Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DNT & Other Mountain Huts
Den Norske Turistforening
maintains a network of 460 mountain huts or cabins located a
day's hike apart along the country's 20,000km of well-marked and maintained wilderness
hiking routes. Of these, over 400 have beds for sleeping, with the remainder reserved for
eating, rest stops or emergency shelter.
DNT huts range from unstaffed huts with two beds to large staffed lodges with more than
100 beds and renowned standards of service. At both types of huts, DNT members receive
significant discounts.
Most DNT huts are open from 16 February to 14 October. Staffed DNT lodges also open
from the Saturday before Palm Sunday until Easter Monday, but staffed huts along the
Oslo-Bergen railway and a few others open for the cross-country ski season as early as
late February. DNT can provide lists of opening dates for each hut.
Members/nonmembers who prefer to camp outside the huts and use the facilities will pay
Nkr50/60.
There are also numerous private hikers' huts and lodges peppered around most moun-
tain areas, but not all are open to the public. Some offer DNT members a discount.
UNSTAFFED DNT HUTS
All unstaffed huts offer cooking facilities, but in most places you must have your own sleep-
ing bag or hostel-style sleeping sheet.
For unstaffed huts, you must pick up keys (Nkr150 to Nkr200 deposit) in advance from a
DNT office or a staffed hut. To pay, fill out a Once-Only Authorisation slip and leave either
cash or a valid credit-card number in the box provided. There are two classes of unstaffed
huts. Self-service chalets are stocked with blankets and pillows and have wood stoves, fire-
wood, gas cookers and a wide range of tinned or freeze-dried food supplies for sale (on the
honour system). At other unstaffed huts, users must carry in their own food. In unstaffed
huts, DNT members/nonmembers pay Nkr220/325 for a bed.
STAFFED DNT HUTS
At staffed huts, which are concentrated in the south, you can simply turn up and pay your
fees. In compliance with international mountain hospitality, no one is turned away, even if
there's only floor space left; DNT members over 50 years of age are guaranteed a bed,
even if it means displacing a younger hiker! Huts tend to be packed at Easter and are con-
sistently busy throughout summer.
