Dalen has a varied landscape – everything from steep mountains, flat agricultural landscape, fjord landscape and deep forests. The hiking season is from May until October.
Hiking suggestions
Lårdalstigen
A fantastic footpath between Lårdal and Dalen. A large part of the walk follows the mountain edge up to 800 metres above the Telemark Canal. This is a hard walk, but an experience for life.
From several points you will have a fantastic view of the Bandakfjord below and the wild and beautiful mountains which surround you. Watch out for the mountain trolls Risen and Gygri carved into the stone at the edge of the cliff.
The footpath also boasts a rich and varied flora. Many orchidea grow here together with timian and oregano along the mountain sides. You wander through undisturbed forests of pine and spruce, and if you are lucky you may even catch a glimpse of the king of the forest – the elk. This is also the land of the lynx and the eagle.
You will find the remains of mountain farms and cottages where people lived in earlier times – harvesting what they could from this harsh and wild countryside.
The whole trip is marked and signposted from the main roads at Eidsborg and Lårdal. There are also posters with information about history, geology and other info.
Half-way you will find a small cottage where you can stay overnight if you wish.
A round trip where you walk one way and take the canal boat back is a fine experience. Dalen Tourist Information can make reservations for you. Anyhow, you are advised to contact the tourist information for more information about this trip before you set off. You can also buy a map at the tourist information.
For a group it is possible to have a guide on the tour.
Distance: 14 kilometres
Time: 6 – 9 hours one way
Starting point: SuiRui Farm close to Eidsborg
Parking: At the end of a gravel road. Do not park in front of the tunnel entrance.
Directions to SuiRui: From Dalen follow rv. 45 for 5 kilometres towards Eidsborg. Turn right by the sign to Lårdalstigen and then drive 500 metres on the gravel road.
Eidsborg – Ravnejuv (the Raven Gorge)
Medium challenging forest walk. 500 – 700 metres above sea level.
This trail starts at Vest-Telemark Museum in Eidsborg – a fascinating open-air museum worth visiting.
If you bring a map (sold at Dalen Tourist Information) you can read about geology and history along the trip.
The road you walk on here is an old public road to the church. It has a lot of history along it.
In the second half of the 1800s a stream of foreign tourists, and others, came to see and experience the Raven Gorge, which is the goal for this trip. The gorge was even mentioned in the writings of Frederick Metcalfe at the University of Oxford.
The Raven Gorge is a spectacular natural attraction with a sheer drop of 350 metres from the edge of the cliff to the Tokkeåi River below. Because of the air stream up the face of the cliff it is said to be possible to throw a banknote over the edge and have it returned to you by the wind.
At the Raven Gorge you will find an information pavilion. Take a little time to read about the history of the gorge.
Distance: 14 kilometres
Time: 2 - 3 hours one way
Starting point: Vest-Telemark Museum Eidsborg
Parking: By the stave church
Recommended stops: The Raven Gorge
Directions to Vest-Telemark Museum Eidsborg: From Dalen follow rv. 45 for 5 kilometers until you reach Eidsborg. Turn left by the sign to Vest-Telemark Museum.
Getting to Dalen
Dalen is situated in the county of Telemark.
Distances to Dalen from:
The nearest airport is Sanderfjord Airport Torp, 180 kilometres away.
From the sea you can travel all the way up to Dalen on the Telemark Canal.