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Besseggen

Besseggen — the trail guide

The Besseggen is a 12.5 km trek in Norway, typically walked in 1 day, with 756 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (60 m of gain per km, topping out at 1723 m).

Besseggen is Norway's most popular mountain hike, a roughly 14-kilometre point-to-point across the Jotunheimen high country between the lodges of Gjendesheim and Memurubu. Most hikers ride the Gjende ferry out to Memurubu and walk back east, climbing the exposed Besseggen ridge that divides emerald-green Lake Gjende from deep-blue Bessvatnet before crossing Veslfjellet at 1,743 metres. It is a full, strenuous day of scrambling and big Jotunheimen views.

Quick facts

Distance12.5 km
Total ascent756 m
Typical duration1 day
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness60 m gain per km
High point1723 m
CountryNorway
RegionNorway

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 1014 m · high point 1723 m · 756 m total ascent over 12.5 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 985 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan-5°-11°96 mm
Feb-5°-10°67 mm
Mar-3°-8°68 mm
Apr-5°52 mm
May66 mm
Jun13°107 mm
Jul14°151 mm
Aug13°137 mm
Sep10°137 mm
Oct-1°98 mm
Nov-1°-6°95 mm
Dec-4°-9°98 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Besseggen?

The Besseggen is 12.5 km, and most hikers complete it in 1 day. Total elevation gain is 756 m.

How difficult is the Besseggen?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 60 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 1723 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the Besseggen is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the Besseggen?

In Norway. The route starts near 61.495, 8.810 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

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