Experience Sirdal

The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) offers one of Europe's largest marked hiking trail network (20 000 kilomtres). This network is well developed in Sirdal, and together with Statskog you can choose from 17 different cabins to stay in. In the neighbouring mountain regions you have 35 DNT cabins and a total of 1000 kilomtres of trails.
 
All trails are marked with a red "T" for your safety.  The cabins in Sirdal are either self service or no service cabins. The self service cabins are equipped with all the gear and equipment you need for cooking and sleeping. The no service cabins the same, but you need to bring your own food. 
  

Experience Setesdal

A comprehensive network of marked footpaths exists in the Setesdal mountains. On both sides of the valley, you can hike in a wonderful landscape. The distance between the cabins varies, but generally the walk from one cabin to the next takes about three to five hours. In most of the cabins you will find food supplies. You can walk in the mountains for days, or just take day trips. Information to inexperienced hikers can be obtained at the local hiking association KOT in Kristiansand and at the tourist offices. Here you can also get planning maps with cabins and paths marked

Experience Åseral

The map called "Tur- og Opplevelseskart for Region Mandal" provides details of marked and unmarked paths and trails throughout the Mandal region. And a local government organisation for outdoor activities, FREM, prepares lots of paths of varying lengths and degrees of difficulty. The local hiking association KOT has an extensive network of marked trails and cabins in Åseral. The network of paths also leads to cabins in Setesdalsheiene and Sirdalsheiene.

Walk to Lordehytta, Åseral
It is a good three hours' walk from Røysland to Lordehytta, the striking hunting lodge built by the Scottish nobleman Lord Salvesen in 1910. The trail is not marked, so you will need to have a good map and a compass. The hunting lodge is privately owned, and is therefore not open to the public.

Nevertheless, it is such an impressive sight amidst the mountains that just seeing it is well worth the walk.
 
Hillestad heath to Lindeknuten
Only one hour from the coast you find forest wilderness. Bring your children on short or long hikes in the Sørlandet hills.

In Hillestadheia, the Hillestad heath, there are two trails to choose from, one is light, and the other is more difficult.

In Tovdal you can see quality art at the Hillestad Gallery. You can also take a nice walk in the art trail. If you want to go hiking, you can start from Hillestad Gallery on the trail up to Lindeknuten, which is 860 metres above sea level. This is a difficult ascent.

A shorter trip can be done from the parking area at Hillestad heath. The shorter trail to Lindeknuten is about three kilometres, and the trip is fairly easy. On top of the heath there is an old military installation, a marker and a guest book, and a fabulous view to the neighbouring valleys and the sea.

• Level: Short trail: light. Long trail: difficult
• Time: Short trail: One hour. Long trail: Seven hours
• Starting point: At Hillestad Gallery or on the top of the Hillestad heath.

Ådneram
If you wish to have a base camp, and only do shorter day hikes, the cabin in Ådneram might be the place for you to stay. The cabin is a no service cabin, but located close to the Fjellbutikken grocery store. There is a road all the way to the cabin. The key may be picked up at the Fjellbutikken grocery store. There is a larger DNT cabin next to this, but this can only be hired by larger groups and organisations.  

Taumevatn 
This hike starts in Ådneram. Follow the gravel road seven kilomtres to the Eldsvatn Lake. From here there is a marked trail heading north east to the Taumevatn.

• Distance: 12 kilometres
• Time: 3,5 hrs
• Self-service and unlocked

Storevatn 
Heibergtunet (country courtyard) Storevatn is more like a museum off the beaten track. The three cabins originate from the days when Thorvald Heiberg was offering commercial hunting to rich people in Njardarheim. This area is still used for grouse and reindeer hunting. The surrounding lakes are good fishing lakes. The Storevatn trail is an extension of Taumevatn. From Taumevatn the hike is seven kilometres and takes about three hours.  

• Self service and unlocked.

Børsteinen 
Børsteinen is located only 30 minutes walk for the Lysebotn road, hence it's popularity among families with small children. Børsteinen is a great place to stay overnight if you wish to do the Kjerag hike. At Kjerag there is a large rock stuck in two vertical walls, if you dare you can jump onto this rock and get a spectacular photo of the mountain and the Lysefjord.  

• No-service and unlocked.

Sandvannet
Sandvatn is located three hours from Lortabu in Hunnedalen (Road RV45). From here you can hike to Børsteinen and visa verse (17 kilometres, seven hours). No fishing possibilities in the area.  

• No-service and unlocked.

Tomannsbu 
Tomannsbu is located about three hours south of the Hunnedalen Valley (Road RV 45), proceeding at close to the Vest-Agder/Rogaland border. There are many lakes in the area, but poor fishing.

• Distance: Seven kilometres  
• Self-service and unlocked
• Alternative route is from Skredå (Road 468), this hike is 10 kilometres.

Støle
Støle is located in the heights of the Kvitadalen Valley. In earlier days the sheep between Jæren and Sirdal passed here. From 1825 and 50 years on this place was permanent settled.

• Distance: 12 kilometres
• Time: Four hours  
• Self-service and unlocked

Kvinen 
Kvinen is located north of the Kvifjorden Lake. Before the hydro electro power development there were permanent settlements here. Kvinen is easy accessed from both Donsen (Solheim) and Hønedalen (Haugen). As a DNT member you may fish in the Kvivatn Lake.

• Distance: 7 kilometres
• Time: 2,5 hrs  
• Self-service and unlocked.

Håhelleren 
Håhelleren is easily accessed from the Brokke-Suleskardvegen mountain pass (Road 987). About a half hours hike along the Håhellervatnet Lake.  

• No-service and unlocked

Grautheller 
Grautheller is located at the south west end of the Grauthellervatnet Lake. On the surrounding peaks of Grautheller you will see numerous piles of rocks. These were put up by hunters in the last century to attract birds of prey. The hunters would put out poisoned meat or special scissors on these piles to fight these birds, because they thought they harmed the accumulation of grouse. Follow route Ryf19 from Ådneram to Grydalslega, where you change direction and route (Ryf20) northwards. Alternative drive to Grydalslega and park the car along the road here (the road towards Lysebotn).  

• Distance 15 kilometres
• Time: 4,5 hrs  
• Self service and unlocked.