Short Trekking in Hovden, Norway

Short Trekking in Hovden, Norway

Today has been one of my first days off where I could actually rest a bit. Moving to Norway a little over a month ago means that every time I don’t have to work, I’m busy getting ID numbers, sorting out insurance, looking for a house to rent, setting up the internet, opening a bank account… Uff, it’s been a lot. And since I live literally away from everyone and everything, deep in the mountains, I can’t do any of these tasks right before or after work. I need a whole day to go to the city, relying on one of the two buses that stop here (yeah, I know, I should get the driving license - another thing on the list "to do").

_{Our trekking plans for today}

But not today. I forgot about all the paperwork and fresh immigrant responsibilities and decided to enjoy the last days of winter by going on a short trekking with @diegocelma.

We chose a very simple route that starts in the town of Hovden. I marked the trail on the map in this post, but if you need more detailed information, you can visit the local tourist center and ask about the “Hovden Rundtur 1.”

There are several options for how to complete the round tour. During the summer, it’s fine to do the trail by bicycle or on foot. In winter, the most convenient option is a 50/50 mix of trekking (as the first part involves walking about 2 km on the pavement next to the road) and skiing (the second part is on a snow trail, closer to nature). It’s possible to do it 100% on foot, as we did, but in that case, it’s very important to be aware of the dangers and not leave the trail. I stepped just slightly off it and ended up in snow up to my knees—which is still a good outcome, considering that in some places, there are lakes and rivers with snow-covered banks that make it difficult to identify where the water begins.

_{Rivers may be slightly covered by ice and snow, and you may not even notice when you will fall into them. It's better to stay in the trek}

Officially, the estimated time for the whole trail while walking is 1 hour and 25 minutes. I’d say that’s accurate in winter, especially if you make plenty of photo stops. Adjust it to your style. If you’re all about marching and exercise, it won’t take you more than an hour, especially in the summer. If you’re short on time, you can drive halfway and park your car where the forest path begins. If you want to sit down in a beautiful spot and contemplate nature, it’s better to set aside 2 hours so you don’t feel rushed. We would have stayed longer, as the local nature invites you to admire its beauty, but… we were limited by the departure time of the only bus that could take us home. If we’d missed it, we would have had to plan for an additional 6 hours of walking to get back.

_{Look at my happy face. That should be the best non-verbal review of the trekking}

The trail, like all the nature trails in the area, is completely free. It has only 120 meters of elevation gain, so don’t expect spectacular views of the entire valley. Instead, you’ll find wonderful spots with lakes (there are seven of them in such a short distance!), amazing mountains, a bit of local architecture in the first part of the trek (notice the grass on the roofs—local law states that buildings cannot interfere with the view and must be constructed in a way that preserves it), an aromatic forest, and, at the very end of the trail, a river with tiny cascades here and there.

I’m sure we’ll come back in the summer to explore a totally different view of the same mountains. For now, tired, wet, with snow in our shoes and cold hands, we’re heading back home to drink some hot chocolate and once again celebrate living in such a beautiful part of the world.

_{Local houses with the roofs covered by grass and non-invasive colors of wooden walls. Such a spectacular view!}

_{All photos in my publications belong to me, unless marked differently}