The two-lake view is Besseggen’s great surprise: turquoise Gjende on one side, darker Bessvatnet on the other, separated by a narrow rise of mountain rock. It is a beautiful arrangement to see in a photograph—and a substantial mountain outing to experience on foot.
Gjende’s colour stands out against the surrounding land. Credit: Vincent Steeman.
The ground-level view reveals a demanding mountain surface. Credit: Sidetracked original feature.
The route lies in Norway’s Jotunheimen region. Visit Norway’s route description calls the roughly 14-kilometre walk demanding and notes that the ridge involves scrambling. The old description of a relatively easy, all-year trail was misleading.
The postcard view is only part of the walk
The ground-level photograph is a useful companion to the panorama. It shows rough rock and lingering snow, details that can disappear when the whole landscape is reduced to a thumbnail.
Plan for a full mountain day suited to your fitness, experience and comfort with exposure. Read the current route description and forecast, and choose a different outing if the conditions or demands do not fit your group.
Work out the boat connection before the hike
A common arrangement is to take the Gjende boat from Gjendesheim to Memurubu and walk back. Check the current Gjendebåten information for departures and bookings. Starting with a boat trip and relying on a boat at the end create different timing pressures.
The ridge itself should not be assumed to provide frequent snack shops or easy exits. Carry what the day requires and understand the route before leaving.
For photography, the contrast between the lakes is already a strong subject. Include enough of the ridge to explain their relationship, and make photographs only from a stable position that leaves the path clear.
For a lower-lying Nordic winter landscape, explore Oulanka’s forests and rivers. For another demanding landmark hike with specific access arrangements, read about Half Dome’s cable route.
Why the two lakes make the ridge memorable
Besseggen’s characteristic view brings Gjende and Bessvatnet into the same mountain scene. The ridge gives the photograph its structure, but the contrast between the two bodies of water makes the geography legible: this is a route through a specific landscape, not merely a narrow path above a drop.
The connection between Gjendesheim and Memurubu is also important to understanding the original boat-and-hike description. Changing the direction changes how the day is organised; it does not remove the physical demands of the ridge. Visit Norway describes Besseggen as a demanding hike, so the old “relatively easy” wording is misleading. The summer walking story should be kept distinct from winter mountain travel, rather than presenting the same route as a casual year-round outing because snowy photographs look appealing.
Sources, photography and further reading
Original feature and image attributions:
- Vincent Steeman
- sidetracked
- Natalia Eriksson
- Cody Duncan
- Il’ya Kovalenko
- Lars Øverbø
- Places to See In Your Lifetime
- Jotunheimen The Home of Giants In Norway
- Norway Is So Beautiful My Eyes Teared Up In Total Awe. You Need To Watch This Right Now!
- What One Baby Was Found Doing In Norway Shocked People Everywhere
- Tromso – Your Next Favorite Winter Destination, Norway
- Spectacular Norway Northern Lights
- Interdimensional Portal To Hell Opens in Norway - Or Something Like That
- Ice Driving On Frozen Lake In Western Norway
- Stunning Split - View Mountain Lodge is Perched Among Norway’s Snowy Ski Slopes
- Getting To This Place Is Extremely Difficult… But 8-10 Hours Later, It’ll Blow You Away.
- Visit Norway’s route description
- Vincent Steeman
- Sidetracked original feature
- Cody Duncan
- Gjendebåten information
- Oulanka’s forests and rivers
- Half Dome’s cable route
Current reference information, checked 15 September 2026:
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