To help hikers find their way in the Norwegian mountains and forests, and to ensure they choose the hike that is best suited to their ability, Norway uses a shared standard for grading all its marked paths. The trails are all colour-coded to let hikers know what to expect.

The different levels are also clearly marked in all of Visit Norway’s products, so you can easily choose a hike that suits your condition and ambition.

Find your level

Norway’s grading system is based on four difficulty levels used both nationally and internationally: green, blue, red and black. The trail grading colours (and the difficulty levels they correspond to) are as follow:

Green: Easy. Short hikes requiring no special skills, suitable for all. Trail type: asphalt, gravel, forest and good trails. Less than two hours in duration. Elevation difference: less than 200 metres.

Blue: Medium. For hikers with basic skills.  Less than four hours in duration. Trail type: like green trails, but can have more demanding stretches. Elevation difference: less than 400 metres.

Red: Challenging. For experienced hikers in good physical shape/condition. These hikes require appropriate hiking equipment. Trail type: trails, open terrain, rock, scree and bare rock. Less than six hours in duration. Elevation difference: less than 800 metres.

Black: Expert. Hikes suitable for experienced mountaineers only. Hikers must be in good physical shape/condition. The hikes require good hiking equipment, plus use of map and compass. Trail type: longer and/or more technically challenging than red trails. No maximum duration. Elevation difference: no maximum.