Gygrestolen Hike — Telemark’s Legendary Rock Formation Near Ulefoss

Visible from miles around across the Midt-Telemark countryside, Gygrestolen is one of the region’s most striking natural landmarks — a towering rock formation with a folk legend attached to it that’s been told in Bø for generations. If your group is up for a proper hike rather than a stroll, this is the one to build a day around.

The formation and its legend

Gygrestolen — “the giantess’s chair” — is a dramatic rock formation south of Bø, made up of two massive stone towers and a boulder field shaped by the last ice age. It’s visible from many points around the municipality, which is part of why it’s become such a well-known local landmark.

The legend behind it is pure Norwegian folklore: it’s said that a giantess, Gygra, sat here in fury when Christianity first arrived in the village, hurling huge boulders at the local church (Gårakirka) below. The story goes further — local tradition holds that the day the “chair” finally collapses into the lake below, Uvdalstjønna, will mark the end of the world. So far, it’s still standing.

The site gained a bit of extra fame in 2020 when it featured on the Norwegian celebrity reality show “71° Nord.”

What the hike actually involves

This isn’t a casual walk — it’s a genuinely moderate-to-challenging hike, and worth knowing that before you set out:

• Distance: roughly 6–7 km round trip from the Uvdalstjønna parking area.
• Time: around 2.5–3 hours at a comfortable pace.
• Elevation gain: around 350–365 metres from the parking lot to the summit plateau, topping out at roughly 490 metres above sea level.
• Terrain: starts through dense forest, transitions to boulder fields and bare rock, then opens onto a plateau of open pine forest near the top. Some sections get slippery with roots and wet rock after rain.

Along the way, the trail passes Svarttjønn, a small lake with a short detour to a two-level cave (Svarttjønnhola), and Venetjønn, a scenic pond that’s a genuinely nice spot for a summer swim before continuing on. From the summit plateau, the views stretch out toward the Lifjell mountains, with peaks reaching over 1,000 metres.

A word of caution: the final approach to the clifftop viewpoint is exposed, with a real drop — worth keeping a close eye on kids and staying well back from the edge, especially in wind or wet conditions.

Good to know before you go

Check the current route description and practical details on the official Gygrestolen hiking page before setting out.

• Getting there: from Bø town centre, follow road 359 toward Lunde, then follow signage toward Tveiten and on to the parking area at Uvdalstjønna, where a marked (blue) trail begins.
• No public transport runs to the trailhead — you’ll need a car.
• Best season: April through October, when the trail is clear of ice and snow.
• For climbers: Gygrestolen is also one of Telemark’s most popular rock-climbing areas, with routes on the formation itself, if you’d rather approach it vertically than on foot.

Why base yourself in Ulefoss for this

Gygrestolen sits close to Bø, in the same general direction as Bø Sommarland from Ulefoss — making it easy to combine a big outdoor day here with a more relaxed water-park day elsewhere in your stay, without changing accommodation between the two.

Stay nearby

Telemark Guesthouse is a historic farmhouse in Ulefoss that sleeps up to 15 guests — plenty of room to recover after a demanding hike, with a garden, sauna tent, and wood-fired pizza oven waiting when you get back.

Check availability and book at Telemark Guesthouse →