Hardangervidda

Hardangervidda is a high mountain plateau in southern Norway and the largest such plateau in northern Europe, protected largely within Hardangervidda National Park.

The plateau offers extensive marked hiking and ski touring routes across a treeless, tundra-like landscape, with a system of mountain huts and cabins used by walkers and cross-country skiers. The area supports large migratory herds of wild reindeer and wide open vistas that can extend for many kilometres.

Hardangervidda’s landscape was shaped by glaciation and postglacial processes; it has long been used seasonally for hunting and reindeer herding. Formal protection came with the creation of Hardangervidda National Park in 1981 to conserve its biodiversity and cultural landscapes.

The plateau stretches across southern Norway between inland valleys and the western fjord region, with common access points from towns such as Eidfjord, Geilo and the Finse railway stop on the Bergen Line.

• National park area: Designated a national park in 1981 and covering approximately 3,400 square kilometres, it is one of Europe's largest mountain plateaus protected as parkland.
• Wildlife and trails: Home to one of Europe's largest wild reindeer populations and a long network of marked trails and staffed mountain huts for multi-day treks.

What to See #

• Hardangervidda National Park: Hardangervidda National Park, established to protect the plateau's alpine ecosystems and large reindeer herds.
• Finse access point: Finse area and railway stop on the Bergen Line, a common access point for hikers and ski tourers on the plateau.