Hiking
Geilo has Hallingskarvet as a backbone and Hardangervidda, Northern Europe's largest high mountain plateau as its nearest neighbour. Most of the area is mountainous wilderness. A network of roads and trails has been here from early times.
Today, there are around 500 km of trails and walks that are signposted and marked. You can choose from short and easy hikes as well as longer and more challenging hikes.
Maps
The Geilo and Hallingskarvet tour maps can be purchased at the Geilo Tourist Information, where you can also obtain a free map of the area.
Map of Geilo. Geilo – Ustaoset – Haugastøl – Skurdalen – Dagali (pdf 2 MB)
Map of Hol. Sudndalen – Hovet – Hol (pdf 3 MB)
To the mountains with the Geilolia lift
The high mountain chair lift (Geiloliaheisen) takes you rapidly up to the top, to a panoramic view and the perfect starting point for walks and hikes. Open from 25th of June to 16th of August.
Guided hiking tours
Tours can also be purchased at the Tourist Information.
Hardangervidda Mountain Guiding offers various foot excursions. The trips vary in difficulty and length. Ranging from very demanding - to more relaxing walks and exiting fishing trips:
Philosophy Tour
We start at about 1200 m.a.s.l and hike to about 1500 m.a.s.l. To our right we will have the ridge Hallingskarvet as a steady companion, while the plateau’s flowers, bird song and history entertain us on our way up to Tvergastein. When we reach the philosopher Arne Næss’ cabin we will exchange thoughts and refl ect upon life for a while. The cabin lies on a fantastic highland, with a great view over the western plateau. This is life! Who would want to go home?
Geilo – Prestholt (20 min by car) - Tvergastein – Prestholt - Geilo
Duration: 3 hours
Historical tour
Choose between Usteberget and Glittreberget.
We will look at the remains of ancient iron and charcoal production, visit the ruins of old summer farms, and fi nd traces of those who lived here before us. Here we will write our names in the guestbook.
Geilo – Ustaoset (aprpox. 15 min by car)
Duration: 3 hours
A tour which creates magical moments and expectations. We will walk into the mountain plateau looking for pitfall traps from 1349 A.D. and learn about the people who lived here and what happened.
Geilo – Høgåsen (approx. 15 min by car)
Duration: 3 hours
The Ustedalsfjorden Tour
Starting at Geilojordet this popular cultural and scenic trail twists and winds around Ustedalsfjorden. A tour perfect for the whole family. The road runs along Ustedalsfjorden the first 2 km until it reaches Geilo Beach, a sandy beach where you can have a nice swim. The road then passes the Fekjo burial mounds from 900 AD and Fekjo Culture Monument Park. Notice the wind and colour houses created by the artists Gunnveig Nerol and Terje Isungset. Visitors can walk among the 7 houses and listen to the music of the wind by playing the sound tree in each house. Then the tour takes you across Tuftebrui (a unique old bridge construction, made entirely without the use of rivets) and towards Geilo on the south side of Ustedalsfjorden. Along the way there are several lay-bys where you can barbeque and fi sh. The last lap crosses the golf course in Vestlia, towards Solli and back to central Geilo.
Distance: 10 km, no cars
Surface: Gravel. Suitable for passenger trailers and short walks.
Download Geilo's biking and hiking guide
Restaurant cabins and summer farms in the mountains
There are several mountain dairy farms in the area of Geilo. They serve and sell traditional Norwegian food and you can visit the animals.
Hakkesetstølen
22.06–07.10, open every day 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (accommodation throughout the year). Serves traditional Halling-fare, sour cream pudding, salt-cured meat, bakery products, coffee and more.
Fishing licences sold and rowing boats/canoes for rental.
Guided tour ”Stølslivet før and no” (”Summer farm life past and present”, Norwegian only) on request.
Tel.: +47 32 09 09 20
Hamarsbøenstølen
Havsdalen/Prestholt, 26.06-03.09. Open every day 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Sour cream, whey spread (“prim”), sheepskins and birch fi rewood sold.
Tel.: +47 41 30 52 73/+47 32 08 81 12