On a clear day, the view from the top of Gaustatoppen takes in roughly 60,000 square kilometres, close to one sixth of mainland Norway. Few summits in the country give you that much for a half-day walk.
At 1,883 metres, Gaustatoppen is the highest mountain in Telemark and rises straight above the old industrial town of Rjukan. Its long, pointed outline is easy to recognise from far across the region.
This guide covers the main trail from Stavsro, the steeper routes, the Cold War railway hidden inside the mountain, and the practical details that make the day go smoothly.
Gaustatoppen at a glance
The mountain sits in Tinn municipality, with a lower plateau reaching into Hjartdal. The first recorded ascent was in August 1810, when geologist Jens Esmark and botanist Christen Smith climbed it to measure its height.
They wanted to know whether this was Norway's highest peak. It is not, but it has one of the widest views of any summit in the country, which is why people have been walking up for more than 200 years.
Near the top stands Gaustatoppen Turisthytte, a stone hut run by the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) that has served hikers in summer since 1893. Beside it rises the tall tower of a radio relay station, which gives the summit its unusual silhouette.
The classic trail from Stavsro
Most people start at Stavsro, a car park at about 1,173 metres on county road Fv651 between Rjukan and Tuddal. The trail is about 4.3 kilometres each way, with roughly 700 metres of climbing.
Plan on around 2.5 hours up and 5 to 7 hours for the round trip at a relaxed pace. The path is wide and marked the whole way with DNT's red T painted on rocks and cairns.
It is not a technical hike, but it is rocky from start to finish. The last section climbs through loose boulder terrain to the hut, so boots with ankle support make a real difference, especially on the way down.
You will see small stones placed on the cairns along the path. Many hikers carry one up from the bottom and add it to a pile, a small tradition that has built up over the years.
The Stavsro route is considered moderate and suits children who are used to walking in the mountains. Younger kids often manage it well if you take regular breaks and turn around without fuss when they have had enough.
From the hut to the true summit
Many hikers stop at the hut and the viewing platform by the tower, at about 1,830 metres. That spot already gives you the big panorama over Hardangervidda, the lakes below and the hills of Telemark.
The true summit lies a little further north along an exposed, rocky ridge. It takes about 20 minutes and involves some easy scrambling, so it is not a place for small children or anyone uneasy with heights.
Skip the ridge in strong wind, rain or poor visibility. The views from the platform are almost as good, and the south-western side of the mountain falls away steeply.
Steeper routes from Svineroi and Selstali
If you want a shorter but harder climb, start from Svineroi seter near the lower Gaustabanen station. This route is about 3 kilometres long with around 850 metres of ascent and takes roughly two hours to the top.
It is steep the whole way and crosses tricky terrain, so it works better as a way up than a way down. Selstali is a third marked starting point, also signed with red Ts.
The longest option climbs all the way from Rjukan in the valley, the way people reached the top before roads and railways made it easier. It is a long and demanding day with well over a thousand metres of climbing, so save it for settled weather and fit legs.
Riding the Gaustabanen railway
Gaustabanen is one of the strangest rides in Norway. Between 1954 and 1959, a funicular was built inside the mountain to serve the military radio station on the summit, funded mainly by American military grants as part of NATO's communications network.
The trip starts with a small train that runs about 800 metres horizontally into the mountain. You then switch to a steep funicular that climbs at close to 40 degrees through the rock, reaching the upper station at about 1,800 metres in around 15 minutes.
From the top station, you step out at Tuddalstippen and follow wide stone steps up to the DNT hut and the viewing platform. It is an easy walk that needs no mountain experience.
The most popular way to combine the two is to hike up from Stavsro and ride Gaustabanen down. You get the trail on the way up and spare your knees on the long, stony descent.
The railway runs most of the year apart from maintenance breaks, with longer opening hours in July and August. Check the current timetable and prices on gaustabanen.no before you go.
Parking, buses and getting there
Gaustatoppen is about two and a half hours by car from Oslo. Fv651 between Rjukan and Tuddal takes you past both Stavsro and the Gaustabanen station.
Stavsro has paid parking, and it fills quickly on fine summer weekends. Do not park along the road outside the marked areas, as cars can be towed. Alternatives include Svineroi and the Gausta area lower down.
In season, a free shuttle bus links Rjukan, the Gausta and Gaustablikk area, the Gaustabanen station and Stavsro. It also makes a one-way hike easy: walk up from Stavsro, ride the railway down and take the bus back to your car.
In winter, the road from the Tuddal side is not cleared to Stavsro, so you need to come in via Rjukan.
When to hike Gaustatoppen
The best hiking season is July to September, when the trail is usually free of snow. Late July and early August are the busiest weeks, so start early in the morning or later in the afternoon if you want a quieter path.
Even in summer, the weather on an exposed peak at nearly 1,900 metres can turn quickly. Pack a windproof and waterproof layer, a hat, gloves, water and snacks, and carry a map. Our day hike packing list covers the essentials.
Outside the main season, the hike is still possible for experienced hikers with the right gear, but snow and ice can make the rocky trail much harder. In winter, the mountain becomes a ski destination rather than a summer walk.
Where to stay near Gausta
The DNT hut at the top has a small number of beds that must be booked ahead, which makes it possible to watch sunset and sunrise from the summit. During its staffed season it serves waffles, coffee and rømmegrøt, the Norwegian sour cream porridge.
Down on the plateau, Kvitåvatn Fjellstue sits at about 950 metres with a direct view of the mountain. The lodge is about 16 kilometres from Rjukan, and you can walk to Gaustatoppen from the door, by way of Svineroi or Stavsro.
Gaustablikk Høyfjellshotell and a large area of modern cabins sit nearby. In winter, Gausta Skisenter turns the slopes into one of the bigger alpine areas in southern Norway, with cross-country trails across the plateau.
Make it a longer trip
Rjukan, in the valley below, is worth a day of its own. Together with Notodden, it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its early 20th century hydropower and industrial history.
The Vemork power station nearby, now the Norwegian Industrial Workers Museum, tells the story of the wartime heavy water sabotage. You can also ride the Krossobanen cable car out of the valley to the edge of the plateau.
From Gaustatoppen, you look straight across to the vast plateau to the north-west. If that view tempts you, our guide to Hardangervidda hiking covers the routes and huts for a multi-day trek.
Gaustatoppen is a great first summit for visitors to southern Norway, and it pairs well with the bigger classics. See how it compares in our round-up of the best hikes in Norway.
About Erik Lindqvist
Erik Lindqvist is a Scandinavian trail guide and outdoor writer based in Norway. He has spent fifteen years hiking fjord paths, mountain ridges, and forest tracks across Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.
