Hike to Toreskyrkja fra Vatnedalen

This challenging hike takes you from Vatnedalen to Toreskyrkja at 1,371 metres above sea level. At the summit you can enjoy spectacular views of Gaustatoppen, Tuddal, and the mountains in Telemark. 

Hike to Toreskyrkja fra Vatnedalen

This challenging hike takes you from Vatnedalen to Toreskyrkja at 1,371 metres above sea level. At the summit you can enjoy spectacular views of Gaustatoppen, Tuddal, and the mountains in Telemark. 

Hike to Toreskyrkja fra Vatnedalen

This challenging hike takes you from Vatnedalen to Toreskyrkja at 1,371 metres above sea level. At the summit you can enjoy spectacular views of Gaustatoppen, Tuddal, and the mountains in Telemark. 

The route in brief

Start: Kvitåvatn/Vatnedalen 
Length: 6,2 km return 
Tid: approx. 4 h 
Vertical rise: 413 m (approx. 928-1,339 metres above sea level, or 958-1,371 metres above sea level)  
Difficulty: Demanding 
Child-friendly: No  
MAP

About Toreskyrkja

Does the hike up to Gaustatoppen seem too easy? Then this challenging hike to the nearby Mount Toreskyrkja could be for you.  

Toreskyrkja is a mountain situated between Lake Kvitåvatn, Gaustablikk, and Lake Heddersvatn. It’s 1,371 metres high, so not as high as the nearby Gaustatoppen, but this mountain-top hike from Vatnedalen/Lake Kvitåvatn is actually more challenging than the trail to Gaustatoppen from Stavsro .The hike starts at an altitude of 928 metres at Vatnedalen/Kvitåvatn and takes you all the way to the summit of Toreskyrkja. 

Getting around

Start the hike at Kvitåvatnvegen road in Vatnedalen. From here take the signposted trail towards the top of Toreskyrkja. Follow the red ‘T’s and start the 400-metre steep ascent to the summit! 

The hike to the summit is around 3.1 km and takes around 2 hours (one way). After the climb, a reward awaits you: from the summit you can enjoy spectacular views of Gaustatoppen, Tuddal, and the mountains in southern Telemark. 

Useful information

The best time to do this hike from Vatnedalen/Lake Kvitåvatn to Toreskyrkja is in the summer and autumn months. The hiking season usually begins in early June and runs until the end of October. 

The hike is demanding and is for people who are relatively used to hiking in the mountains. The mountain-top hike from Vatnedalen/Lake Kvitåvatn takes around 4 hours (there and back) and the total vertical rise is over 400 metres. This means it is not suitable for children or beginners. For an easier hike to Toreskyrkja, check out the hiking trail from Lake Heddersvatn. 

The trail from Vatnedalen/Lake Kvitåvatn to Toreskyrkja is rocky and has sections with loose boulders, so make sure that you wear sturdy hiking shoes or hiking boots that support your feet and ankles. 

Hikes on Gausta

Hike around Skipsfjell
Easy

Start: Pose & Sekk Grocery store
Length: 5.1 km round trip
Time: 1–2 hours
Child-friendly: Yes

Hike to Ørnenipa
easy/medium

Start: Vatnedalen, by the end of Kvitåvatn
Length: 4.6 km round trip
Time: 3 hours
Child-friendly: For children accustomed to hiking

Hike to Toreskyrkja from Heddersvatn
Medium

Start: Heddersvatn/Stavsro
Length: 7,2 km round trip
Time: 2-3 hours
Child-friendly: For children accustomed to hiking

Hike to Toreskyrkja from Vatnedalen
Hard

Start: Kvitåvatn/Vatnedalen
Length: 6,2 km round trip
Time: 4 hours
Child-friendly: No

BOOK A GUIDED TOUR

Guided tours at Gausta

During the summer, you can book one of the many guided tours in the Gausta area. A great way to discover more of the mountains! 

BOOK A GUIDED TOUR

Guided tours at Gausta

During the summer, you can book one of the many guided tours in the Gausta area. A great way to discover more of the mountains! 

BOOK A GUIDED TOUR

Guided tours at Gausta

During the summer, you can book one of the many guided tours in the Gausta area. A great way to discover more of the mountains! 

Remember

Remember

Dress appropriately and follow the Norwegian mountain safety code, which is a set of rules and advice that you should always have with you when you go out in the mountains. For example, make sure that you always plan your hike carefully and be prepared for bad weather and the cold, even on short hikes.

Download the Gausta app

Download the Gausta app

Would you like to download the map to your phone? Download the Gausta app from App Store or Google Play! The app also has plenty of other useful information for your visit to Gausta.