Add organization

How do you know if lake ice is safe to walk on in Norway?

The 10 cm rule, weak spots, equipment and the ice forecast on Varsom.

Answered at: Checked at:

Short answer

Lake ice in Norway should be at least 10 cm of clear, solid ice (stålis) before you walk on it, which is the minimum NVE recommends. Even that is no guarantee, since thickness in one spot does not apply to the whole lake. Check the ice forecast on Varsom, carry ice picks and a throw line, and go with others.

Winter in Norway: tips for tourists a shield icon with a check mark next to a tent and a small no-campfire sign on a green hillside

Why

  1. NVE (the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate), which runs Varsom, recommends at least 10 cm of clear ice before you go out on a lake.
  2. Clear ice is the strongest type, while light slush ice (sørpeis) is weaker; in winter dark ice is a good sign, but in spring it is a very bad one.
  3. The ice is weakest near river mouths, by points and headlands, along bogs and reeds, in narrow sounds and over shallows.

Details

Many municipalities no longer measure the ice; Bergen kommune, for example, says it has stopped, so you use the ice at your own risk. Wear ice picks around your neck, keep a throw line within reach, go together with others and only go out if you can swim. For skating on natural ice an ice pole (isstav) is recommended: if a hard blow does not go through, the ice is thick enough to carry a person.

Tip

Start with the ice forecast on Varsom and fresh observations on the Iskart map, and ask locals whether the lake is regulated before you go out.

What may differ

Where water flows under the ice, for example in narrow sounds, the ice is weaker than on still parts of the lake. In spring, ice that looks thick can still be unsafe.

Common misconception

If the ice is thick where you measured it, the whole lake is safe.

What actually happens

Thickness measured in one place does not apply everywhere, and even 10 cm of clear ice is no guarantee of safe travel.

People also ask

  • How do you know if lake ice is safe for skating?
  • How thick must ice be to walk on?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Ice conditions change quickly, so check Varsom before you go out on the ice.

Winter in Norway: tips for tourists

  • Are there mosquitoes and midges in Norway?

    Mosquitoes and biting midges are common in Norway in summer, but in Norway their bites are harmless, although they itch and can swell.

    Checked at:

  • Is dumpster diving legal in Norway?

    Dumpster diving is generally not legal in Norway, because the bins usually stand on private property and the waste belongs to the business until it is collected.

    Checked at:

  • Do police officers in Norway carry guns?

    Yes, Norwegian police officers have generally carried firearms on duty since 1 July 2025, within limits set by the Norwegian Police Directorate (Politidirektoratet).

    Checked at:

  • Are there many homeless people in Oslo?

    The City of Oslo counted 1,459 homeless households in its own survey in late 2024, using the national definition of homelessness.

    Checked at:
Help