Just a short drive from Rauland awaits one of the most iconic hikes in Telemark: Gaustatoppen.
If you want a top trip out of the ordinary, set course for Gaustatoppen around one hour northeast of Rauland.
When you arrive at the car park, you can choose from several different paths to the top. The walk is about five kilometres each way, and the most popular route follows a wide and well–marked path over large and small rocks. Don't forget to look up along the way – with an altitude difference of 700 metres, the view just gets better and better with every step.
When you reach the top, you can reward yourself with coffee and waffles from the century–old tourist cabin while enjoying the panoramic view: the Gaustatoppen is said to be perhaps Norway's most beautiful view, and in clear weather you can see a sixth of Norway!
If your legs aren't up for the walk up and down the mountain, you can take the Gaustabanen – a unique railway that runs inside the mountain. Originally built as transport for a secret NATO facility, the track now carries several thousand tourists a year who want to experience the views from the iconic mountain top.
Of course, you can also choose to walk one way and take the Gaustabanen the other way when visiting the beautiful mountain.
Read more on Gaustabanen's website.
On the way from Rauland to Gaustatoppen, you'll pass Rjukan and the Vemork Museum, so if you haven't used up all your energy on the summit tour, you can visit the charming town and impressive museum on the way home.
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Rauland is the epitome of Norwegian mountaintop idyll, situated at the foot of the enormous Hardangervidda plateau. You can take part in incredible activities out in nature here all year round – with a wide range of enjoyable pursuits for the whole family to enjoy. In this article, we give you our vote for the three best activities in each of the four seasons.
If you’re planning a holiday in one of the welcoming towns of Telemark, such as Hovden, Rauland or Gausta – a drive along the Hardangervidda National Park route – also known as the Telemark Mountain Road – is a must. The route goes from Heddal Stave Church in the east to Haukelifjell in the west and is 235 kilometres in total. The trip is dotted with attractions, viewpoints, charming villages and impressive natural surroundings, so most people enjoy the journey in shorter sections, so you have time to make stops along the way and enjoy the many sights on offer.
We’ve listed a number of highlights below – remember that you’ll find lots of fantastic family activities at all of our destinations in Norway, so you can find more inspiration on each individual destination page here in our travel universe.