Hiking

Mount Sølen — the region's most rewarding 1,755 m summit hike

July 19, 2026

Sølentoppen rises to 1,755 metres above sea level in Rendalen, and of all the summit hikes in the region around Drevsjø, Femund and Rendalen it is — in our view — the one that gives you the most breathtaking view. It is also the most demanding day out. This is the story of our July 2026 trip from Forest Ranger Farm.

A mountain shaped like a saddle

What makes Sølen so distinctive is a large V-shaped notch cutting straight through the massif. The gap — Sølenskardet — is so pronounced that you can spot it from tens of kilometres away, and clearly from the air. The lowest point in the notch sits at 1,250 m, while the two summits on either side rise to 1,755 m (Sølentoppen) to the north and 1,681 m (Søre Sølen) to the south.

The notch gives the mountain the silhouette of a saddle — which is also where the name comes from. Sølen derives from the Old Norse sǫðull, meaning saddle.

Topographic map of the Sølen massif showing Nordre Sølen (1,699 m), Sølentoppen (1,755 m) and Søre Sølen (1,688 m) with Sølenhytta to the north-west — The Sølen massif — Nordre Sølen, Sølentoppen and Søre Sølen, with Sølenhytta cabin below.

Regional map showing Sølen circled to the west and Forest Ranger Farm marked at Drevsjø to the east, with Isteren and Femunden lakes in between — Sølen sits west of Femund and Isteren — a clear silhouette on the horizon from the farm.

Protected landscape and reindeer heritage

Sølen landskapsvernområde — the Sølen Protected Landscape Area — was established by royal resolution on 8 February 2011 and covers 456.4 km², all of it within Rendalen municipality.

The area holds significant cultural heritage tied to ancient trapping systems for wild reindeer and moose. Reindeer were the reason the first people settled here — and reindeer still live here today: the Rendalsrein herd roams the same ground.

Getting there from the farm

The trailhead at Granåsen parking is about a 41-minute drive (41.6 km) from Forest Ranger Farm. The final stretch is a private toll road with a tollbooth at the start — the fee is NOK 100.

Google Maps route from Kopparleden 1001 in Drevsjø south on road 26 and west on road 217 through Fæmundssundet to Granåsen parking, marked as 41 minutes and 41.6 km — Drive from Forest Ranger Farm to Granåsen parking — about 41 minutes and 41.6 km.

The route

The round trip is roughly 22–23 km with about 1,004 m of ascent, and takes most parties 8–10 hours. Season is June to September. It is rated demanding and suits experienced hikers with good stamina and proper mountain boots.

The trail follows a marked path in open terrain for the first stretch. After roughly 7–8 km a steep climb starts, up to the small mountain lake Skardstjønna. From there, a very steep push through a demanding boulder field takes you to Sølentoppen. It is not climbing, but it is steep, and you have to pick your way through a mix of small and large stones.

Ut.no trip card for Rundtur til Sølen showing the red round-trip route from Granåsen parking north to Sølentoppen — 22.1 km, 10 hours, 1004 m ascent, season Jun to Sep — The round-trip route on ut.no — 22.1 km, 10 hours, 1,004 m ascent.

Detailed topographic map showing Skardstjønna lake at 1,196 m nestled between Søre Sølen and Sølentoppen, with Sølenskardet notch at 1,250 m — Skardstjønna sits below the notch, tucked between Søre Sølen and Sølentoppen.

Split it over two days

Some hikers turn this into a two-day trip with an overnight at Skardstjønna. You can fish in the lake, and there is something special about camping at the water so close under two big peaks — Søre Sølen on one side, Sølentoppen on the other.

Bring poles

I would absolutely recommend doing this hike with trekking poles. They save your knees and give real extra support both going up and coming back down from Sølentoppen — especially in the boulder field.

The view from the top

When you finally step onto Sølentoppen you are rewarded with a view that is genuinely hard to describe. It is a full 360° panorama, and you look down on other high mountains. On a clear day you can see all the way to Rondane in the west and far into Sweden to the east. All the effort of getting up there is quickly forgotten.

Wide-area map showing Rondane national park to the west of Sølen and the mountain reach across the border into Sweden to the east — From Sølentoppen you can see all the way to Rondane in the west and far into Sweden in the east.

Coming back down

Take your time on the descent — the boulder field is where most twisted ankles happen. Once you are back down at Skardstjønna, the return leg becomes noticeably easier.

Always check the weather first

Weather warning. A 1,755 m summit has very different weather from the valleys below. Wind, cloud and temperature can shift quickly on Sølen, and a demanding hike can turn into a dangerous one if the weather closes in. Always check the forecast the day of your hike, and be willing to turn back.

Detailed Sølen forecast on yr.no.

The most rewarding view in the region

Of all the summit hikes around Drevsjø, Femund and Rendalen, Sølentoppen is the one that will give you the finest view — and, in our experience, also the most demanding. If you want a shorter, family-friendly alternative on the same kind of mountain plateau, see our guide to Mount Kvitvola. For everything else there is to do around the farm, have a look at the Activities page or the rest of the blog.

Photos from the trip

Sixteen shots from the 19 July 2026 round trip, in order — from the trailhead at Granåsen all the way up to Sølentoppen and back.

Sandy trail leading through low heather and reindeer lichen towards the Sølen mountains under a big cloud-streaked sky — 1. Setting off from Granåsen — the Sølen massif already on the horizon.

Weathered log rescue hut with a metal chimney beside the trail near Granåsen, mountains and a lake in the background — 2. The old rescue hut at the start of the trail.

Sandy beach beside a small mountain lake with birch and pine on the shore under a blue sky — 3. A small lake with a genuine sandy beach along the early part of the route.

Rocky trail crossing open mountain plateau towards the V-shaped Sølenskardet notch between two summits — 4. First clear view of the saddle — Sølenskardet cutting through the massif ahead.

Trail climbing between two rocky ridges towards Skardstjønna, boulder field on the left — 5. Getting close to Skardstjønna — the terrain steepens into scree.

Skardstjønna mountain lake sitting between two dark rocky ridges with a small cairn and trail sign in the foreground — 6. Skardstjønna. The peaks you see from here are not yet the actual tops.

View back down the boulder-strewn slope to Skardstjønna lake with the wide plateau beyond — 7. Starting the last steep climb — looking back down at Skardstjønna.

Steep boulder field of pink and grey lichen-covered stones climbing up the flank of Sølentoppen — 8. Rocks and more rocks — tread carefully.

Close-up of pink conglomerate rock studded with quartz pebbles and covered in bright yellow-green map lichen — 9. Fascinating geological rock formations along the way — pink quartz-rich rock covered in bright yellow map lichen.

View from near the summit of Sølen with dark ridges falling away and the distant Rondane range on the horizon — 10. Very close to the top, looking west towards Rondane.

Aerial-like view from the summit ridge down into a deep cirque with turquoise and dark blue tarns far below — 11. Stunning views back down the eastern cirque.

Summit cairn on Sølentoppen with a lake and low blue mountains visible in the distance under a clear sky — 12. Sølentoppen — 1,755 metres above sea level.

Panorama from Sølentoppen showing the chain of large lakes — Sølensjøen, Galtsjøen, Isteren and Femund — stretching east — 13. From the top you can see Sølensjøen, Galtsjøen, Isteren and Femund.

The rounded scree-covered ridge of Søre Sølen seen from Sølentoppen with plateau and distant blue hills beyond — 14. Looking south towards Søre Sølen at 1,688 metres.

Smiling hiker in an orange down jacket and dark cap at the summit of Sølen, lakes and forest far below — 15. Happy camper on top.

Small cushion of pink-flowered Kalmia procumbens growing among lichen-covered rocks near the summit of Sølen — 16. A lone Kalmia procumbens (alpine azalea) clinging on at around 1,700 m — a genuine survivor.

Stay at the farm

Sølen is one of the great day trips from Forest Ranger Farm — an old Norwegian government forest ranger home, restored and surrounded by forest and wildlife.

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