Hikes in Sigdal

Ranten (1419) is a nice summit route. Like many other routes from Høgevarde, this route starts from the parking lot at Fyrisjø. A great nature experience.

Great 3-day round route starting in Eggedal center with the possibility of accommodation at the DNT cabins Høgevarde and Toveseter. The route is hilly and demanding, covering three days from A to B.

The route to Høgevarde can start from several places but we start at Gulsviksætervegen where the cabin area ends, taking you to one of Norway's best peaks for views.

Dance plateau in NorefjellThe Norefjell ridge between Hallingdal and Eggedal combines alpine meadows, high mountains, and forest, forming a retreat area for about 600 wild reindeer and is considered the first "real" mountain area north of Oslo. The Høgevard is attributed with the second widest view in southern Norway after Gaustatoppen: 40,000 km² from the Rondane to the Jotunheimen peaks, from the Hardangerjøkulen glacier to the Gausta. The panorama orientation board on the summit above the stocked DNT self-service hut, which offers itself as a base camp for hikes east and west along the scenic ridge on clear days, shows this.

Granite colossus above SigdalAt the Andersnattjenn lake, the idyllic mountain trail begins on the scenic Andersnatten, whose legendary white vein in the southeast wall is a classic climbing route in eastern Norway: A troll named Anders left the white "ski track" in the wall when he slid down the rocks with a child on his back. The white veins in the rock are best recognized during the approach from Lake Soneren, where the Andersnatten reflects in the clear water on beautiful days. The mountain became famous through the artist Theodor Kittelsen, who lived for a time in Lauvlia by Lake Soneren. Besides his landscape paintings, he mainly shaped the appearance of Norwegian trolls and other fairy-tale figures in the imagination of the entire people. His motifs are popular nowadays in the metal scene.

Family-friendly hike to the Madonna statue in Trillemarka

The popular and first “true” mountain region north of Oslo offers a magnificent mountain landscape along the Norefjell ridge between Hallingdal and Numedal—and even the chance to spot a reindeer. The remote alpine pasture and cabin settlement of Tempelseter is a popular destination for outdoor and sports enthusiasts in both winter and summer. The Høgevarde is a favorite climb for good reason—after all, it offers the second-best view in southern Norway, after Gaustatoppen. The sweeping views from the summit are breathtaking, and the panoramas stretch across the idyllic mountain landscape—dotted with picturesque lakes—all the way to Gausta and the Hardangerjøkulen glacier. Above the shimmering blue Høgevardetjenn mountain lake stands the DNT Høgevardee tourist cabin, making it an ideal “base camp” for extended ridge and mountain hikes. > From the parking lot above the 01Tempelseter cabin complex, the marked trail initially follows the road to the northeast. It soon climbs slightly, turns right onto a bridge over the Slogja stream, turns right at the next fork, and immediately afterward goes straight (left) toward Høgevarde. The views are magnificent right from the start and are particularly captivating when looking back at the picturesque alpine pasture landscape with its charming cluster of huts. There’s even a ski lift nearby. However, the alpine and Nordic winter sports center—a popular destination since the 1952 Winter Olympics—is concentrated in the eastern area around Norefjellstua, and Tempelseter is only “gently” accessible by a single lift. The trail continues into the uninhabited natural landscape, where it heads northeast—partly through wet marshland—to a signposted 02fork in the trail. Here, we take the right fork for the direct and thus slightly shorter ascent to Høgevarde. At the next fork, continue straight ahead (to the left)—the trail to the right leads up via Kringleåsen. Once again, the trail passes through marshy terrain and climbs increasingly steeply toward the ridge to the southeast. Once you reach the ridge, the view opens up over the picturesque lake to the buildings of the Høgevarde turisthytter. Here, take a right onto the 03summit loop trail toward Turisthyttar, pass above them, and keep left toward the mountain lake Høgevardetjenn. The trail first leads downhill to a small depression, then over stepping stones across the shallow lake outlet and along the opposite slope to the right of the lake, up a steep ascent to the summit of 04Høgevarde.The summit is marked by a cairn and a directional sign. However, to fully enjoy the views, it’s recommended to take a short walk to the edges of the plateau. The panorama then stretches over the mountain lake Høgevardetjenn and the Turisthyttar in the southwest, over the gentle hilltops of the Norefjell ridge—including Kringleåsen, Hestleinattan, and many others— in the southeast, and across the famous lake and hill country in the northeast. According to the orientation disc, on a clear day you can even see as far as Hardangerjøkulen and the peaks of Rondane and Jotunheimen! There’s hardly a better view to be found in southern Norway. Above the lake, the Turisthyttar is a good place to spend the night. Alternatively, continue the descent, head downhill at the junction with the 03Summit Loop Trail, and turn right at the first fork. As a “circular trail,” this route offers an alternative to the ascent route and follows the red markings westward. The trail now leads pleasantly and briskly downhill into the valley basin and reaches the junction with the 05Valley Trail just before the Slogja Stream.Here, head left of the stream out of the valley to the well-known 02trail junction, then take the outbound trail and follow it back to the starting point at the 01Tempelseter parking lot.