Norwegian Trekking Association

The Norwegian Trekking Association, known in Norwegian as Den norske turistforening and commonly abbreviated DNT, is a nationwide Norwegian membership organization dedicated to trekking, outdoor recreation, and access to the country’s natural landscapes. Founded on 21 January 1868 with the stated purpose of helping and developing tourism in Norway, the association has become one of the country’s principal institutions for non-motorized outdoor life. Its activities combine practical infrastructure, route information, organized activities, public education, and advocacy for simple and responsible engagement with nature. DNT’s most visible role is the operation of a large network of mountain and forest cabins. Working with local trekking associations across Norway, it operates more than 550 cabins. These facilities vary substantially. Forty-one are staffed, while many others are self-service, sometimes with food provisions and sometimes without. Access arrangements can include registration, payment by forms or other designated methods, and a refundable key deposit for huts that are locked. The self-service model reflects DNT’s emphasis on trust, personal responsibility, and relatively simple accommodation rather than conventional hospitality. Many huts have solar panels but lack running water, requiring visitors to collect water from nearby streams or rivers and to contribute to cleaning, firewood, and general upkeep before departure. The association’s first hut was Krokan, located near the Rjukan waterfall. The site was later affected by the development of hydropower infrastructure and the hut was sold; it has subsequently been reopened near the road between Tinn and Vinje. Krokan illustrates the organization’s long historical connection with the development of access to Norwegian mountain areas, while also reflecting the changing relationship between outdoor recreation, infrastructure, and landscape use. DNT’s current stated direction centers on outdoor activities that are simple, secure, and environmentally friendly. In practice, this involves maintaining and marking trails, providing route and cabin information, supporting local trekking chapters, and encouraging people to experience nature with limited material and environmental impact. The association’s work serves both Norwegian residents and visitors seeking structured information about hiking across the country. Its trail and cabin ecosystem also complements digital planning resources, including UT.no, which is operated by DNT and NRK, and weather information relevant to outdoor travel. The organization has more than 300,000 individual members and 57 local chapters, giving it a broad national footprint. Local organizations are important to the practical delivery of DNT’s mission because they manage facilities, routes, activities, and volunteer relationships in particular regions. DNT also recognizes honorary members who have demonstrated interest in Norwegian nature or helped publicize Norway as a tourism destination; listed examples include Kofi Annan and Katie Melua. DNT is supported by membership, local participation, philanthropy, and the work of staff and volunteers. Norwegian real-estate investor and recreational trekker Olav Thon has donated NOK 55 million to the association, with funds used to construct new cabins and refurbish existing ones. The association’s present secretary-general is Dag Terje Klarp Solvang. Unlike a commercial travel company, DNT’s identity is rooted in membership, public access, local stewardship, and the long-term maintenance of a national outdoor infrastructure.

The Norwegian Trekking Association was established on 21 January 1868 under the Norwegian name Den norske turistforening. Its original purpose was to assist and develop tourism in Norway, at a time when organized access to the country’s mountains was becoming increasingly important for both domestic travelers and visitors. The association developed within a broader Norwegian tradition of using mountain landscapes for travel, seasonal activity, and contact with nature. Long before the organization existed, people had moved through Norway’s mountainous regions, including the earliest inhabitants who followed reindeer as the ice sheet retreated. DNT’s early work helped create a practical framework for trekking by supporting routes, accommodation, and information. Its first hut was Krokan, situated near the Rjukan waterfall. The site later became connected with hydropower development, and the original hut was sold. It was eventually reopened near the road linking Tinn and Vinje, preserving a connection with DNT’s early accommodation history while reflecting the changing use of the surrounding landscape. Over time, DNT’s work expanded through cooperation with local trekking organizations across Norway. Rather than relying on a single centrally managed resort system, the association developed a distributed network of local chapters and facilities. This structure enabled it to serve varied landscapes, from mountain areas to forest regions, while retaining a national identity and common outdoor ethos. The network now includes more than 550 cabins. Some are staffed, while others operate on a self-service basis, with visitors expected to register, pay according to the applicable system, and help maintain the hut by cleaning, carrying firewood, handling dishes, and securing the building when required. The self-service cabin tradition is central to DNT’s character. These facilities are generally simple rather than luxurious, and many have solar electricity but no running water. Visitors may need to collect water from a nearby river or stream. Such arrangements reduce the need for extensive infrastructure and place responsibility on users, reinforcing the association’s emphasis on straightforward and low-impact outdoor travel. DNT’s mission has developed from tourism promotion toward a broader public-interest role in outdoor life. Its stated goal is to support simple, safe, and environmentally friendly activities in nature. This includes maintaining trails and cabins, encouraging responsible conduct, supporting local activities, and making information available to people planning journeys. Its digital relationship with UT.no, operated by DNT and NRK, extends this role into trip planning and route discovery. The organization has grown into a major membership association with more than 300,000 individual members and 57 local chapters. Its reach depends on the combined contribution of professional staff, local organizations, volunteers, members, and donors. Philanthropy has also supported physical expansion and renewal: Olav Thon, a Norwegian real-estate investor and recreational trekker, has donated NOK 55 million for new and refurbished cabins. DNT additionally recognizes honorary members whose interest in Norwegian nature or public contribution has helped promote the country as a destination; examples include Kofi Annan and Katie Melua. Today, DNT remains an active national institution linking recreation, tourism, conservation-minded practice, and public access. Its principal legacy is not a commercial product line but a nationwide system of trails, cabins, local chapters, and information services that makes Norwegian outdoor travel more attainable while preserving a culture of personal responsibility and modest interaction with the landscape.

• 1868

  Association founded

  [1]Norwegian Trekking Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The Norwegian Trekking Association was founded on 21 January 1868 to help and develop tourism in Norway.

• Krokan becomes DNT’s first hut

  [1]Norwegian Trekking Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Krokan, near the Rjukan waterfall, became the association’s first trekking hut. After later being sold in connection with hydropower development, it was reopened near the Tinn–Vinje road.

• National cabin network expands

  [1]Norwegian Trekking Associationen.wikipedia.org

  In cooperation with local organizations, DNT developed a network of more than 550 cabins in Norwegian mountain and forest areas.

• Membership exceeds 300,000

  [1]Norwegian Trekking Associationen.wikipedia.org

  DNT is described as having more than 300,000 individual members and 57 local chapters.

A nationwide, membership-based outdoor organization focused on simple, safe, accessible, and environmentally responsible trekking in Norway.

• Accommodation

  DNT staffed cabins

  Staffed mountain and forest cabins provide accommodation within DNT’s trekking network. They form part of a broader system intended to support multi-day travel through Norwegian outdoor areas, with local chapters contributing to operation and maintenance. The staffed facilities differ from conventional hotels because their principal purpose is to support trekking access and outdoor journeys rather than operate as standalone luxury destinations.

• Accommodation

  DNT self-service cabins

  Self-service huts provide simple accommodation for trekkers, sometimes with food provisions and sometimes without. Users may need to obtain a key with a refundable deposit, register their stay, and settle payment through the hut’s designated system. Many have solar electricity but no running water, and visitors are expected to clean, manage firewood, wash dishes, and secure the hut before leaving.

• Outdoor infrastructure

  DNT trails

  DNT and its local organizations maintain and support marked trekking routes across Norwegian mountain and forest landscapes. The trails connect cabins and destinations and provide a practical foundation for independent hiking. Their value lies in route access and navigation support rather than in a packaged commercial tour product.

• Digital trip planning

  UT.no

  UT.no is a trip-planning resource associated with DNT and NRK. It helps users find information relevant to Norwegian routes and outdoor destinations, extending DNT’s traditional role in trails, cabins, and trekking guidance into digital planning.

1. 1Norwegian Trekking Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Norwegian Trekking Association official websitednt.no