous animals on Hardangervidda. The wildlife here is generally shy around humans!

Accommodations Near Hardangervidda National Park

Halne Fjellstugu - Located along Highway 7, near the entrance to Hardangervidda National Park, Halne Fjellstugu offers cozy lodging, exciting activities, and delicious homemade meals. It is a popular choice for hikers seeking a comfortable base before or after exploring the national park.

Haugastøl - This family-run hotel is situated at the foot of both Hardangervidda and Hallingskarvet National Parks. Haugastøl provides modern apartments, breakfast, and dinner, as well as a coffee bar, bicycle shop, and bike rentals. Additionally, they offer conference and meeting facilities, making it a convenient starting point for exploring the area.

Tuva Turisthytte - One of the oldest privately-owned tourist cabins on Hardangervidda, Tuva Turisthytte is managed by the fourth-generation hosts, Mailiza and Sigbjørn. The cabin offers delicious meals and overnight stays in picturesque surroundings. Tuva is particularly renowned for its waffles, baked from a secret recipe that has been passed down through three generations.

Finse 1222 - Located at the highest point of the Bergen Railway at 1222 meters above sea level, Finse 1222 is accessible only by train or bicycle. The hotel features 45 comfortable rooms and a restaurant that serves dishes made from Nordic ingredients. Finse is also the starting point for one of Norway's most scenic bike routes, the Rallarvegen.

Torsetlia Fjellstue og Hyttegrend - Situated 30 km from Geilo town center, Torsetlia Fjellstue and Hyttegrend is in the heart of a paradise for hiking and fishing enthusiasts on Hardangervidda. It offers accommodations, dinner, lunch, and café services.

Hakkesetstølen Fjellstugu og Hytter - A charming mountain lodge providing all necessary amenities, Hakkesetstølen is perfectly positioned in the heart of the mountains. It serves as an excellent base for day trips or those wishing to hike between cabins on Hardangervidda. Hakkesetstølen is known for its traditional food and homemade baked goods.

The History of Hardangervidda

Human presence on Hardangervidda dates back to the end of the last Ice Age, when reindeer also settled in the area. Around 250 Stone Age sites have been discovered on the plateau, with the oldest dating to approximately 6300 BCE. A notable find is a skin lodge from around 5600 BCE near Finnsbergvannet, 12 km southeast of Finse, where reindeer once passed through. It is believed that people moved their dwellings in accordance with the reindeer herds' migrations. Many of these sites are located at bottlenecks in the terrain where the reindeer herds were concentrated, often near lakes and water sources.

The plateau is also rich in remains of hunting sites and animal graves. Early inhabitants primarily hunted reindeer and grouse with bows and arrows, but there are also found bone remains of moose.

One of the oldest and most famous travel routes on Hardangervidda is Nordmannsslepa, stretching from Veggli in Numedal to Eidfjord, with connections to Hol and Uvdal. These ancient routes were crucial links between Eastern and Western Norway, and several place names on the plateau indicate former trading posts, including places for salt trade.

Hardangervidda has also been a significant source of iron. At Møsvatnet, remains of iron smelting can be found at 1,400 different sites. Iron was extracted from the bogs, and this activity continued until the mid-14th century.

In the Middle Ages, extensive dairy farming took place on Hardangervidda, where farmers from the valleys brought their livestock up for summer grazing. Hunting continued as well, and at Sumtangen, two cabins from this period still stand. Here, you can find piles of reindeer bones dating back to the 1300s. The use of these sites is believed to have ceased after the Black Death but was later used as trapping sites in modern times. Today, there are still 50,000-60,000 sheep grazing on Hardangervidda during the summer.

The old hunting and fishing cabins, dairies, and summer farms on the plateau serve as reminders of a time when Hardangervidda's resources were vital for survival.