About the area

In the forest and up in the mountains you can will find the track that fits you best; flat or steep, long or short. Rjukan is the southern gateway to the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, were you can walk as many days you want and stay at different cabins. Main season for our tracks is from end of June till end of September. In Rjukan town centre you can walk along the river "Måna" the whole year around. This trip is also suitable for bikes and trolleys.  

In the saboteurs' footsteps - guided tour

This tour goes in varied terrain, mostly forest, at 450-1040 metres above sea level. This is a guided tour, where the guide tells you the story about the Telemark Heroes from World War 2. On 27 February 1943 the heavy water plant at Vemork was blown up by Norwegian saboteurs to prevent production of heavy water. You can now join a guided tour in the route the saboteurs used on their way to the plant.

The path starts from Rjukan Fjellstue. It is also way-marked and has path-side display boards explaining the history of the walk. During the trip you will have impressive views of Rjukan and the Norwegian Industrial Workers' Museum, before you continue down to where the saboteurs crossed the gorge. After climbing up from the gorge the trip follows the course of the old railway to the museum where the sabotage actually happened.

Suitable for: Normally trained persons
Distance: About 12 kilometres
Time: About four to five hours
Starting point:  Vemork, six kilometres west of Rjukan town centre
Parking: Vemork
Directions to starting point: From Rjukan town centre, drive towards Rauland in the west.  After approximately six kilometres turn to the left to Vemork. Park your car at the parking place and wait for the guides that brings you to the starting point.
Buy map at: Rjukan Tourist Office, Torget 2, phone: +47 350 80 550

Gaustatoppen Mountain

This tour goes in mountain terrain at 1173-1883 metres above sea level. Gaustatoppen towers majestically above the town of Rjukan at an altitude of 1,883 metres. For 200 years people have climbed to the top, and now some 30,000 people make the trip up to the summit every year. You can see one sixth of Norway from the peak.  

You can but a cup of coffee, waffles and food at the Tourist Association's 100-year-old stone cabin on the summit. You can pick your own stone from the piles around the summit and get it stamped to prove that you climbed the mountain. The trail is well marked with red T's all the way up and it takes most people about two hours to reach the summit and a little less on the way down. You might find stones with wave patterns, from when the mountain was at the bottom of a long lost ocean.

Suitable for: Normally trained persons
Distance: About five kilometres each way
Time: Four to five hours
Starting point:  Stavsro, 16 kilometres south east of Rjukan centre
Parking: Stavsro
Directions to starting point: From Rjukan centre drive east on road 37 for 5 kilometres. Take to the right by Dale. Follow the sign to "Tuddal". Drive approximately 11 kilometres. At the left hand side you have Stavsro cafeteria and parking. The path starts at the other side of the road.
Buy map at: Rjukan Touristoffice, Torget 2, phone: +47 350 80 550