10 National Parks in Norway That You Shouldn't Miss

With over 250 mountains of almost 2000 meters high, including the 2469 meters Galdhopiggen, Jotunheimen offers nature at its peak. Hike, bike, climb or ski. Flow with rivers and listen to waterfalls. Camp wild and free, spend the night sleeping inside the park's wooden huts, cabins and lodges and hotels. In the Home of the Giants you touch the sky walking over the famous Besseggen ridge. Fly with eagles standing on top of the mighty Galdhopiggen or just lie on your back in the lush meadows of this natural beauty embraced by picturesque Lom, the green slopes of Gudbrandsdalen, traditional Valdres, the waters of the Sognefjord and the eternal ice of the Jostedalsbreen glacier. So watch and be watched by the abundant wildlife. Experience the freedom, beauty, Zen and mystique of Europe's wildest nature. Come, meet the seasons and listen to the heart of Norway, beating in Jotunheimen. Jotunheimen National Park, the heart of Norway beats between Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim. Bron:Visit Norway

Seiland National Park: Steep costal landscape with Skandinavias northernmost glaciers. Seiland is a very beautiful part of the islands of vestern Finnmark, with both small and big fjords surrounded by steep mountains. Seilands two glaciers are the northernmost galciers in Skandianvia. Even though the National Park is far north, it is still very green. These steep mountains are nesting place for a lot of bird pray.

Femundsmarka National Park is one of the largest continuous, unspoilt wilderness regions in Southern Scandinavia. A great area for canoeing and fishing. The Norwegian Trekking Association has selected it as one of the three best hiking areas in Norway. National Park centre at Doktortjonna,

Gutulia was made a national park in 1968. The area, measuring 19 km², is located between the Gutuli Lake and the Swedish border. Due to its primeval forest comprising enormous trees, the area was proposed protected as early as 1916. Here, you’ll find spruce trees that are over 300 years old and pine trees that are almost 500 years old.

Norway's third largest glacier. In 2005 Folgefonna National Park was opened, which at the time was Norway's twenty fifth national park. Folgefonna is known for its dramatic and beautiful scenery. Here you will find fjords, mountains, lakes, rivers and water falls. There are lots of things to see in the park, and this makes the area one of the country's most important destinations. Access trails start at Rullestad in Etne, at Bergsto or at Mosnes (by boat).

Climbing one of the many peaks that surrounds the park, most people will be captivated by the magnificent scenery in front of them. Apparently this is untouched nature, but if you take a closer look at the mountains and the valley, you will soon discover that this is not the case. The national park has been used for about 2000 years and is rich in cultural heritage. Along the banks of the Rotla River, you can discover traces of permanent settlement from before the Black Death. From the river and up the slopes there is mountain hamlet after mountain hamlet which testifies to great activity. However, the main activity was the withdrawal of the grinding stones that took place over a large area, from Bokhammeren in the south to Skarvene in the north, with the largest concentration in Hogfjellet. Visitors can also see the remains of dwellings, ironworks, Sami settlements, catch pits, traces of copper mining operations and old traffic arteries. One of several wonderful tourist cabins is Schulzhytta. For more than 60 years, it has been an exciting hiking target for outdoor recreation enthusiasts, both summer and winter. The cabin is centrally located inside the national park ready to host you when you have a faraway look in the eyes and are looking to get into the large plateaus. In the national parks' peripheral zone, you will find several tourist cabins that are great starting points for hiking and skiing excursions. The entire national park is covered by the Essan reindeer grazing area. Please show consideration when you are travelling in nature areas! Visit Norway published a brochure called walking in Norway 2010, where you can find further information about Skarvan and Rotldalen National Park. Be considerate of cultural relics, vegetation and fauna. Be extra careful during the breeding and nesting season. Read the Directorate for Nature management brochure about Skarvan and Roltdalen National Park.

This summit trip from Geilo to Prestholtskarvet is a true, national park classic. begin the trip by car from Geilo to Prestholtseter, where locally produced mountain farm fare may be enjoyed. Follow the unique stone steps, constructed according to true Nepalese traditions of craftsmanship, to the summit at 1859 masl. Distance: 3 km Duration: 2 hrs. Degree of difficulty: Average