Hike to Gaustatoppen from Rjukan
This challenging hike to Gaustatoppen from Rjukan is about 10 km one way and takes around 6-8 hours. With an ascent of around 1,600 metres, this is a full-day adventure for experienced hikers!
Hike to Gaustatoppen from Rjukan
This challenging hike to Gaustatoppen from Rjukan is about 10 km one way and takes around 6-8 hours. With an ascent of around 1,600 metres, this is a full-day adventure for experienced hikers!
Hike to Gaustatoppen from Rjukan
This challenging hike to Gaustatoppen from Rjukan is about 10 km one way and takes around 6-8 hours. With an ascent of around 1,600 metres, this is a full-day adventure for experienced hikers!
The route in brief
Start: Rjukan Rutebilstasjon
Length: 10,2 km one way
Time: 6-8 hours
Vertical rise: ca 1559 m (approx. 324-1,883 metres above sea level)
Difficulty: Difficult
Child-friendly: No
MAP
Getting there
The hike starts in Rjukan and takes you up the northern side of Gaustatoppen. If you prefer a slightly shorter hike, you could start and hike Selstali Seter to Gaustatoppen instead.
Park at Rjukan Rutebilstasjon and start the hike there. This is the toughest part of the hike. The trail from Rjukan up to Selstali Seter is steep and very tough. When you get to Selstali Seter, follow the same trail as the hikers who are beginning their hike from there. The last part from Selstali Seter is a bit flatter, but it’s also tough.
Useful information
The mountain-top hike to Gaustatoppen from Selstali Seter is easier than the hike from Rjukan, but it’s still steep and you’ll need to be physically fit. You can take this trail from mid-June to September. Make sure that you always bring a change of clothes because the weather can change quickly in the mountains.
As the hike has an ascent of around 900 metres and contains rocky sections, it’s marked as a ‘medium-difficulty’ hike.
Hiking to Gaustatoppen
Begin your Gaustatoppen adventure from the Stavsro parking lot and follow the popular route along the southern side.
Experience a fantastic summit hike from Svineroi to Gaustatoppen and be rewarded with a spectacular view from Norway's highest mountain.
Take part in an exciting summit hike from Selstali to Gaustatoppen and experience the beautiful nature up close.
With a climb of 1600 meters, the north side of Gaustatoppen is a full-day adventure if you start from Rjukan. This is a challenging hike that requires previous experience.
Hikes on Gausta
Skipsfjell is the name of the mountain located in the middle of Gausta. It has one of the best viewpoints in the area. From the top at 1088 metres above sea level, you can enjoy magnificent views of the entire Gausta area, including Gaustatoppen, Kvitåvatn and Rjukan. Hiking up here (or around the whole mountain) is suitable for all ages and takes a few hours.
Ørnenipa is a popular mountain in Vatnedalen, located in the northeastern part of Gausta. The peak is located at 1315 metres above sea level and offers good hiking and beautiful views of Gaustatoppen the Gausta area. The popular trail from Vatnedalen takes about 4 hours (round trip).
This moderate hike to Toreskyrkja starts at Lake Heddersvatn next to Stavsro. The hike is 3,6 km and approximately 1–1,5 hours long (one way).
This challenging hike takes you from Vatnedalen to Toreskyrkja at 1,371 metres above sea level. At the summit you can enjoy spectacular views of Gaustatoppen, Tuddal, and the mountains in Telemark.
On the mountain crest south of Gaustatoppen you'll find Lille Gaustakne. The hike takes around 2 hours return, and from the summit at 1.443 metres you can enjoy magnificent views.
Remember
Dress appropriately and follow the Norwegian mountain safety code, which is a set of rules and advice that you should always have with you when you go out in the mountains. For example, make sure that you always plan your hike carefully and be prepared for bad weather and the cold, even on short hikes.
Download the Gausta app
Would you like to download the map to your phone? Download the Gausta app from App Store or Google Play! The app also has plenty of other useful information for your visit to Gausta.
