SummitClimbs Field Note: Besshøe (also written Besshø) is a 2,258-metre (7,408 ft) summit in Jotunheimen National Park, rising directly above the famous Besseggen ridge. It is not a technical climb, but it is a long, rugged day: about 22 km out and back from Gjendesheim, roughly 10 hours, with around 1,320 metres of total ascent on an unmarked path. This is a peak for fit hikers who want solitude and a real mountain day, not a quick summit photo.
Why Besshøe Belongs on a Norway Mountain Plan
Besshøe sits in Vågå Municipality in Innlandet, about 48 km southwest of Vågåmo and 28 km northwest of Beitostølen. Thousands of people walk the Besseggen ridge every summer, and most never look up at the mountain directly above them. Besshøe turns that famous landscape into a proper summit day, with far fewer boots on the trail.
From the top you look down on two lakes of starkly different colour. Bessvatnet is the ordinary deep blue of a mountain lake. Gjende, about 400 metres lower, is a vivid green, coloured by the fine glacial “rock flour” its meltwater carries. Seeing both from above, side by side, is one of the great views of Jotunheimen.
The mountain also holds something unusual. A small cirque glacier lies on its north-eastern side, and a large ice-cored moraine surrounds the mountain, a feature that is relatively rare in Norway. It is fragile ground: enjoy it from the rock, and do not walk on it.
The SummitClimbs Snapshot
- Height: 2,258 m (7,408 ft)
- Location: Jotunheimen National Park, Vågå Municipality, Innlandet
- Start: Gjendesheim (by car or bus); the hike can also start from the private lodge Bessheim
- Distance: about 22 km, out and back on the same path
- Time: about 10 hours
- Total ascent: about 1,320 m
- Difficulty: Extra demanding. Big elevation changes and a lot of scree
- Trail: Unmarked path
- Season: July to September
- Key feature: Small cirque glacier and ice-cored moraine on the north-eastern side
If you have done other Jotunheimen classics such as Galdhøpiggen or Glittertind, Besshøe will feel familiar in its demands but different in character: less direct, more exposed to weather and much quieter.
Route Reality and Local Conditions
The route leaves from Gjendesheim and climbs onto the high ground above Bessvatnet. Getting to the summit is fairly straightforward, but there are large elevation changes and a lot of scree along the way, and you return by the same line. That means you meet the same boulder fields again when you are tired, which is where most slips happen. Take the descent slowly and use trekking poles for balance.
The path is unmarked. In clear weather the terrain is easy to read, but in mist or low cloud it is easy to lose the line. Study the route beforehand and carry a paper map and compass as well as a charged GPS or phone; cold drains batteries quickly.
The whole route is exposed in bad weather and strong wind. Jotunheimen weather changes fast: wind, rain and a sharp drop in temperature at the summit can all arrive on a day that started calm. Check the forecast on yr.no in the morning, and again before you commit to the summit. If cloud builds early, turn back. The summit is not worth a rescue.
What to Watch For
Timing
Ten hours is a realistic figure for a fit party; add time for breaks and photo stops. Start early so that you are off the summit by early afternoon and have daylight and energy left for the long descent. Break the return into sections, aim for a landmark, rest briefly and move on. It keeps morale steady and reduces the chance of a mistake.
Weather and exposure
Even in July, the summit can feel close to freezing in wind. Carry full waterproofs, warm layers, a hat and gloves. The sun is strong at this altitude even when the air is cool, so pack sun protection too.
Scree and boulders
The upper slopes are loose rock. Watch your footing, avoid wet or moss-covered stones, and remember that a twisted ankle here means a very long walk out. Sturdy boots with good ankle support are essential.
Water and food
Do not count on finding water high on the mountain. Carry at least two litres per person, more on hot days, plus enough food for a full ten-hour day and a headlamp.
The glacier and moraine
The north-eastern cirque glacier is small, and the ice-cored moraine around the mountain is a rare and fragile feature. Stay on rock, and do not take shortcuts across the moraine or the glacier.
Crowds on Besseggen
The neighbouring Besseggen ridge is one of Norway’s busiest hikes in July and August. Besshøe itself is far quieter, but a midweek start makes the approach area calmer too.
Fitting Besshøe Into a Jotunheimen Trip
Besshøe is not a peak for your first day in Jotunheimen. Your legs need time to settle into long days on rocky ground. Do a shorter warm-up hike earlier in the week and save Besshøe for when you are in the rhythm of the mountains. If you have already walked Besseggen and want a quieter, bigger day in the same landscape, this is the natural next step.
The SummitClimbs Take
Besshøe is a classic Norwegian mountain day for the right person. It rewards endurance and route sense with one of the best lake views in Norway, a rare glacier-and-moraine landscape and real solitude, right next to one of the country’s busiest trails. It is not a beginner hike and not the place to test new gear. Respect the distance, the weather and the terrain, and Besshøe gives you one of the finest summit days in eastern Jotunheimen.
Route facts (start, distance, time, ascent, grade, season) from the UT.no route description for Besshøe. Height, location and glacier facts from Wikipedia (Besshøe). Always check current conditions before you go.
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