Mountain Hikes
Welcome to Oldedalen
the most adventurous hiking valley in Norway
Norwegians are known as avid hikers, and for good reason. Do you want to experience the beautiful Norwegian nature from above? We made a short guide of all the best trails in the valley. Have a look!
Briksdalen
Brenndalen
Gytridalen
Oldeskaret
Kattanakken
Flatsteinbu
Klovane
Easier Hikes
Briksdalen
Round trip: 2h 00m
Challenge: ●○○○○
Voted one of the best attractions in the world by "Dream World Cruise Destinations" in 2010. On the list of the eight best attractions in the world, we find Briksdalsbreen Glacier. The announcement says that the eight who have received the award have the best combination of products, friendly, professional staff, and an effective organization.
Briksdalsbreen is one of the most visited nature attractions in Norway, with about 300,000 visitors each year. With its mystical and fantastic nature, and the activities offered, and the infrastructure around the attraction, this is a tourism product in the world-class.
Technical information
Low incline
Brenndalen
Round trip: 4h 00m
Challenge: ●●○○○
Do you want to experience the glacier first-hand? The Brenndalen hike is your shortest alternative. Starting from Aabrekk Farm, you quickly gain elevation before reaching the plateau. From there you traverse through this beautiful valley, with less incline and more sightseeing. However, when reaching the inner parts, you need to prepare for some climbing. Ready up for beautiful rivers, wildlife, and waterfalls - with sight of the glacier at the very end.
Technical information
Low incline, rock-climbing, river-crossing
Gytridalen
Round trip: 1h 30m
Challenge: ●●○○○
Gytridalen is a hidden gem in Oldedalen. With its secluded location and mysterious appeal, it is the perfect destination for your next excursion. The hike starts by the lake and takes you to the big boulder “Storsteinen”. Experience the stunning view of the waterfall with the glacier behind in the distance. If you want to come close to the waterfall, you must cross a river.
Technical information
Moderate incline
Oldeskaret
Round trip: 4h 30m
Challenge: ●●●○○
The path to Oldeskaret is one of the most unique trails in Oldedalen, where you can wander on a ledge leading through a narrow crevasse. Even though the steep mountainside looks daunting, this passage makes the terrain traversable. In older times the route was used as a passage to the neighbouring valley; Stardalen. In more recent times the trail has been overhauled by Sherpas who reconstructed the path with stairs going most of the way, and up through the crevasse.
Technical information
High incline, stairs
Mountain Peaks
Mt. Kattanakken
1445 msl.
Round trip: 6h 00m
Challenge: ●●●●●
Kattanakken, or “The cat’s neck”, stands out with its extraordinary view of the valley and the glaciers around. It is the most famous mountain peak in Oldedalen, and that is for good reason. The hike starts at Briksdalsbre Fjellstove, from where you follow Kaiser Wilhelm’s trail, past a breathtaking waterfall, towards the Briksdal Glacier.
As you gain altitude, you will soon reach the mountain’s very characteristic ridge. Progressing up the cat’s neck, your beautiful surroundings gradually reveal itself. Rock climbing is on the menu - be ready for a challenge.
The peak is the tallest on the list. The mountain ridge reaches all the way back where it meets the glacier. Here you have the opportunity to touch and walk on the glacier.
Technical information
High incline, rock climbing
Flatsteinbu
1268 msl.
Round trip: 6h 00m
Challenge: ●●●●●
For centuries, the glacier plateau has been a natural highway for regional travel. The Flatsteinbu hut was first built to provide shelter for faring hikers. In case of bad weather - and with a dangerous descent ahead, a shelter was needed. This especially during seasonal winter storms, causing poor visibility.
You quickly gain altitude when making your way up the steep mountainside. As the terrain later flattens, you pass a small hut located on an old pasture - a beautiful relic from the time farmers used to have cattle in the mountains. From here, you continue up through Kvamsdalen, which is a high-altitude side valley. At the inner part of the valley, you will begin another steep incline through sometimes snowy, rocky terrain.
The mountain top bears marks of being flat on top, but don’t be fooled. Only a couple of hundred meters from the hut there’s a 700-meter-tall vertical drop, off a cliff, with a stunning view of Brenndalen. This trail is the easiest path to enter the glacier plateau.
Technical information
High incline
Mt. Klovane
982 msl.
Round trip: 6h 00m
Challenge: ●●●●○
Klovane might be the lowest peak at below 1000 meters, yet it offers one of the greatest views. The mountain is located halfway up the valley, which grants it a unique 360° viewpoint. Gaze at the beautiful nature surrounding you.
Your journey starts at Oldevatn Camping, a camping site set just under the mountain, by the bridge where you cross the lake. The trail is generally quite steep - a recurring theme around here. The upside to this is, of course, the quickly gained altitude and the fast changing scenery.
Experience true panorama.
Technical information
High incline