The sherpa stairs to the end of Hallingskarvet

The road is open (19. juni 2026)

Prestholtseter Mountain Café is open (19. juni 2026)

The stairs up and down are accessible (hopefully early July 2026)

The Prestholtrunden round tour is not free of snow yet, but hopefully early July. 

The Hallingskarvet is a National Park since 2006, the name 'skarvet' means naked mountain. If you manage to come all the way up to the viewing point with the big stone cairn you will be rewarded with a stunning view. If the weather is clear you can look all the way over the Hardangervidda National Park to Gaustatoppen above Rjukan.

As expected, it is colder on the mountain, and the wind can be very strong. We advise you to take an extra jumper, a windbreaker jacket, and even in the summertime, it's not a bad idea to have a thin hat and thin gloves.

Take it easy on your way back and don't forget to enjoy the views. We kindly ask you to stay on the stairs and not create additional paths alongside them. Being in a National Park, there is considerable erosion in the vicinity of the stairs and the path. We hope to minimize this as much as possible, but we need your help.

In line with regulations across Norway, we kindly request that you refrain from building your own cairns or stone piles. These structures are crucial for navigation, and having 'unofficial' cairns can be potentially dangerous, especially during severe weather conditions, potentially impacting lives.

Hallingskarvet National Park 

Hallingskarvet is a distinct landscape feature, offering numerous picturesque paths and versatile hiking opportunities year-round, whether in summer or winter. The terrain varies from gentle heaths in the south to the high plateau atop the Hallingskarvet itself.

The national park is primarily defined by the Hallingskarvet mountain itself. The plateau sits just over 1800 meters above sea level (masl), with Folarskardnuten as the highest peak at 1933 masl. Other notable peaks include Storeskuta at 1870 masl and Prestholtskarvet at 1859 masl. The landscape of Hallingskarvet is the outcome of geological processes spanning over 1.5 billion years.

Later erosion has contributed to forming Hallingskarvet's characteristic landscape. The word 'skarvet' means 'naked mountain'.

Two icons - Arne Næss and Lord Garvagh

Arne Næss (1912 - 2009) is known as the founder of the deep ecological movement, which advocates that all beings are one, interconnected as a whole. Our planet is perceived as a living system that demands our care, what he calls an extended ecological concern. According to Næss, such an understanding should influence our actions in general, including our personal lifestyles.

In 1995, he wrote a book about Hallingskarvet entitled "The Father of the Good Life." Arne Næss is considered one of Norway's most important philosophers.

Lord Garvagh, an Irish lord, is recognized as one of the earliest tourists to Norway and Geilo. He had a keen interest in hunting and fishing, constructing several stone cabins around the Hallingskarvet area. Among the most renowned is Lordehytta, where you can discover further information about the trek to the cabin. Another cabin, located in Lengedalen at Finse, remains accessible for visits, with a corresponding tour description available.

Cultural monuments and agriculture

Hallingskarvet has several traces of prehistoric and medieval use, including traps and other remnants. Between 1600 and 1800, there was seasonal traffic involving horses and cattle for trading purposes. Simple accommodations were built—remnants of which can still be seen today. Other cultural monuments bear witness to the area's long history of hunting and trapping.

On the southern side of Hallingskarvet, goats are kept for pasture, providing milk for the award-winning Prestholt Goat Cheese. If you're interested in purchasing this brown goat cheese or other local cheeses, we recommend a trip to Ostebygda in Hol. Local shops such as Matkrok’n and Spar also offer a variety of local food products.

All year around

Hallingskarvet is accessible all year round. During winter, there are several groomed cross-country track on both sides of the mountain. A fantastic spring skiing trip is the Hallingskarvet route, from Finse back to Havsdalen/Geilo. Ensure you're well-prepared with proper equipment and knowledge before undertaking this journey.

In summer, you can hike or cycle to Hallingskarvet National Park from either side of the mountain. Note that most trails start in the valley and involve an uphill climb. For some of these trips, a car is necessary to reach the mountain, as the roads are private, requiring a toll.

Hallingskarvet National Park: Facts in Numbers 

• Approximately 450 square kilometers
• Established as a national park by royal resolution on December 22, 2006.
• Officially opened by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg on August 9, 2008.
• The highest peak is Folardskardnuten at 1933 meters above sea level.
• The plateau itself is approximately 35 kilometers long and varies in width from 1 to 5 kilometers.
• Abundant cultural heritage from trapping dating back up to 8000 years.
• Significant grazing area for wild reindeer.