A new long-distance hike is putting Norway's southern mountains on the map for thru-hikers: the Massiv Trail, a 224-mile route from Sota Sæter to Haukeliseter that strings together Breheimen, Jotunheimen, Skarvheimen and a full crossing of the Hardangervidda plateau. Most walkers will need 15 to 18 days to complete it, with roughly 47,570 feet of total elevation gain along the way.

This is not a manicured path. The trail crosses vast boulder fields, boggy tundra and river crossings where dry footing is a luxury. Red T-shaped markers — the T stands for Turistforeningen, the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) — are painted on rocks and cairns, but finding the next one can slow your pace to a mile an hour. Weather is the real opponent: rain, fog, wind and near-summer temperatures that dip fast once the sun drops. Even in early September, hail and fresh snow on the peaks are fair game.

The payoff is the scenery. Hikers pass glacier-draped peaks, hundreds of mountain lakes, waterfalls and wide-open tundra. One standout section is the official crossing of the Fannaråkbreen glacier — about 45 minutes on the ice — which most people do as a guided trip with crampons and harnesses rather than carrying their own glacier gear. Nearby, a detour up Fannaråki (6,785 feet) offers the trail's high point and Norway's highest mountain hut.

The practical magic here is Norway's hut system. There are no towns on the route, so the DNT's self-service huts are lifelines: a DNT key gets you inside, where pantries stock basic supplies for resupply. Huts like Nørdstedalseter offer waffles, tea and a warm fire — a serious morale boost after a day of mud. Cell service is patchy, so book guided crossings and shuttles (Bismo to Sota Sæter, for example) ahead of time.

Typical days run 13 to 16 miles with 3,400 to 4,600 feet of climbing, taking 8.5 to 9 hours. Expect glacier views, lemmings on the ice, sheep wanting your salt, and camp spots beside roaring meltwater rivers. Difficulty is rated moderate to challenging — the terrain and weather, not technical climbing, are what test you.

For fit hikers who want a genuine wilderness expedition without the crowds of better-known routes, the Massiv Trail delivers: solitude, huge mountain scenery, and a working hut network that makes a multi-week trip logistically doable. Just pack for every kind of weather, learn to love mud, and bring a repair kit for your sleeping pad.

Credit: The Trek