Gjevlekollen is a 602-meter summit in Finnemarka, the large forested area between Lier and Drammen. At the top sits Gjevlekollbua, an open shelter built in 2017 by Statskog with help from local sport fishermen.
It replaces an old fire watch cabin from the first half of the 1900s. Back then, a network of lookout stations covered eastern Norway so forest fires could be spotted and triangulated from at least two positions. A telephone line ran from the cabin down to the village, about 3 kilometers and 500 vertical meters below. Remnants of that line are still visible along the trail. The original cabin had deteriorated too far to save.
The new shelter weighs over seven tons and had to be flown in by helicopter. It has large windows framing a wide panorama: west to the Jonsknuten mast near Kongsberg, east to Oslo and Holmenkollen. At the opening in May 2018, more than 140 people showed up. The cabin is open year-round, unlocked, but has no stove or beds. A popular spot among locals.
The most common approach is the blue-marked trail from the county road between Kanada and Delekant, about 4.5 kilometers to the top. You can also start from the Rustanveien parking area, which is 4.1 kilometers.
It replaces an old fire watch cabin from the first half of the 1900s. Back then, a network of lookout stations covered eastern Norway so forest fires could be spotted and triangulated from at least two positions. A telephone line ran from the cabin down to the village, about 3 kilometers and 500 vertical meters below. Remnants of that line are still visible along the trail. The original cabin had deteriorated too far to save.
The new shelter weighs over seven tons and had to be flown in by helicopter. It has large windows framing a wide panorama: west to the Jonsknuten mast near Kongsberg, east to Oslo and Holmenkollen. At the opening in May 2018, more than 140 people showed up. The cabin is open year-round, unlocked, but has no stove or beds. A popular spot among locals.
The most common approach is the blue-marked trail from the county road between Kanada and Delekant, about 4.5 kilometers to the top. You can also start from the Rustanveien parking area, which is 4.1 kilometers.