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Hallingskarvet in the summerPhoto: Emile Holba, Visit Geilo
This circular tour begins with the famous stairs and takes you to a viewpoint overlooking Skarvsenden.
The road is open (20. juni 2026)
Prestholtseter Mountain Café is open (20. juni 2026)
The stairs up and down are accessible. (juni 2026)
The Prestholtrunden round tour is free for snow. (10. July 2026)
The Prestholtrunden loop is arguably the most popular hike in the Geilo area. This trail ventures into the Hallingskarvet National Park and ascends to its peak at Skarvsenden, reaching 1,705 masl. The panoramic views encompass the surroundings, offering stunning views of the Hardangervidda mountain plateau and the Hardangerjøkulen glacier to the west. The trail commences and concludes at the Prestholtseter mountain café, which specializes in traditional Norwegian cuisine. While parts of the trail are steep, a project led by Nepalese sherpas has installed stone steps, making it accessible even for younger hikers.
From Skarvsenden, you'll enjoy breathtaking views over the valley and Hardangervidda. Following the signposted track slightly uphill, you'll reach the highest point. The trail descends back to the dirt road, passing a hunting pit with an information panel detailing trapping and hunting.
Please note, this hike is challenging! Ensure you have additional clothing and be cautious in cloudy weather; consider turning back if visibility decreases, particularly on the stairs.
There's an unmarked trail leading to an even higher peak, Prestholtskarvet. Ensure your capability and navigation skills in such terrain before attempting this route.
Why is this hike challenging? Let's explain.
Early in the season, the stairs might be free of snow by late June, yet sections of the Hallingskarvet may still have snow, sometimes lingering until mid-July. This varies each year based on snowfall, wind direction, air temperature, and sunlight exposure.
Snow cover on parts of the steps during the return trip in the round tour can create icy and slippery conditions, especially on steep segments.
During peak season, weather changes swiftly. Thick clouds obscure the surroundings, blurring the distinction between rocks and clouds, making it challenging to see ahead, locate trail markings, or orient yourself, increasing the risk of getting lost.
The erratic weather can bring sudden strong gusts of wind, cold rain, or unexpected snowfall even on hot summer days, without proper warning or accurate weather forecasts.
The mountain's terrain itself poses difficulty—the surface varies from smooth stretches to very rocky areas, requiring balancing from one rock to another. This terrain may not be suitable for walking sticks.
If uncertain about the weather's stability, the presence of clouds, or rain in the forecast, it's safer to stick to the stairs. Ascend and descend via the steps, avoiding venturing farther
Author’s recommendation
- Even on a pleasant day, bring warm clothing as it can be significantly colder at the top than at Prestholtseter.
- Consider rethinking the hike in bad weather as the conditions can be quite challenging.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileTips and suggestions
- Food and drinks are available at Prestholtseter café, where you can enjoy Norwegian specialties such as cured meats, sour cream porridge (rømmegrøt), and soft potato bread (lefsekling).
- While on the route, consider trying the water from the streams; it's very fresh.
Roadbook
The entire trail is well marked and starts at the Prestholtseter café, approximately 200 meters from the parking lot. From Prestholtseter, the path—constructed with stones by Nepalese sherpas—ascends nearly 500 meters to reach Skarvsenden at 1,705 masl. Subsequently, the trail heads east, descending gradually and passing an ancient hunting trap for wild reindeer before returning in a loop to Prestholtseter.
Skarvespelet theater play
Concert with Daniel Kvammen at Prestholtseter
A taste of Skarverennet
Hallingskarvet and Me
SKARVESPELET 2024
Public transport
Come to Geilo by bus or train. Check out all possibilities at www.entur.no.
Directions
To Prestholt
From the center of Geilo, take the roundabout on road 7, heading east towards Oslo. After about 1 km, you'll see a sign on the left for Nasjonalpark Hallingskarvet and Havsdalen (Nye Havsdalsvegen). You'll easily recognize the turn because you'll have driven under a pedestrian bridge, and there's a football field (Geilohallen) on the other side of the road.
Follow this road up the mountain, continuing to follow the signs for Hallingskarvet and Prestholt. As the road curves, the asphalt road turns into a dirt road, and this is where the private toll road begins. You can pay the toll on the website p-norge.no within 48 hours of leaving the dirt road. Enjoy this fantastic drive, and be mindful of cyclists on this popular route—they're faster than you might expect!
At the end of the road, there is a large parking area with the Prestholt Mountain Café.
To Geilo
Located on the border between eastern and western Norway, Geilo is easily accessible from both Bergen and Oslo. Roads Rv7 over Hardangervidda, Fv50 Hol-Aurland, and Rv52 over Hemsedal are open all year round, except in harsh weather conditions.
The shortest road between Oslo and Bergen is Rv7, and Geilo is centrally located along this route. Rv7 over Hardangervidda and along the Hardanger Fjord is a designated national tourist road. The journey takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes from Oslo and 4 hours from Bergen.
You can also reach Geilo via road Rv50 over the mountains from west to east. This road passes through magnificent scenery between Aurland and Hol, with Geilo located 10 km from Hol.
From Geilo, road Fv40 passes through Numedal, Kongsberg, Larvik, and continues on to Tønsberg and Sandefjord.
For road warnings and incidents, check www.vegvesen.no or use the app from Statens Vegvesen, or call +47 815 48 991 (English) for information.
Car charging stations
On your way to Geilo, you will find car charging stations along road number 7 at Haugastøl, and six chargers at Hagafoss near the supermarket. Along road number 40, you will find six chargers near the supermarket in Dagali. On road number 50, you can charge your car at Storestølen Fjellhotell.
In Geilo, you can charge your car at the west end of the city center, at the Circle K gas station, and at the large parking lot south of the city center.
Distances to Geilo
From Bergen: 244 kilometers. From Larvik: 249 kilometers. From Oslo: 219 kilometers. From Trondheim: 528 kilometers.
Parking
There is a big parking lot by the cabin.
Coordinates
Book recommendations for this region:
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions