Gudvangen trail in Norway starts right at the bus station of Gudvangen village. It is not very long and it is mostly easy terrain, although relatively steep. The main highlight of this trail is great views on Kjelfossen waterfall and Gudvangen village.
GETTING THERE
Oslo – 330km (4h 50min)
Bergen – 150km (2h 15min)
Trondheim – 480km (7h 20min)
Car parking: Parking lot available around petrol station and ferry, there is also paid parking across the street, pay with Easypay.
Public transport: The trail head starts right next to a bus stop. Detailed planning HERE
Camper/ Van overnight stay: I have stayed at Gudvangen Camping. 300 NOK without electricity or 350 NOK with electricity (prices 2024). ASCI or CKE do not apply. Showers are 15 NOK/ 5 minutes. Small kitchen with hot water and microwave is available at no extra charge. It is by busy road but with amazing view on Kjelfossen waterfall. More information HERE
TRAIL NAVIGATION
You could navigate this trail without additional navigation since it is a single track. There is directional post at the trail head and once you start, there are no further turns. The trail ends at big rock with no further way to continue.
TRAIL DETAILS
Trail starts right next to the bus stop where E16 and Fv241 meet. There is a sign in plastic cover that points up to the trail. It says it is 1km to 190 moh (elevation). You will walk slightly above 1km, but not significantly. Start walking on wide gravel road, but quickly turns into single track trail through forrest. At first the gradient is very comfortable, but as you climb up, the terrain gets more rough and steeper. It is still very easy. In couple of locations opening in the trees will present excellent views on the Kjelfossen waterfall. For Norway standards, the trail is easy, with exception of the last part. This is very steep dirt section which might be challenging for some, especially on downhill. It will lead you to big stone from which you can enjoy views on the waterfall and Gudvangen village. The trail ends on this stone, there is no trail going further up, so you would know when you arrive.
You don’t need to climb all the way up, if you are limited on time or are not hiker, just going little higher to the first viewing point is enjoyable and rewarding. I do recommend to take extra care in case it rained recently and probably skipping the last part.
Tree coverage: The trail is all in the forrest area with generous tree coverage.
Geocaching: There is no geocache or adventure lab on this trail, there are some at the village
Dogs: If your dog is used to walk the distance and elevation. Dogs must be leashed.
Shoes recommendation: Can be completed in trail runners or other sports shoes, unless it rained in the previous days.
FACILITIES
There are no facilities along the trail. You can find various facilities at Gudvangen village, such as free public restrooms, grocery store and restaurant in Gudvangen.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I completed this hike in July 2024 on Tuesday morning. Weather around 17 degrees, very cloudy. I did not meet anyone on the trail. Since it is not a big trail, although it is in tourist destination, I do not expect many people on this trail.
Leave a Reply