Hardangervidda Hiking Routes: Classic Hut-to-Hut Treks Across the Plateau

SummitClimbs Field Note: Hardangervidda is made for hut-to-hut hiking: a vast plateau above the tree line, crossed by marked DNT trails between staffed and self-service huts a day’s walk apart. This guide picks out the classic ways to hike it, from the six-day crossing from Kinsarvik to Åan, through every type of Hardangervidda landscape, to the Haukeliseter–Finse traverse and the detour up Hårteigen, the plateau’s landmark. Summer is short: the crossing below is recommended for July and August.

1. Hardangervidda på tvers: Kinsarvik to Åan

This crossing takes you through all of Hardangervidda’s landscape types, from the wild west, over the flat central plateau, to the gently rolling east. It is about 110.7 km one way, six days and about 2,560 m of total ascent, rated demanding, for July–August.

• Stage 1, Kinsarvik – Stavali: one of the finest climbs onto the plateau, up Husedalen past a string of waterfalls to Stavali tourist hut.
• Stage 2, Stavali – Hadlaskard: along the old nordmannsslepene, the ancient routes across the plateau, to Hadlaskard, an old summer farm that is now a self-service hut.
• Stage 3, Hadlaskard – Sandhaug: east towards Sandhaug, with Hårteigen, “the grey signpost”, in view most of the way, and a tempting detour to its summit.
• Stage 4, Sandhaug – Rauhelleren: the true central plateau, where the flats meet the horizon in an almost straight line, broken only by Hårteigen in the west and Hardangerjøkulen in the north.
• Stages 5–6, Rauhelleren – Hein seter – Åan: very fit hikers walk to Åan in one day, but splitting it with a night at Hein seter is the relaxed choice.

Start in the east if you want to finish with a long descent to Kinsarvik on the Hardangerfjord. There is a bus to Kinsarvik.

2. Haukeliseter to Finse

The north–south traverse from Haukeliseter, on the E134 at the southern edge of the plateau, to Finse on the Bergen Line is the other great classic. See our full guide to the Haukeliseter to Finse trail.

3. Up Hårteigen

Hårteigen (1,690 m), the flat-topped block that rises 471 m above the plateau and can be seen from most of it, is the plateau’s one big summit. The usual ascent follows a marked path between the Torehytten and Litlos huts, and it is a natural detour on the stages around Hadlaskard. From the top you can see Hardangerjøkulen, Hallingskarvet, Gaustatoppen and Folgefonna.

Planning a Hardangervidda Trek

• Huts: the Norwegian Trekking Association has a dense network of staffed and self-service huts; many self-service huts need the standard DNT key. Check opening dates and book where required.
• Season: mid-summer is the reliable window for hiking; at Easter the plateau is one of Norway’s most popular hut-to-hut ski areas.
• Weather and navigation: the plateau is above the tree line with little shelter, and fog, wind and snow showers can come even in summer. Carry a map and compass, full waterproofs and warm layers.
• Wildlife: Hardangervidda has Europe’s largest wild reindeer herd; keep your distance and never chase them for photos.

The SummitClimbs Take

For a first trip, the Kinsarvik–Åan crossing shows you the whole of Hardangervidda in six days, with Hårteigen as an optional summit day. Plan your huts, pack for winter weather, and give yourself time to enjoy one of Europe’s great open spaces. For the bigger picture, see our Hardangervidda guide.

Route facts from the UT.no route “Hardangervidda på tvers”; Hårteigen and plateau facts from Norwegian Wikipedia (Hårteigen) and Hardangervidda.