The Best Hikes for Photography in Norway (with Maps)

If you want to discover the Best Hikes for Photography in Norway…I hope you can find at least some here :)! Seriously Norway is so big that a lifetime will not be enough to explore it all. I’ll do my best to show my favorites, but I am approaching this task with a certain reverence.

What can you find in Norway? Mountains, Glaciers, Fjords, Northern Lights, the Midnight Sun, Wild Camping. Epic landscapes everywhere. These are the perfect ingredients for anyone loving the Great Outdoors and Photography.

Hesten a pointy mountain in the Norwegian island of Senja is one of the best hikes for photography in Norway.

Segla, Senja, Norway.

The country is more than 1770 km long, most of which is Mountain terrain and Fjords. This combination provides that unique mix of elements Norway is Famous for. In addition, this combination creates epic sceneries that cannot be found elsewhere.

I often daydream about my next trip to Norway, thinking about the next hike, the Northern Lights, and camping in the open. It’s the perfect gateway to get out of civilization and spend quality time immersed in nature.

And, of course, you’ll want to have your camera with you to capture those moments. Whenever I miss hiking in Norway, I take a quick look at the photos saved on my phone to briefly relive some of the moments spent there.

The best hikes for Photography in Norway, Tent on Ryten

My trusty ultralight Big Agnes Fly Creek UL HV on Ryten

Camping at Utakleiv

Camping with the Hilleberg Soulo at Utakleiv

Heck, I even miss the views from the airplane!

the Best hikes for Photography in Norway - airplane view

Somewhere over Northern Norway. Zoomed-in Mobile Shot. Regret not having the camera handy.

Map of the best hikes and Photography locations in Norway

As you can see I am currently focused on Northern Norway, the south will follow next year. here is the current map, which is being constantly updated:

Trip map courtesy of Wanderlog, a vacation planner app on iOS and Android

Hiking and Photography in Norway. Quick Tips:

You have probably heard the term “Allesmanretten“. This is every man’s right, the freedom to roam and enjoy the outdoors responsibly. It’s a big deal as this means recreational access rights are granted to unfenced lands.

  • You would need to be at least 150mt from the closes inhabited structure
  • Allesmanretten applies to one night only on private land. After that would need to seek permission from the landowner
  • Fires are prohibited between April 15th and September 15th in forested areas.

Most importantly, leave no traces. This is essential for everyone to enjoy the same environment and maintain its pristine state.

In terms of lenses, I would recommend bringing anything in the 14-200 range, a tripod, and any filter you may need to shoot seascape photos. The mountains are fantastic, but you’d also want to shoot some seascapes along the way.

If you have one, bring a drone too, but make sure you have the proper permission and insurance for the type of drone you fly. If the weight of your drone is 250 grams or more, you will need to register and take a test. You can do so here. The test is about 30/40 Euros, or it was in 2021. Hey, once you complete it, you can proudly exhibit your Norwegian drone license to everyone! Pretty cool thing to have if you ask me:

Drone license Norway

Transportation

As mentioned earlier, Norway is a big country. However, you can rent a car to travel within specific areas, like the Lofoten Islands. If you plan to visit different regions in the north or south of the country, you are probably better off taking domestic flights and renting a car locally when you need one.

  • If you are looking for a Car rental, I would recommend to search for & compare the best deals on Discover Cars. Here you can compare the prices of all the major car rental companies and find the very best deals.

On the other hand, if your goal is to travel for the whole length of the country, you are in for a very long but fantastic trip!

Safety

I would recommend familiarising yourself with the content on the official Visit Norway website here.

To provide a few general guidelines, it’s best to come equipped with clothing for all seasons if you are planning on Mountain hiking. Rainproof gear is essential, both for yourself and your backpack. Wear sturdy broken-in hiking boots. Finally, bring more water and food than you think you’ll need.

Remote areas may not have mobile coverage, so plan for that. Additionally, I would highly recommend bringing your GPS device rather than relying on mobile apps. Navigating with those will drain your battery very soon. Dedicated GPS devices are also way more accurate.

Adequate camping gear is a must for camping in the wilderness.

Keep an eye on the weather using yr.no or their app; in my experience, it’s pretty good.

Conclusion – The Best hikes for Photography in Norway

Norway is a country where you will have some of the best times of your life hiking and photographing the outdoors. If you have a lot of time at your disposal, you can travel across the country in a Camper Van or an RV. Otherwise, it’s probably best to pick every one area at a time (or two if they are close) and explore them as much as possible.

Now you’re ready to discover some of the best photo hikes Norway offers!