Bitihorn (1,607 m): Two Routes to Jotunheimen’s Gateway Summit

SummitClimbs Field Note: Bitihorn (1,607–1,608 m) is the pointed landmark at the southeastern edge of Jotunheimen, on the border between Vang and Øystre Slidre in Innlandet, about 7 km northwest of Beitostølen. County road 51 passes just east of it, south of Valdresflye. Ut.no calls it Beitostølen’s signature summit and describes two main routes: a gentler one from Bygdin (6.8 km there and back, about 3 hours, 547 m of ascent) and a short, steep and exposed one from Båtskaret (3.7 km, about 2 hours, 451 m).

A Gabbro Horn Above Valdres

Bitihorn is steep to the south and east. Its base is sparagmite, but the summit is much harder gabbro, one of the southernmost gabbro outcrops in the area, which is why it stands so much higher than its neighbours to the south and east. Below the sparagmite lies a layer of nutrient-rich phyllite, and the plant cover it supports explains the many summer farms in the area. The rock layers were pushed over each other from the north-northwest, so the northern slope is fairly easy while the southern and eastern sides are very steep, a pattern you can also see on neighbouring peaks such as Skyrifjell, Heklefjell and Olefjell.

Around Bitihorn stand Rasletinden and Raslet to the north, Gråhøi and Kvernhøi to the northeast, and Skaget to the east.

Bitihorn at a Glance

• Height: 1,607 m (Norwegian Wikipedia, ut.no) or 1,608 m (English Wikipedia)
• Location: Vang/Øystre Slidre border, Innlandet; about 7 km northwest of Beitostølen
• Route from Bygdin: moderate; 6.8 km, about 3 hours, 547 m of ascent there and back
• Route from Båtskaret: demanding; 3.7 km, about 2 hours, 451 m of ascent there and back; exposed, with loose gravel and stone
• Season: June to October
• First recorded ascent: the botanist Christen Smith, 1811

Two Routes to the Top

The easier way, from Bygdin

The more comfortable route starts at Bygdin and climbs gradually up the back of the mountain to the top. It is also the start of the paths to Yksendalsbu and Tomashelleren. There is signed parking just before Bygdin Turisthytte.

The direct way, from Båtskaret

The short, direct route climbs the southeast side from Båtskaret, on the Beitostølen side: a fine but steep ascent. Parts of the path have been built as Sherpa stone steps, but not all the way. Ut.no warns that this route is airy and exposed, with quite a lot of loose gravel and stone. Follow county road 51 past Beitostølen and park at the Båtskaret car park.

A Little History

The botanist Christen Smith made the first recorded ascent in 1811; apart from Jens Esmark’s expedition of 1798, his botanical trip was the first mountaineering effort in Norway. Tourism took off in the late 1800s with the Raudfjordheim lodge and later the hotels at Bygdin and Bygdisheim, which drew visitors from far away, including Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. In 1905 a boat route opened on the lake Bygdin, and the boat, fittingly named Bitihorn, still sails from Bygdin to Eidsbugarden for about ten weeks each summer. During the Second World War, German alpine troops trained on the steep east side.

Before You Go

• Choose your route: take the Bygdin route if you are not comfortable with exposure and loose stone.
• Getting there: a car or bike is best; there are buses in summer, so check Entur.
• Weather: check the mountain forecast on yr.no before you go.

The SummitClimbs Take

Bitihorn is the perfect short summit at the gateway to Jotunheimen: a gabbro horn you can see from the road, with a gentle way up from Bygdin and a steep, airy one from Båtskaret. For more peaks in the area, see our Jotunheimen guide.

Facts from ut.no (Topptur til Bitihorn), ut.no (Bitihorn fra Båtskaret), Norwegian Wikipedia (Bitihorn) and Wikipedia. Always check current conditions before you go.