Norway is a land of great contrasts. From its long coastline with many fjords to towering mountains and rugged landscapesNorway’s varied topography makes it a popular destination for outdoor activities like hikingbikingand skiing.
Norway’s coastline is one of its most iconic features. The country has over 15,000 miles of coastlinewith towering cliffssheltered baysand narrow fjords. Norway’s many fjords were formed by glaciers melting at the end of the last ice age. This same phenomenon created its mountains.
IndeedNorway has several notable mountain rangesincluding the ReinheimenDovrefjelland Rondane. Perhaps the most famous range however is Jotunheimenwhich Norse mythology attests as the home of the trolls or “jotner”. Todayit’s home to some of the highest mountains in Norway. This is where we’ll focus our exploration of Norway’s highest peaksstarting with its very tallest.
1. Galdhøpiggen: The Biggest Mountain in Norway
Galdhøpiggen (Photo: Stefan Havadi-Nagy via Getty Images)
Height: 8,100 feet | Range: Jotunheimen
Not only is Galdhøpiggen the highest mountain in Norwaybut also in Scandinaviaand the whole of Northern Europe. Located in the municipality of Lom in eastern Norwayit’s within the protected area of Jotunheimen National Park.
Galdhøpiggen is described as relatively accessible considering its imposing 8,100-foot heightand it’s a popular tourist destination. The “hø” in its name offers a description of it as a “big and rounded mountain”.
2. Glittertind
Glittertind (Photo: AlbyDeTweede via Getty Images)
Height: 8,045 feet | Range: Jotunheimen
At 8,045 feet highGlittertindalso known as Glittertindenis the second highest point in Norway. This height is increased to 8,087 feet if one takes into account the glacier at its peak. That same glacier once brought Glittertind’s height up to 8,140 feetgiving it a claim to being the tallest mountain in Norway. Howeverit has since shrunkremoving any doubt that Galdhøpiggen holds that particular title.
Like GaldhøpiggenGlittertind calls Jotunheimen National Park its home and is part of the Jotunheimen mountains. Its namesake is the river Glitrawhich itself translates as ‘glitter’.
3. Store Skagastølstind
Store Skagastølstind (Photo: CameraPilot via Getty Images)
Height: 7,890 feet | Range: Jotunheimen
Often called just “Storen”Store Skagastølstind is the third biggest mountain in Norway and a popular site with visitors. Located in Vestland countythis 7,890-foot mountain straddles the municipalities of Luster and Årdal. Like the top two highest mountains in Norwayit’s part of the Jotunheimen rangebut within this it is a member of the Hurrungane massif.
Some regard Storen as the birthplace of Norwegian mountain climbinga notion based on the seminal climb of it by William Cecil Slingsby in 1876.
4. Store Styggedalstind
Store Styggedalstind (Photo: Tobias Slinning Urke / EyeEm via Getty Images)
Height: 7,831 feet | Range: Jotunheimen
The eastern peak of Store Styggedalstind is the fourth highest point in Norway. The mountain is a neighbour of Storen within the Hurrungane massif. It’s located entirely within Luster in Vestland county. Store Styggedalstind has a secondwestern peakwhich has an elevation of 980 feet above sea level. The “stygg” element of the mountain’s name means “ugly”but doesn’t refer to its appearance. Rather it alludes to its extreme conditions.
5. Skarstind
Skarstind (Photo: Mads Erik Eriksson / 500px via GettyImages)
Height: 7,785 feet | Range: Jotunheimen
Skarstindalso called Skardstindenis part of the Galdhøpiggen massif and is the fifth tallest mountain in Norway. The mountain actually has three peakswith the main one reaching 7,785 feet above sea level. It’s located in Lomwest of Galdhøpiggen. The first recorded ascent was in 1884.
The Highest Mountains in Norway
Norwegian mountain range (Photo: Anna Kurzaeva via Getty Images)
And soas we reach the summit of this list of the highest mountains in Norwaywe have a clear view of these stunning peaks and their locationswhich are all in the country’s east.
