Besseggen Ridge

Besseggen is the most famous mountain ridge walk in Norway, a full-day hike in Jotunheimen along a knife-edge between two lakes: the clear deep-blue Bessvatnet, and the milky emerald-green, glacier-fed Gjende far below. A boat carries most walkers up Lake Gjende to start, and the ridge itself is a genuine scramble.

Highlights

• The two-colour lakes - turquoise Bessvatnet above and blue Gjende below, seen at once.
• The ridge scramble - the steep, rocky knife-edge that gives the hike its fame.
• Jotunheimen peaks - the highest mountains in Norway all around.
• The Gjende boat - the ferry along the long green lake to the trailhead.

When to go

The short high-mountain summer from late June to September, when the ridge is snow-free. Take an early boat to allow the full day. Weather turns fast at altitude, so pick a settled day.

Good to know

It is a demanding full-day hike with real scrambling on the ridge, not a gentle walk, so it needs fitness, boots and a head for exposure. It is hugely popular, so the trail and the boat are busy in season. Sudden weather is a genuine hazard on the exposed high ground.

Nearby

The peaks of Jotunheimen, including Galdhopiggen, rise around it; the Sognefjellet mountain road crosses nearby.

Key facts