10 Hiking Trails in Nesbyen That You Shouldn't Miss

Good trail. From 170 m.a.s.l. In the dense forest in the hills north of Rukkedola River, not far from residences in Nesbyen, are some peculiar stone walls. They have been there a long time, but who put them there, and why? The conventional theory has been that they were trapping fences, forcing animals off the steep cliffs above the river. Now some say they might be the ruins of a town fortress. The theory is strengthened by the fact that there is a spring there, providing constant fresh water. Either way, this is still a special memory of the earliest inhabitants of Nesbyen. Route description: The hike starts at the parking lot by Hallingdal Museum. Cross the pedestrian bridge over Rukkedola and go steeply up to the left and onto the easily seen trail that climbs uphill. After app. 250 meters, a new trail goes downwards to the left. Follow this. After a while, the trail cuts steeply up through the hills going down towards the river. The town fortress sits on a flat shelf between two steep hills. If you go back the same way, you’ll get a hike of 1.5 km, but we definitely recommend you follow the old path further, and see how well-made it is, and how it follows the terrain. When you enter the road upwards to Bringenatten, follow it about 100 meters upwards before you turn right, onto one of the old trails that used to connect the old small farms in the area. The trail will bring you back towards Nes, just a little higher up on the hillside. The hike is 2.5km long as a round trip. Location: By Rukkedola Starting point: Parking lot, Hallingdal Museum Distance: 2.5 km as round trip GPS: 6714104 N, 504639 E

Gravel road and good trail. Approx. 400 m.a.s.l. The Trytetjern area is a popular leisure area in Nes. The area has both a shooting range and a great swimming spot. The high water temperatures in Trytetjern are well-known from the radio reports. Route: Drive Hedalsveien up the valley side from the east side of Nesbyen. Park on the large parking lot on the left of the road after app. 5 km. Walk the gravel road to the swimming spot and onwards on the trail around the water. Follow the car road the last part back. Locals often use the hills up from the town center for exercise. East side of the valley Starting point: Parking lot by bath lake Trytetjern Distance in km: 1,7 GPS: 6715349 North 508580 East (UTM zone 32)

Tarmac and gravel roads. Approx. 160 m.a.s.l. After the waterfalls by the museum, the Rukkedola River runs calmly through Nesbyen town center and into Hallingdalselva. There is a hiking path along one of the riverbanks. The hiking path crosses the river by the museum and near the market place just before the outlet. . Route: The starting point of the hike is Nesbyen town center. Follow Alfarvegen and cross Rukkedola. Pass Thoen Hotell and turn right, down Steinmogutu. After 300 meters, the hiking path takes off to the right. Follow this along the river and around the market place, before you walk through a residential area back to the starting point. The hike poster is placed by the pedestrian bridge where you cross the river. Location: Nesbyen town center Starting point: The parking lot by Kiwi Distance: 2,2 km as round trip Paths: Tarmac and gravel roads GPS: 6715245 North 505743 East (UTM zone 32) Hiking map can be bought at the tourist information, bookstore, and tourist businesses.

This is a small part of an old cattle road that went from Aurland in Sogn and crossed Hallingdal just below Sundre. The road then turned towards Nesningsfjella, Skalsrudstolen, Rukke and further up to Jordeslia, where there was a rest stop on one of the summer farms. ”Our” road starts just above Jordeslia and follows Driftevassbekken creek upwards. Just 200 m from the starting point, the historical society has built a small bridge over the creek. There's an info sign here. About 3 km further on, the road passes a giant pine tree. Jorgen Holm has named it Kvilningsfuro, The Rest Pine. An examination of the growth rings revealed that the tree is about 550 years old a living organism from medieval times. A visit to the pine is worth the hike in itself. There's an info board and 2 good benches by the tree. About 1 km further, you'll arrive at Kvilningsberget, The Rest Rock. There are benches here as well and a great view towards the Hemsedal mountains and Reineskarvet. You can also see Hallingskarvet in the distance, and several idyllic fishing waters. The cattle road (not cleared) continues into the mountains, passing Brynhildstjern, Hallingnatten and Reinsjoen on its way towards Norefjell. The old cattle road went all the way to Branes/Drammen and the Kongsberg area. Our part of the cattle road was cleared by Nes historical society between 2001 and 2003 and marked with marker sticks. There's a good info board at the starting point in Jordeslivegen. 4 info boards in all. Slight incline. Beautiful hiking terrain (900-1000 masl.) Some marshland at the top after app. 4 km. 5.3 km in total, 1 hour with normal walking speed.

Small car roads in farm and cabin area. 950-1030 m.a.s.l Take the road to Kuluset from Nystolen. It’s possible to hike to Kulusetberget from the summer farm at Kuluset (see Kulusetberget nature trail). The road continues through a right turn and forks after app. 600 m. Small parking/turning space. Here there is a marked trail to Bogaset to the left, but the route continues to the right at this crossroad and follows the road app. 500 m. A bit up a steep hill there is a small road to the left leading to Timmermannsstolen (road barred with chains) Right after Timmermannsstolen you’ll find the road that leads to Trommenatten (oyvassrunden). Follow the oyvassrunden back to the starting point. Be sure to follow the wooden sign at the last crossroad (not the bicycle sign), the bike route is a little longer. Starting point: Trondrudmarka. Parking: Nystolkroken Kafe or Storhalle. Directions: From Nesbyen town center, Rukkedalsvegen 8 km towards Tunhovd. Go left over the river towards Nystolen 3km. Go right towards Nystolen 5 km. Km: 3,5. Normal pace: 1 hr. Signs: Signed and marked with blue color. Bicycle signs and wooden signs. Recommended stop: Kulusetberget. Hiking map can be bought at the tourist information, bookstore and tourist businesses.

Varied forest terrain, 871 m.a.s.l. Start at the small bridge at the outlet of Myking sea (east peak), follow the blue and red markings along the south side of the hillside Strykjernet to the outcrop. Go right into the forest and follow the trail up toward the hillside Bruslett. The trail crosses a flat marshland (wet), goes downhill a bit until it reaches the car road to Bruset. Follow the car road, stay to the right in the first crossroad and keep going through up the cabin area. Keep to the right at the end of the road, look for signs: Alt. 1. Myking or alt. 2 Gronhovd. Alt. 1. Towards Myking: Walk below the cabins and follow the marked trail to the north end of the lake Mykingsjoen where the brook ends. Cross the brook and follow the marked trail. If you turn left along the right side of the brook, you’ll get to Ranten/Gronhovd. If you go to the right (straight ahead), you’ll get to a cabin area or further up to the road back to start at the small bridge. Alt 2. to Gronhovd. Get off the trail by the sign marked Gronhovd. Beautiful birch forest heights. Starting point: East peak of Myking sea. Parking: Large P-ground in the end of the road. Directions: From Nesbyen up Rukkedalen, get on the road towards Myking (toll bar) at the crossroad by Rukke after appox. 13 km. Follow the road approx. 4 km and take left down to the outlet of the Myking sea. Km: 8,7 km, App. time at normal pace: 1hr 30 min. GPS: hallingkart.no. Skilt: Blue + red color on rocks/trees. Rest stops: The top of Bruset. The end of the brook north of the lake Mykingsjoen. Along the birch forest heights after you get off towards Gronhovd. Hiking map can be bought at the tourist information, bookstore, and tourist businesses.

Forest road and trail. 170 - 704 m.a.s.l. Bringenatten offers one of the best views of Nesbyen. The easiest way up is a forest car road from Vadbru in Rukkedalen. After several turns, you’ll find a short trail to the top. You can also follow the route marked by Nes Municipality from Hallingdal museum, over Rukkedola River on old trails until you reach the forest road mentioned before. Directions: From Nesbyen town centre towards Tunhovd. Drive app. 1 km. Park at Vadbru. Alternatively park at Hallingdal museum and walk from there. Normal walking speed: app. 2 hours. Marked from Hallingdal Museum by Nes Municipality. Hiking maps can be bought at the tourist office, the bookshop or at tourist businesses. Source: To the top in Nes, 12 tops by Nesbyen orientation team.

Forest. Both steep and flat parts. 160-250 m.a.s.l. The hike starts at the Hova farms. You’ll get to a couple of old farm yards, the first one is called Engelland and the second Fjakleland or Braten. Between the old farms there is a crossroad where a trail runs to the left to an abandoned farm called Teterud (sign). Continue from the crossroad up the slope Hovabakkan to the farm Fjalkeland. A bit further up you’ll get to the old lumber road to the mountain Bringenatten. Follow this road down to the bridge Vabrua over the river Rukkedola. Follow the new road Rukkedalsvegen towards Nesbyen app. 200 meters before you get on the old road Rukkedalsvegen to the right. You’ll be walking the first wagon road to the valley Rukkedalen (built in 1860-1870). Info sign at the crossroad. Cross the road Rukkedalsvegen and walk down the slope Sleppingan, a continuation of the old cattle road behind the museum. Walk through the museum area and back down to the parking lot. Starting point: Hallingdal Museum. Parking at the museum. Directions: Cross the bridge by the museum and follow the road up to the farm Espeset. Walk up the slopes Hovabakkane and down the old road Rukkedalsvegen is recommended. Km: App 3. Normal pace: app. 50 min. Signs: Info sign by the old road Rukkedalsvegen. At the slopes Hovabakkan: two info signs and two forest signs. Trail: Hiking trail/footpath. Rest stop: Fjakleland and Hovabakkan. Recommended stops: The old farm yards. Hiking map can be bought at the tourist information, bookstore, and tourist businesses. GPS: 0503920o - 6714026N

Birch forest and bare mountain. Start 960 m.a.s.l, Dyna 1212 m.a.s.l. Start by the locked bar on Skalsrudstolen. Follow the sign marked ”Bergstien”. The trail runs on the heights south of the small lake Ausa, follows the heights onwards, and passes south and west of the peak Butten. Onwards up on the mountains Vesledyna and Dyna (1212). Go back down towards the mountain farm Steinstolen, past the lakes Brisketjornan, the south end of the lake Svartevatn, over the mountain Holmevassnatten and back. The old sled trails from West Norway used to run over the mountain farm Skalsrudstolen. Starting point: Skalsrudstolen. Parking: Large P-ground by the locked bar where the pat starts Skalsrudstolen. Directions: From Nesbyen up Rukkedalen, get on the road towards Myking (toll bar) at the crossroad by Rukke after app 13,5 km. Follow the road upwards app. 3km, then go right towards Skalsrudstolen, app. 6 km. Km: 13,7. Time: Normal pace: app. 3,5 hrs. Signs: By the starting point. Rocks marked with blue and yellow color. Good rest stops: By the outlet of the lake ovre Fiskebutten, the mountain Dyna and Holmevassnatten and the lake Svartevatn Recommended stops: Several good fishing waters, remember your fishing license. Butten, Dyna and Holmevassnatten. Hiking map can be bought at the tourist information, bookstore and tourist businesses.