Five of the Best Hikes in Norway’s National Parks

Norway doesn’t mess around when it comes to hiking. Towering peaks, crystal-clear fjords, and wilderness that stretches beyond the horizon. This is where you come when you want landscapes that’ll make your jaw drop and trails that’ll push you.

Let’s break down five Norwegian national parks that’ll give you the adventure you’ve been craving.

Jotunheimen National Park

Known as the “Home of the Giants,” Jotunheimen is where Norway’s highest peaks meet those impossible shades of turquoise lakes. It’s hiking heaven, and you’ll know exactly why once you get there.

The Besseggen Ridge is the headline act, a ridge walk that’ll test your nerve with drops on both sides and reward you with views that make your legs forget they’re tired. Want to go bigger? Galdhøpiggen is Norway’s highest peak, and yes, you can climb it. Expect waterfalls, glaciers, and meadows that look like no one’s ever been there before.

Besseggen Ridge Stats:

• Distance: 14km
• Duration: 6-8 hours including breaks
• Difficulty: Challenging – you need scrambling confidence and a head for heights

Galdhøpiggen Stats:

• Distance: 11.6km round trip
• Duration: 6-8 hours
• Difficulty: Tough – high altitude and serious mountain terrain

Real talk: Our Norway Hiking and Yoga Adventure tackles this park head-on. You’ll get the full mountain experience plus yoga sessions to help your muscles recover. Because after a day scrambling over ridges, you’ll need it.

Lofotodden National Park

Coastal hiking with serious drama. The Lofoten Islands deliver jagged peaks rising straight from the sea, fishing villages tucked into impossible spots, and beaches that shouldn’t exist this far north.

Reinebringen is steep and unforgiving, but the summit views of red fishing huts against turquoise waters make every step worth it. For something less punishing but equally stunning, try the Munkebu Hut Trail where you might spot golden eagles circling above.

Reinebringen Stats:

• Distance: 3km
• Duration: 3-4 hours round trip
• Difficulty: Moderate – steep ascent but short distance

Munkebu Hut Trail Stats:

• Distance: 5.5km
• Duration: 7.5 hours round trip
• Difficulty: Moderate – longer but gentler terrain

These hikes combine dramatic mountain terrain with accessible trails for different fitness levels. The Lofoten Islands deliver coastal hiking unlike anywhere else in the world.

Rondane National Park

Norway’s first national park keeps things wild and quiet. This is where you go when you want trails without crowds and landscapes that feel truly remote. Rolling valleys, rugged peaks, and if you’re lucky, reindeer roaming free.

The Peer Gynt Hytta to Waterfall Canyon Loop gives you forest paths and canyon views without the tourist buses. For something gentler, the Spranget to Rondvassbu Trail lets you soak up the scenery at your own pace.

Peer Gynt Hytta to Waterfall Canyon Stats:

• Distance: 8.6km
• Duration: 3 hours
• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate – good for building confidence

Spranget to Rondvassbu Stats:

• Distance: 12km
• Duration: 3-4 hours
• Difficulty: Easy – perfect for enjoying the views

Pack binoculars as Rondane has some of the best reindeer spotting in Norway. It’s like being in your own wildlife documentary.

Hardangervidda National Park

Europe’s largest mountain plateau doesn’t do things by halves. Glacier hikes, gentle meadow trails, and everything in between. Something for every hiking appetite.

Trolltunga is the Instagram-famous rock formation jutting out over a fjord. Yes, it’s popular for a reason, those views are absolutely worth the hype and the effort. Want to avoid the crowds? The park has plenty of quieter trails and wild camping spots where you can have the landscape to yourself too.

Trolltunga Stats:

• Distance: 27km round trip
• Duration: 8-12 hours
• Difficulty: Tough – long distance, elevation gain, and technical terrain

Pack layers and expect weather changes. Mountain weather does what it wants, when it wants. That’s part of the adventure.

Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park

Dramatic peaks, endless valleys, and your chance to spot musk oxen in the wild. This park doesn’t get the same crowds as the others, which means more wilderness for you.

The Snøhetta Trail works for most fitness levels but still delivers summit views that’ll make you question why you ever stayed indoors.

Snøhetta Stats:

• Distance: 9.8km
• Duration: 8.5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate – achievable but still a full day out

Keep your camera handy. Between rare wildlife and landscapes that look like another planet, you’ll have plenty to fill your camera reel with.

Ready to Go?

Norway’s national parks deliver incredible hiking  opportunities throughout the country. Whether you’re drawn to the giants of Jotunheimen or the coastal drama of Lofoten, there’s a trail here that’ll challenge you in the best possible way.

If you want to tackle these mountains with women who get it, check out our Norway Hiking and Yoga Adventure. We’ll get you to the viewpoints, teach you the skills, and make sure you have the support to push yourself further than you thought possible.

If this all sounds great but you’ve never really hiked in the mountains before, take a look at our new Beginners Hiking and Yoga Adventure in Norway and take your first steps into more tricky and remote terrain.