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Hard Hiking Trails in Norway

There are 181 hikes in Norway in our database that fit. They average 69.0 km and 1,508 m (4,948 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 1996 km.

That is 36 percent of the 506 routes we map in Norway. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 69.0 km against 28.9 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,508 m (4,948 ft) on average versus 635 m (2,083 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Expert

Flyktningeruta

Østmarka nasjonalpark · Akershus

Distance
34.3 km
/ 21.3 mi
Elevation gain
754 m
Typical duration
8 hr 51 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

LLC - Stage 8

Lofotodden nasjonalpark · Nordland

Distance
15.8 km
/ 9.8 mi
Elevation gain
349 m
Typical duration
3 hr 51 min
Hard

Signatur Massiv (Dag 1)

Breheimen nasjonalpark · Innlandet

Distance
24.1 km
/ 15.0 mi
Elevation gain
530 m
Typical duration
6 hr 5 min
Hard

Signatur Massiv (Dag 15)

Hardangervidda National Park · Vestland

Distance
20.2 km
/ 12.5 mi
Elevation gain
444 m
Typical duration
5 hr 1 min
Hard

Signatur Massiv (Dag 16)

Hardangervidda National Park · Vestland

Distance
24.8 km
/ 15.4 mi
Elevation gain
545 m
Typical duration
6 hr 16 min
Hard

Signatur Massiv (Dag 17)

Hardangervidda National Park · Vestland

Distance
16.4 km
/ 10.2 mi
Elevation gain
362 m
Typical duration
4 hr 1 min
Hard

Signatur Massiv (Dag 18)

Hardangervidda National Park · Telemark

Distance
21.3 km
/ 13.2 mi
Elevation gain
469 m
Typical duration
5 hr 20 min
Hard

Signatur Massiv (Dag 2)

Breheimen nasjonalpark · Innlandet

Distance
23.1 km
/ 14.3 mi
Elevation gain
508 m
Typical duration
5 hr 49 min
Hard

Signatur Massiv (Dag 5)

Jotunheimen nasjonalpark · Innlandet

Distance
23.1 km
/ 14.3 mi
Elevation gain
507 m
Typical duration
5 hr 48 min
Hard

Signatur Omveien (Dag 10)

Jotunheimen nasjonalpark · Innlandet

Distance
21.5 km
/ 13.4 mi
Elevation gain
473 m
Typical duration
5 hr 23 min
Hard

Signatur Omveien (Dag 11)

Jotunheimen nasjonalpark · Innlandet

Distance
15.6 km
/ 9.7 mi
Elevation gain
344 m
Typical duration
3 hr 48 min
Hard

Signatur Omveien (Dag 3)

Langsua nasjonalpark · Innlandet

Distance
17.3 km
/ 10.7 mi
Elevation gain
380 m
Typical duration
4 hr 14 min
Expert

Østerdalsleden

Innlandet · Norway

Distance
377 km
/ 234 mi
Elevation gain
8,294 m
Typical duration
101 hr
  • Mountain
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
Tveit, Kristiansand
Hard

Barnevandrerstien, del 6

Agder · Norway

Distance
32.6 km
/ 20.3 mi
Elevation gain
458 m
Typical duration
8 hr
  • Waymarked route
Expert

St. Olav's Path - The outer way

Trøndelag · Norway

Distance
86.5 km
/ 53.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,904 m
Typical duration
23 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Vestfoldveien

Akershus · Norway

Distance
143 km
/ 88.8 mi
Elevation gain
3,143 m
Typical duration
38 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Vestfoldveien (alternativ)

Akershus · Norway

Distance
128 km
/ 79.5 mi
Elevation gain
2,815 m
Typical duration
34 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Kongeveien over Dovre

Dovre nasjonalpark · Innlandet

Distance
17.0 km
/ 10.6 mi
Elevation gain
375 m
Typical duration
4 hr 10 min
Hard

Piilola Trail

Vätsärin erämaa-alue · Finnmark

Distance
31.3 km
/ 19.5 mi
Elevation gain
689 m
Typical duration
8 hr 3 min
Hard

Signatur Omveien (Dag 5)

Langsua nasjonalpark · Innlandet

Distance
16.3 km
/ 10.1 mi
Elevation gain
359 m
Typical duration
3 hr 59 min
Grimstad library, Grimstad, Norway.
Expert

Kyststien i Grimstad

Agder · Norway

Distance
79.5 km
/ 49.4 mi
Elevation gain
269 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

West Värmland Pilgrimage Route

Innlandet · Norway

Distance
210 km
/ 131 mi
Elevation gain
4,624 m
Typical duration
56 hr
  • Mountain
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
European Long distance path E1 - Norway, FinnmarkStabbursdalen nasjonalpark348 km7,654 m93 hrExpertJune to October
Nordkalottruta Etapp 16: Dærtahytta - DividalshyttaØvre Dividal National Park23.6 km519 m5 hr 57 minHardJune to October
Nordkalottruta Etapp 17: Dividalshytta - VuomahyttaØvre Dividal National Park18.4 km404 m4 hr 32 minHardJune to October
Nordkalottruta Etapp 3: Ráisjávrihytta - NedrefosshyttaReisa National Park29.1 km641 m7 hr 27 minHardJune to October
Nordkalottruta Etapp 4: Nedrefosshytta - SaraelvReisa National Park25.4 km558 m6 hr 26 minHardJune to October
FlyktningerutaØstmarka nasjonalpark34.3 km754 m8 hr 51 minExpertJune to October
LLC - Stage 8Lofotodden nasjonalpark15.8 km349 m3 hr 51 minHardJune to October
Signatur Massiv (Dag 1)Breheimen nasjonalpark24.1 km530 m6 hr 5 minHardJune to October
Signatur Massiv (Dag 15)Hardangervidda National Park20.2 km444 m5 hr 1 minHardJune to October
Signatur Massiv (Dag 16)Hardangervidda National Park24.8 km545 m6 hr 16 minHardJune to October

If you only have time for one, start with European Long distance path E1 - Norway, Finnmark, Nordkalottruta Etapp 16: Dærtahytta - Dividalshytta, Nordkalottruta Etapp 17: Dividalshytta - Vuomahytta. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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