To help hikers find their way in the Norwegian mountains and forests, and to ensure they choose the hike that is best suited to their ability, Norway uses a shared standard for grading all its marked paths. The trails are all colour-coded to let hikers know what to expect.
Find your level
Norway’s grading system is based on four difficulty levels used both nationally and internationally: green, blue, red and black. The trail grading colours (and the difficulty levels they correspond to) are as follow:
Green - Easy
Suitable for:
Beginners
No special skills required
Mainly short walks
Special symbols mark the areas suitable for wheelchair users/prams
Altitude metres:
< 300 m
< 5 km
Type of path:
Tarmac, gravel, forest roads and good paths
Work done on paths to enable easy walking
Firm, even and obstruction-free path
No streams to be crossed
Degree of elevation/ exposure:
Moderate ascents, but no steep or difficult sections
Blue - Medium
Suitable for:
Beginners
Walkers of average fitness
Basic skills
Altitude metres:
< 600 m
< 10 km
Type of path:
Similar to green trails, but can have more challenging sections
Can be rocky but no demanding scree
No streams to be crossed
Degree of elevation/ exposure:
Most ascents are moderate, but can include some steep slopes
Certain sections can be considered precipitous for some
Red - Challenging
Suitable for:
Experienced walkers
Good stamina
Good equipment and hiking boots required
Altitude metres:
< 1000 m
< 20 km
Type of path:
Path, open terrain, rocky, scree and rugged mountains
Crossing streams, traversing steep slopes and long stretches of both loose rock and marshland
Up to two streams to be crossed
Degree of elevation/ exposure:
Several types of ascents and challenges
Several precipitous and exposed sections
Can include technical challenges and parts that require some climbing
Black - Expert
Suitable for:
Experienced hikers
Good stamina
Good equipment and hiking boots required
Knowledge of maps and use of a compass
Altitude metres:
No maximum
Type of path:
Longer and/ or more technical trails than "red"
Can include a number of streams to be crossed
Degree of elevation/ exposure:
Typical walks are long summit trips with steep ascents on uneven paths
Can have precipitous and exposed sections sections/passages where scrambling is necessary
Narrow ridges, smooth rock, scree etc.
The Norwegian Mountain Code
Plan your trip and inform others about the route you have selected.
Plan your trip based on the group’s abilities, and always include alternative options.
Obtain current information about the area and the weather conditions. Listen to the advice of seasoned mountaineers where possible.
Ensure you have sufficient knowledge and practical skills to complete the trip.
Respect the natural environment. Plan ahead and don't leave any litter.
Arrange meeting points during the trip that don’t require mobile coverage or accurate timing.
Is your planning sufficient to guarantee an enjoyable trip no matter what?
Adapt the planned routes according to ability and conditions.
Assess the conditions continuously and adjust your plans accordingly.
Respect the weather.
Travelling with others is safer and means you'll have someone to share your experiences with. If you’re travelling alone, exercise caution.
Do not embark on a long trip without sufficient experience. You must be able to take care of yourself as well as the others in your group.
Be considerate of other hikers. Make sure you have read The right of access and its requirements.
Make sure your group maintains an open and direct line of communication at all times.
Can you complete the trip under these conditions and with this group?
Pay attention to the weather and the avalanche warnings.
Always check the weather forecast and avalanche warnings to see what impact they have on the area. Follow the advice and choose a gentler terrain when conditions are too demanding.
Check the avalanche, flood and ice forecast on varsom.no.
Monitor the development of the weather and avalanche conditions along the way. Bear in mind that plans may need to be adjusted.
Be prepared for bad weather and frost, even on short trips.
Dress appropriately for the weather, and the terrain.
Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Bring extra clothing, and the equipment your route and terrain requires.
Extra food and drink can help save lives, if the trip takes longer than planned or you have to wait for help.
Is your group equipped to deal with a sudden change in weather?
Bring the necessary equipment so you can help yourself and others.
In the winter, you need a windsack/bivy sack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag and a shovel so that you can spend the night outdoors if you have to. A windsack can save lives.
Bring a high-visibility vest or a headlight, that will make it easier to find you if necessary.
Bring a first aid kit so you can help yourself and others.
Always use a transmitter/receiver, and have an avalanche probe and a shovel if you are traveling in avalanche prone terrain.
Pack wisely. Packing lists for different tours can be found at ut.no.
Mobile phones can be a useful tool, but remember that they don't work in all situations and areas.
If an accident occurs, alert the police at 112, go to get help or try to notify someone with other means.
Are you able to take care of yourself and help others?
Choose safe routes. Recognize avalanche terrain and unsafe ice.
Avoid terrain that is prone to avalanches, and plan your route well.
Be aware that avalanches are typically triggered at slopes steeper than 30 degrees.
You may trigger or be hit by an avalanche also in less steep terrain, even in flat terrain.
To eliminate the danger of avalanches, stay out of avalanche terrain. This means keeping a distance of three times the height of the mountainside or slope above you. In other words, if an avalanche could release 100 vertical metres above you, you stay clear at a horisontal distance of 300 metres.
Avoid terrain traps, such as narrow gorges. Consider what will happen if there is an avalanche.
Be aware that a cornice can break off when you walk on a mountain ridge.
Be aware of ice conditions when you walk on regulated lakes and rivers.
Can an avalanche happen where I plan to go? What will the consequence be?
Use a map and a compass. Always know where you are.
A map and compass are essential basic equipment that always work.
Pay attention to the map even when hiking on a marked trail.
Knowing where you are on the map makes for a better hiking experience.
GPS and other electronic aids are helpful, but make sure you have extra batteries.
Do you know where you are?
Don’t be ashamed to turn around.
Evaluate your route continuously. If conditions become difficult, choose your best alternative long before you or your group members become exhausted.
Have the circumstances changed? Should you turn around?
Are anyone in your group having problems completing the route? Should the group turn around?
Enjoy the hike for its own sake, and remember that there will be other opportunities if it is too challenging today.Don’t be ashamed to turn around.
Evaluate your route continuously. If conditions become difficult, choose your best alternative long before you or your group members become exhausted.
Have the circumstances changed? Should you turn around?
Conserve your energy and seek shelter if necessary.
Adjust your hiking speed to the weakest member of the group, and make sure that everyone can keep up.
Remember to eat and drink frequently. When you exert yourself, your body needs more fluids than you may feel you need.
Don't wait until you are exhausted before you seek shelter. Strong winds will tire you out quickly.
Use your windsack or dig a snow cave before it's too late.
Are you able to get back to your base? Do you know where the nearest shelter is?
Equipment
Hikers have to be prepared for all types of weather in the mountains, even in summer. You must bring along clothes and equipment that are suitable for use in good weather, but also for snow, rain and wind. The weather can change very quickly in the Norwegian mountains, and it can snow at high altitudes even in summer.
Map, Compass and GPS
Food and drink: Bring enough food and drink for the duration of your walk.
Clothes: Wear a layer of wool as an inner layer, then a fleece top and a windproof jacket. Bring rainwear as well.
Footwear: Wearing sturdy footwear is very important – mountain boots are recommended.
Bivouac sack: Good to crawl into to shelter from the elements.
Mobile phone: Bring your mobile phone with you, but remember there is not always a signal.
First aid equipment: Bring basic first aid equipment.
Demanding terrain
Glaciers: Some of the walks in the mountains involve crossing glaciers, which requires both knowledge and equipment. Using a guide is recommended. Watch out for falling ice at the edge of the glacier, and for cracks in the ice.
Steep terrain: Some walks are in steep terrain. Stick to the path, and use trekking poles. In boulderfields, you must take care not to lose your balance and dislodge rocks that could hit you or others.
Crossing rivers: Do not attempt to cross a river unless you are certain that you can get across. Do not try to jump across or skip from stone to stone in streams if there is a chance you could lose your balance. The best place to cross a river is where it is shallowest and where the water is most slow-moving. Cross diagonally upstream against the current. Using trekking poles is recommended.
Season and climate
Season: The walking season usually lasts from May until October, but this varies depending on the location, altitude etc. The season also varies from year to year, so ask at the reception desk or at a tourist information office if you are unsure about where you can go walking.
Daylight: Check when it gets dark (depends on time of year).
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Green - Easy
Blue - Medium
Red - Challenging
Black - Expert
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