Gear
The DNT key
The standard DNT key opens every self-service and no-service DNT cabin — how to order it, what it costs, and what it actually opens.
The DNT key is a standard key that opens every self-service and no-service DNT cabin across the whole of Norway — hundreds of cabins from Nordkapp to Lindesnes, from Hardangervidda to Finnmarksvidda. One and the same key fits everything. It is one of those practical, ingenious solutions that make the DNT cabin system so functional for the outdoor crowd.
Who can get one
DNT members. You have to be a member (or hold a valid membership with a sister association in Sweden, Finland and so on) to order a key.
Membership itself costs (as of 2026) around 850 kr/year for a main member, less for young people and for additional members. Check current prices at dnt.no.
How to order
Online: dnt.no → Min side → Bestill nøkkel.
At a DNT office: in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger and several other cities you can walk in and buy one the same day.
Price: typically 100–150 kr (postage included). A one-off purchase — the key is yours forever (or until you lose it).
Delivery typically takes 1–2 weeks by post.
What the key opens
All self-service DNT cabins (you pay online through the DNT system after your visit, often with a QR code on site).
All no-service DNT cabins (the same system).
Many cabins owned by sister associations — Norwegian trekking associations, mountain-sports groups and local clubs that have an agreement with DNT.
Check UT.no for specific cabins — it states whether a cabin is locked with the DNT key.
What the key does not open
- Staffed DNT lodges — here a host opens up and you pay on arrival
- Private cabins — even when they are open to walkers, they have their own key systems
- Norwegian state cabins without DNT marking
- Cabins in Sweden with an STF key — these require STF membership (but the STF key fits DNT cabins)
Use
The key opens the standard padlock on the outbuilding, the outdoor toilet and the main entrance. When you leave — lock all the doors again, this is a shared resource.
In some newer cabins code-based locks are used in addition to or instead of a key — check your reservation confirmation.
If you lose the key
- Order a new one from DNT — it costs the same as the first time
- Breaking a lock is NOT OK even in an emergency — it damages shared property
- Winter emergency entry: some cabins have a separate emergency entrance for injury situations — check the cabin information
Packing
On the keyring of your pack or in an inner pocket. Many people tie it to a hat, mobile phone or something else you rarely lose.
Maintenance
Practically none. Rinse in fresh water after exposure to the sea. Replace it if the keyhole wears down — it can often simply be reconditioned for a few kroner at the locksmith.
Hut-to-hut hike → · DNT — dnt.no
Text: Snuitide (2026).