Free Hiking Trails Around Trondheim
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Trondheim’s hiking is forest walking, not fjord-country mountains
Worth setting expectations honestly: Trondheim sits on a broad, gentle fjord, not the steep, dramatic western fjords around Geiranger, and the hiking nearby matches that, rolling forest and coastal paths rather than alpine peaks. What it lacks in drama it makes up in access: the best trail network starts a 21-minute tram ride from the city centre, and every route below costs nothing beyond that fare.
Bymarka: 200+ km of trails, no car needed
Bymarka is a roughly 80km² forest reserve on the city’s western edge with more than 200km of marked trails, used for hiking and mountain biking in summer and cross-country skiing once the snow sets in. The Gråkallbanen, the world’s northernmost tramway, runs from St. Olavs gate in the centre through Byåsen to Lian at 297m elevation, the easiest way in without a car, about 21 minutes each way. Lian itself has a small trolley museum at the tram terminus, worth a look before or after the trail. Trail difficulty in Bymarka ranges from flat lakeside loops near Lian to longer forest routes further in; none require technical gear, but the terrain is genuinely uneven underfoot once you’re off the main paths, so proper footwear still matters.
The Ladestien: an easier coastal alternative
If Bymarka’s forest trails sound like more commitment than you want, the Ladestien is a flatter, easier option: an 8-9km coastal path along the fjord from Ladehammeren to Rotvollfjæra, roughly 2-2.5 hours at an easy-to-moderate pace, past old farms, historic churches, and sea views. No transit is strictly needed if you start from the city side, and it’s a good half-day option that doesn’t demand a full Bymarka commitment.
What to pack, given the weather
Trondheim’s weather is genuinely changeable even in summer; pack layers and a proper rain shell regardless of season, since conditions can shift within a single afternoon on the trail. Winter hikers should expect Bymarka’s trails to convert largely to cross-country skiing rather than walking once snow settles in, and to plan around the short winter daylight, as little as 4-5 hours in December.
When to go
May through August gives the longest daylight and the mildest conditions for a full day on the trails; Bymarka’s ski season runs through the cold months instead. Either way, the fare for the Gråkallbanen tram or an AtB bus is the only real cost involved, covered in more detail in the main Trondheim guide .
Check the tram or bus schedule back before you set off, especially later in the day; Bymarka’s trails are unlit, and the last tram from Lian doesn’t wait for stragglers.