This time of year the weather may be varied in the high mountains, but the autumn colours are usually very pretty. We often spend a few weekends in Geilo during the autumn since we have a place there.
In Geilo the most known hike goes from the farm Prestholtseter up to the Prestholtskarvet and continues to the top of Hallingskarvet at 1877.
If you are staying in Geilo for a few days its nice to have a few alternatives, especially since the above hike is not recommended in fog or bad weather.
One of my favourite hikes in Geilo goes to Urundberget. This is actually not that long or high, but offers very nice views and a very nice footpath which is also suitable for running and even mountain biking. If the weather is good and the autumn colours are visible it is even more beautiful.
There are at least 3 routes to Urundberget starting in different places.
By the way; did you miss our post on hiking to Vøringsfossen, a great thing to do on the route between Bergen and Geilo? Tur til Vøringsfossen – vill natur og høye fjell
Geilo town centre – Urundberget
Go to the Geiloheisen skilift (parking available) and start by walking up the ski slope to the top of the skilift to either Geilohovda (Geilotoppen) or to Gullsteinhovda. Depending on which ski slope you choose to walk up you will arrive at either place or somewhere in between.
We usually walk up Sonjaløypa and cut across so we end up at Gullsteinhovda which is the top of the t-bar skilift called Halsteinsgård. Once you arrive at the top here you will see the Hallingskarvet in front, a view well worth it even if you choose to turn around here and descend back down to Geilo.
From the top of Gullsteinhovda continue on the footpath towards west, along the ridge of the hills you see when down in the Geilo valley. You are now leaving the skilift area and the scenery becomes a little wilder. Walking along here on a clear day gives views of the Hallingskarvet, the valley of Havsdalen and the gravel road leading to Prestholtseter towards the north, and the Geilo and Kikut area looking south. This one of my favourite views in Geilo, summer as well as winter.
The trail goes a little up and down past a couple of hills until you reach the plateau where you can see the Urundberget ahead of you. Running along this trail is a perfect activity if you are into running, so is mountain biking, especially if the terrain is dry.
Continue along the footpath (it is not very clearly signposted so ensure you follow the path) until you reach Urundberget and enjoy the view of the valley while you have your lunch. Make sure you bring an extra layer or a windproof jacket as most times we’ve visited Urundberget it is pretty windy up there.
From here it is possible to continue on the path to Prestholtseter by heading on the northwest path, or from the path that will eventually descend to Tuftelia by choosing the path that heads west. We usually return the same way we arrived as I prefer to walk back along the same ridge with the views of the valley as opposed to heading back down in the valley by the Ustedalsfjorden, or on the gravel road leading to Havsdalen from Geilo.
Havsdalen – Urundberget
The hike from Havsdalen to Urundberget is a little easier since the ascent is less steep than starting the hike by climbing the ski slopes near Geilo centre. The footpath starts by the bottom of the Fjellheisen skilift. Make sure you start by walking on the left side of the river, and you will find the path along there for a while. Head west towards Gullsteinhovda and continue as described above.
This trail is perfect for running or mountain biking since the ascent is flatter and provides a lot of flow. It is possible to make the hike short by cutting off to Geilohovda (Geilotoppen) or turning around at Gullsteinhovda. Both these alternatives give you the views of both the Geilo valley and Hallingskarvet on a clear day. However, I recommend continuing to Urundberget with its nice and wild scenery away from the skilift area.
Tuftelia – Urundberget
A short and steep route to Urundberget is starting at Tuftelia. It is possible to park next to the road 30 metres west of the Tuftelia Vertshus at the RV7 just west of Geilo centre. One can also walk from Geilo, along the Ustedalsfjorden foot path and via Tuftebrui and up. We usually park by RV7 at Tuftelia and make this a short and steep hike with great views and return of investment.
The path starts from the RV7 just west of Tuftelia Vertshus, starting with a gravel road leading uphill past a couple of cabins. Then you reach the railway tracks that must be crossed, so take care and listen carefully before crossing on a designated crossing area for pedestrians. There are fences on either side so you walk past a gate before crossing.
Continue uphill in the forrest and follow the path. There should be signposts as you get close to the treeline and follow the sign to Prestholt then Urundberget. This is not a long hike, but it is possible to continue a bit further from Urundberget then turn around to come back down the same route. If you walk from Geilo via Tuftelia you can make it a roundtrip and hike along the ridge back to Geilohovda (Geilotoppen) and come back down to Geilo centre via the skilift.
Let us know if you do this hike by tagging us in your Instagram post, or leave a comment below!
We hope you enjoy your time outdoors in the high mountains.
For other activities in Geilo such as SPA, Fitness, bowling, and swimming pool you might want to visit Vestlia Resort https://vestlia.no/
