Hike to Vesledalsbreen
Grade: Extra demanding. This is a hike that requires good physical fitness and experience with steep terrain.
Length: 2 km one way from Fossen.
(4.5 km one way from Vesledalssetra)
Elevation gain: 300 m from Fossen.
(730 m from Vesledalssetra)
Duration: 3 hours round trip from Fossen.
(6.5 hours round trip from Vesledalssetra)
Season: Summer and autumn
Parking: You can park at the parking area at the end of the toll road. Remember to pay the fee!
If you park at Greidung, the hike will be more demanding.
Note: The trail is marked with T’s up to the second glacier lake. After that, there are no markings. Watch out for loose rocks.
NB! The hike to Vesledalssetra is described in “Hike to Vesledalssetra”, and the continuation to Fossen is described in “Hike to Fossen”.
There is no mobile coverage on the trip.
From Fossen, the trail follows a picturesque glacier lake through flat and easy terrain. Gradually, the terrain begins to rise, and you approach the second waterfall.
The route is marked with red T’s, and after passing the lake, you follow the glacial river until you are quite close to the mountain where the waterfall plunges down. From there, follow the T’s up the steep, rocky section to the left of the waterfall.
Photo: Odd Henrik Berge
Above you can see the landscape along the first glacier lake towards the second waterfall. You can find several species of colorful mountain plants in this terrain. Mountain plants have short, sturdy stems that can withstand harsh weather, and their flowers have strong colors and scents to attract pollinating insects.
Yellow Mountain Saxifrage,
Saxifraga aizoides.
Red Campion,
Silene dioica
The two photographs above were taken from almost exactly the same spot – the first in 2020, the second in 1943.
We are looking towards the second waterfall. In 1943, the glacier reached right to the edge. Today, it has retreated about 800 metres, revealing three new glacier lakes.
The images also show how vegetation has spread over the past 80 years. It is remarkable that plants can survive and thrive in such a harsh and unforgiving landscape.
Mountain fashion has also changed a great deal in that time. The woman on the left in the older photo is wearing a skirt – not uncommon at the time.
Footwear would typically have been leather boots or “becksøm” boots with leather soles. Their grip on rock and snow was far less secure than that of modern hiking boots.
The photo above shows the second glacier lake. Its beautiful green colour is typical of such lakes, caused by the fine rock flour ground from the mountains by the glacier. When sunlight reflects off the water, the green hue becomes even more striking.
In 1943, the glacier lay thick across this lake. In fact, it remained here until the 1990s.
Here we see the cabin Infimus, which stood at the end of Vesledalsbreen glacier. The photo is from 1971. At that time, the glacier front was located by the second glacier lake — the turquoise one in the photo above.
The person in the picture is Bjørg Ladehaug. She was one of several young people employed by NVE in connection with plans for hydropower development. This cabin has since been demolished.
The photo shows the third glacier lake and the third waterfall. The light colour of the rocks and smooth bedrock indicates that the glacier only recently retreated from this area.
There are no painted red “T” trail markers here. You must find a safe route yourself up through the loose scree to the left of the photo.
We see the second and third glacial lake. The Vesledalsbreen glacier lies like a white blanket on the left in the picture.
The four glacial lakes each lie behind a sill. Such a sill usually consists of harder bedrock that the glacier has not been able to excavate. Where the lake has been excavated, the glacier has been healing and scouring the mountain over many years.
This photo shows Vesledalsbreen on July 23, 2021. The fourth glacier lake has opened up.
On the far right edge of the photo, you can see Fremste Kåpa (1,773 masl.). In connection with plans for a large hydropower development in the 1970s, a cabin was built here called Optimus. Unlike Infimus at Erdalsbreen, this cabin was later demolished.
This 2021 photo shows that the glacier snout on the right is melting away. The lake by the glacier is growing larger year by year. Today, accessing the glacier here can be difficult.
In the autumn of 2021 Lars Monsen and Gjert Ingebrigtsen exited the glacier here in the TV series “Med Monsen på villspor” (“With Monsen Off Track”).
The landscape here on the glacier plateau behind Vesledalsbreen is truly magnificent. To the left towers Lodalskåpa (2,083 masl.), and on the far left edge of the photo you can see Brenibba (2,018 masl.). To the right stands Fremste Kåpa (1,773 masl.).
This area is not safe to traverse without glacier equipment and experience in glacier travel.
Tor Greidung (1919–1999) was one of the last official glacier guides in our district. He had received official permission (a patent) from the authorities to lead tourists safely across the glacier.
“Tor’s Route” went over Vesledalsbreen to Styggevasshytta – and later to Slæom.
Tekst og bilde: Asbjørn Berge, 2025