Norway summer hiking: These 7 mountain hikes will stay with you for life

From iconic routes to to hidden gems: These hikes will – literally – give you a new perspective.

You’ve probably heard of FOMO – fear of missing out. But another term has increasingly been making its way into the dictionary over the last years: JOMO – joy of missing out. It’s all about turning off notifications, ignoring your inbox, and choosing to embrace the moment (instead of scrolling through someone else’s vacation photos).

Sounds easy, doesn't it? In reality, it’s a lot harder than it seems.

Photo by Trolltunga Adventures

If you’re searching for JOMO in its purest form, you’ll find it in Norway – or, more specifically, above Norway. In fact, Norway summer hiking provide a glimpse into the resilient Norwegian national identity, having shaped our culture and population for thousands of years.

Photo by Thomas Rasmus Skaug | Visit Norway

Norway offers a plethora of opportunities for mountain hikers, with dramatic fjords, towering peaks, and serene valleys offering breathtaking views along the way. While many travelers flock to well-known trails, Norway is also home to lesser-known gems that are just as spectacular – and come with fewer accidental photobombs.

Photo by Thomas Rasmus Skaug | Visit Norway

Whether you’re seeking a challenging adventure or a scenic walk, these seven hikes showcase the very best of Norway’s mountains and peaks.

Preikestolen - Norway’s most famous cliffhanger

Let’s start off with the most popular hike in all of Norway – the blockbuster, so to speak.

Preikestolen (“The Pulpit Rock”) in Rogaland county in southwestern Norway is visited by more than 300 000 people every year, and it’s easy to understand why: Overlooking the idyllic Lysefjorden, the view from the 604 metre tall cliff is spectacular – all year round.

The 8-kilometer round trip to Preikestolen takes about four hours and is moderately challenging, with varied types of terrain along the route. If you want to avoid getting caught in the crowd, try hiking in the late afternoon or by sunrise. Or embrace the Norwegian way and go in the middle of winter, when it's freezing, dark, and absolutely breathtaking.

Trolltunga – don’t look down!

Another wildly popular hiking destination in western Norway is Trolltunga (“The Troll’s Tongue”), a rock formation that juts out horizontally from the mountain 1100 meters above sea level. Trolltunga is situated in the western part of Hardangervidda, Europe’s largest mountain plateau of its kind, which is worth a trip in itself.

The hike is classified as “challenging” by the Norwegian Trekking Association, and a round trip takes approximately 10-12 hours, including breaks. There are no shelters or supply shops along the route, so hikers are advised to bring the appropriate gear and provisions, as well as stamina and the highest spirits you’re able to muster.

Trolltunga should not be confused with the slightly less family-friendly named Trollpikken (“The Troll’s Dick”), a phallic-shaped rock formation in Egersund further south that made world headlines when it was vandalized and cut down in 2017. Ouch. Luckily, it was restored to its former glory immediately.

Photo by Trolltunga Active

Aurlandsdalen – wild nature meets cultural history

Often referred to as Norway’s Grand Canyon, Aurlandsdalen in Vestland county is a gorgeous river valley formed by glaciers, offering a unique combination of wild nature and a rich cultural history.

The hike starts on the upper parts of the mountains, before ascending gradually through the valley. Along the way you’ll experience one of Norway’s most beautiful valleys, with amazing waterfalls, a diverse wildlife and old dairy farms long since vacated.

Aurlandsdalen was once one of the main roads between the eastern and western parts of Norway, and it’s one of the historical hikes chosen by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage and the Norwegian Trekking Association in 2015. In other words, this route lets you walk through history – only with better shoes.

Photo by Thomas Rasmus Skaug | Visit Norway

Folgefonna – the coolest hike (yeah, literally!)

Speaking of historical hikes and unique scenery: How about a walk on the ice? The Folgefonna glacier (which in reality are three different glaciers) has been attracting tourists for more than 200 years, and it’s still a truly majestic spectacle.

From the summit of the glacier, you’ll have the amazing view of Hardangervidda in the east and the North Sea in the west – a pretty solid payoff for a bit of cold air.

Guided glacier hikes are available for visitors wanting a closer encounter with the ice, while well-marked trails in Folgefonna National Park provide hiking opportunities around the glacier. Just remember that the summer up there can feel a lot like the Norwegian winter.

Gaustatoppen – a view that will blow your mind

Gaustatoppen is not Norway’s highest mountain – that would be Galdhøpiggen, which towers at an impressive 2469 meters above sea level, making it the highest mountain in the Nordics.

But the panoramic view from Gaustatoppen’s 1883-meter summit is no less than breathtaking: On a clear day, you can see an area of 60 000 square kilometers – one-sixth of Norway’s mainland, no less!

The mountain is also home of Gausta Ski Resort, offering 45 kilometers of groomed slopes. The hike up to the summit is categorized as “easy”, and if hiking isn’t your thing, the Gaustabanen tramway – originally built as a Cold War military installation but now serving as the world’s most dramatic elevator ride – takes 15 minutes to the top, making sure even the laziest among us can experience the stunning view.

Photo by Christine Baglo | Visit Norway

Lofoten – mountains rising from the sea

The Lofoten archipelago in Nordland county is known around the world for its picturesque fishing villages, gorgeous beaches, arctic fjords and dramatic landscapes, with mountains and cliffs rising abruptly from the sea.

One of the most famous peaks is Reinebringen. Although far from the tallest mountain in the area, it provides one of the most iconic views in Lofoten, overlooking the fishing village of Reine with its red cabins and turquoise waters.

Other popular hikes include Ryten and Mannen, overlooking Kvalvika bay and the beautiful Haukland beach respectively, while legend has it that Vågakallen is an ancient troll turned to stone. Maybe he underestimated the Norwegian weather?

Photo by Alex Conu | Visit Norway

Slogen – Norway’s own alps

Although the Alps stretching across France, Switzerland and Italy may be more famous, Norway also boasts alps: Sunnmørsalpene in the county of Møre og Romsdal is a mountain range which has been shaped through thousands of years of ice erosion, characterized by sharp peaks rising steeply from the surrounding fjords.

Well-known and beloved peaks in the area include Jakta, Kolåstinden, Hornindalsrokken and Kvitegga, but the most popular one is Slogen. Frequently included among the greatest hikes of Norway, Slogen stretches 1564 meters above sea level, offering a view so spectacular it might make you question your life back at sea level.

From the summit, you can take in the deep blue waters of Hjørundfjord and the surrounding mountain ranges. Despite its intimidating appearance, the mountain is accessible without technical climbing, but be prepared for a challenging adventure through rugged alpine terrain. Once you’ve reached the top, lean back and yodel like no one is watching you (which there probably won’t be).