Dec 20-22: Ski & Dine Opening Weekend – 2 nights for 1, including breakfast and lift pass. Book now!

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

Gaustatoppen from Stavsro
Easy/medium

Start: Stavsro
Length: 4.5 km one way
Time: 1.5 –2.5 hours one way
Child-friendly: For children accustomed to hikes

Gaustatoppen from Svineroi
Medium

Start: Svineroi or Gaustabanen station
Length: 4.3 km one way
Time: 3 hours one way
Child-friendly:
For children accustomed to hikes

Gaustatoppen from Selstali
Medium

Start: Selstali Seter
Length: 7.4 km one way
Time: 2 - 3 hours
Child-friendly: For children accustomed to hikes

Gaustatoppen from Rjukan
Hard

Start: Rjukan Rutebilstasjon
Length: 10.2 km one way
Time: 6-8 hours
Child-friendly: No

Hikes on Gausta

Hike around Skipsfjell
Easy

Start: Pose & Sekk Grocery store
Length: 5.1 km round trip
Time: 1–2 hours
Child-friendly: Yes

Hike to Ørnenipa
easy/medium

Start: Vatnedalen, by the end of Kvitåvatn
Length: 4.6 km round trip
Time: 3 hours
Child-friendly: For children accustomed to hiking

Hike to Toreskyrkja from Heddersvatn
Medium

Start: Heddersvatn/Stavsro
Length: 7,2 km round trip
Time: 2-3 hours
Child-friendly: For children accustomed to hiking

Hike to Toreskyrkja from Vatnedalen
Hard

Start: Kvitåvatn/Vatnedalen
Length: 6,2 km round trip
Time: 4 hours
Child-friendly: No

BOOK A GUIDED TOUR

Guided tours at Gausta

During the summer, you can book one of the many guided tours in the Gausta area. A great way to discover more of the mountains! 

BOOK A GUIDED TOUR

Guided tours at Gausta

During the summer, you can book one of the many guided tours in the Gausta area. A great way to discover more of the mountains! 

BOOK A GUIDED TOUR

Guided tours at Gausta

During the summer, you can book one of the many guided tours in the Gausta area. A great way to discover more of the mountains! 

Remember

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

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.