🌄 Norway's most beautiful mountain plateaus
- Hardangervidda is the largest high-altitude plateau in Northern Europe: mirror-like lakes, boulders, herds of reindeer. Routes range from easy walks near Eidfjord/Finså to 2-3-day treks between huts.
- Jotunheim is the realm of ‘giants’: there are many ‘easy’ trails around turquoise lakes and glacier tongues. To get a feel for the plateau, add the high-altitude Valdresflye highway and the coastal trails at Gjende.
- Dovrefjell — open spaces and ‘northern’ tundra; chances to see musk oxen and herds of wild reindeer. Excellent scenic trails to the summit of Snøhetta.
🧭 Plateau: what to choose (coverage, season, difficulty)
Season: June–September. Difficulty: easy to moderate (many flat plateaus).
Season: July–September. Difficulty: ranges from easy day hikes to challenging alpine routes.
Season: June–September. Notes: rich wildlife (wild reindeer/ox) — keep distance and follow local guidance.
🗓️ 2/3-day plateau plan builder
🧊 Routes to famous glaciers
- Nigardsbreen (Yostedalsbreen National Park): short transfer to the lagoon + guided ice walk (crampons/equipment provided). There are family-friendly routes without difficult sections.
- Briksdalsbreen: convenient infrastructure and a trail to the ‘tongue’ and glacial lake. The route is suitable for both a leisurely walk and a photo day.
- Svartisen: a northern giant with ‘tongues’ cutting into the rocks, boat trip on the lake (in season) + walking section to the viewing points.
🧊 ‘Which ice is right for me?’ (length/level/season)
Important safety information: glaciers are dynamic environments. Cracks and snow bridges are invisible: only venture onto the ice with guides, wearing a helmet, crampons and a safety harness. If you are travelling independently, choose marked trails to the viewing points.
🏞️ The most impressive canyons and gorges
- Måbødalen near Vøringsfossen: spectacular viewing points and old serpentine roads above the Bøya River.
- Utladalen (Jotunheimen): a deep valley with the high wall of Vettisfossen — powerful visits to the ‘heart’ of the mountains.
- Aurlandsdalen: the ‘Norwegian Grand Canyon’ — the Østerbø→Vassbygdi trail for the experienced, or short family sections at Østerbø.
- (Alternative for the north) Sautso/Alta Canyon and Gorsa Canyon with a suspension bridge — dramatic northern landscapes.
🗺️ Choosing a gorge (time/preparation/family)
🌋 Geological routes — ‘reading’ the landscape
- Trollstigen Road: serpentines, shales and granites, cascades — ideal for a day of ‘geomorphology in faces’.
- Lofoten: one of the oldest ‘showcase’ massifs in Europe — Archaean gneisses and granites polished by glaciers; the beaches of Utaklev/Hauklend and rocky ridges provide a vivid illustration of millions of years of history.
- Hardangervidda: a ‘textbook’ of glacial relief — moraine ridges, ram's heads, cirque lakes.
- (Bonus) Kjerag and Preikestolen above Lysefjord — granite platforms and the giant ‘stuck boulder’ Kjeragbolten.
🧭 Mini-route ‘Geology in 3–5 days’
🎒 High altitude and glacier checklist
Conclusion: To see the plateau, choose Hardangervidda (lakes and open spaces), Jotunheimen (high ‘tables’ and turquoise lakes) and Dovrefjell (tundra and fauna). For glaciers, go to Nigardsbreen, Briskeidalsbreen and Svartisen; for canyons, go to Mobedalen, Utladalen and Aurlandsdalen. Add geological icons such as Trollstigen, and you have a route that shows Norway in cross-section: from the ancient rocks of Lofoten to the fresh glacial forms of the high plateaus.
❓FAQ
If you like lakes and ‘lunar’ landscapes — Hardangervidda; if you want to see northern animals and vast horizons — Dovrefjell (keeping a distance of 200+ metres from the reindeer).
It is a mountain range with rocky areas and exposure; only for experienced hikers and in good weather. For a ‘light’ hike, choose the coastal trails at Gjende.
Not on the ice itself: crevasses, snow bridges and changing conditions require equipment and an instructor. To the viewing points near glaciers and lakes — yes, along marked trails.
Møbedalen near Vøringsfossen (viewing platforms and short trails) or family sections of Aurlandsdalen near Østerbø. For a photo day, visit the Utladalen valley with access to Vettisfossen.
Even without driving the serpentine road, the viewing platforms offer a spectacular ‘geo-cinema’: cascades, folded layers and giant mountain slabs. Plus, there are nearby walks along boardwalks.
Most often June–September. At the beginning of the season, there may be snow/closures at high altitudes; in autumn, the days are short, so bring a torch and warm layers.
Only from a long distance (200+ m), do not approach females with young, stay downwind and follow the guides' advice.
It is better to split it into two: the ice requires time for logistics/instruction, and the canyons require time for photo stops and safe trails. And add a reserve for the weather.
Yes: some of the trails start at bus stops; there are often transfers to the glaciers. But a car gives you flexibility in case the weather changes.
Shorten your day, choose lowland routes/museums, and postpone the ‘tricky’ parts (ridges/glaciers) to a spare day. Safety is more important than your schedule.
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