3 Best Hikes Near Trondheim

September 2, 2026

Trondheim doesn’t have the mountain drama of western Norway, but it has real, easy-to-reach hiking on the city’s own doorstep. These 3 options cover an afternoon walk up to a full day out.

1. Bymarka forest

Bymarka is a roughly 80-square-km nature reserve on the city’s western edge with more than 200km of trails, ranging from flat lakeside walks to longer routes through forest and rolling terrain. It’s a genuine four-season area: hiking and mountain biking in summer, cross-country skiing once the snow sets in. There’s no need to plan a specific summit or loop here, the appeal is simply picking a trail length that matches the time you have and heading in.

2. The Gråkallbanen tram to Lian

The easiest way into Bymarka without a car is the Gråkallbanen, a historic suburban tram that’s been running since 1924 and, since Arkhangelsk’s tramway closed in 2004, has been the world’s northernmost. It climbs from St. Olavs gate in the center through Byåsen to Lian, about a 21-minute ride, at 297m elevation, right at Bymarka’s edge. Lian itself has a small trolley museum, and from the station you can pick any of several short forest loops or simply walk back down toward the city. It’s a genuinely worthwhile half-day outing even before you count it as transit.

3. The Ladestien coastal path

Rather than heading into the forest, the Ladestien runs along the fjord itself, an 8 to 9km walking path from Ladehammeren to Rotvollfjæra. It’s an easy-to-moderate walk, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours end to end, passing old farms, historic churches, and open sea views the whole way. It’s a good pick if you want fjord scenery on foot without a boat trip, and it’s honestly a better introduction to the Trondheimsfjord than expecting the dramatic cliffs of Norway’s western fjords, this one is a broad, gentle stretch of water framed by wooded hills.

Before you go

Norwegian weather is genuinely changeable, even in summer, so pack a proper rain shell and layers regardless of the forecast. None of these routes require technical gear or a guide, but sturdy shoes and a full water bottle are worth it on any of the longer Bymarka loops.

If you’d rather stay closer to the water, our nature spots guide covers Munkholmen and the Trondheimsfjord in more depth, and for a day trip that pairs a longer walk with real history, see Stiklestad and Røros .