Grading of hikes

To help hikers find their way in the Norwegian mountains and forests, and to ensure they choose the hike that is best suited to their ability, Norway uses a shared standard for grading all its marked paths. The trails are all colour-coded to let hikers know what to expect.

Norway’s grading system is based on four difficulty levels used both nationally and internationally: green, blue, red and black. The trail grading colours (and the difficulty levels they correspond to) are as follow:

Green - Easy

Suitable for

• Beginners.
• No special skills required.
• Mainly short walks.
• Special symbols mark the areas suitable for wheelchair users/prams.

Elevation gain and length

• < 300 m
• < 5 km

Type of path

• Tarmac, gravel, forest roads and good paths.
• Work done on paths to enable easy walking.
• Firm, even and obstruction-free path.
• No streams to be crossed.

Degree of elevation/ exposure

• Moderate ascents, but no steep or difficult sections.

Blue - Medium

Suitable for

• Beginners.
• Walkers of average fitness.
• Basic skills.

Elevation gain and length

• < 600 m
• < 10 km

Type of path

• Similar to green trails, but can have more challenging sections.
• Can be rocky but no demanding scree.
• No streams to be crossed.

Degree of elevation/ exposure

• Most ascents are moderate, but can include some steep slopes.
• Certain sections can be considered precipitous for some.

Red - Challenging

Suitable for

• Experienced walkers.
• Good stamina.
• Good equipment and hiking boots required.

Elevation gain and length

• < 1000 m
• < 20 km

Type of path

• Path, open terrain, rocky, scree and rugged mountains.
• Crossing streams, traversing steep slopes and long stretches of both loose rock and marshland.
• Up to two streams to be crossed.

Degree of elevation/ exposure

• Several types of ascents and challenges.
• Several precipitous and exposed sections.
• Can include technical challenges and parts that require some climbing.

Black - Expert

Suitable for

• Experienced hikers.
• Good stamina.
• Good equipment and hiking boots required.
• Knowledge of maps and use of a compass.

Elevation gain and length

• No maximum.

Type of path

• Longer and/ or more technical trails than "red".
• Can include a number of streams to be crossed.

Degree of elevation/ exposure

• Typical walks are long summit trips with steep ascents on uneven paths.
• Can have precipitous and exposed sections sections/passages where scrambling is necessary.
• Narrow ridges, smooth rock, scree etc.