Placenames often reveal shapes and landscape. Many summits in Jotunheimen have "-tind" as the last part of the name. The word "tind" indicates that the summits is sharp and pointed. "Pigg" is also a distinct summit, but less sharp/pointed than a "tind". Edges/ridges often have names like "-egg" and "-rygg". More rounded and less pronounced mountains are often called "-hø(e)". Glaciers are usually called "-bre(en)" and shown clearly as white-blue areas on the map. "Fjell" means mountain and can be used as names of individual summits or wider areas. Lodges or small settlements often have suffix "-bu", "-heim", "-hytte", or "sæter" and "-støl/stul". Lakes are often called "-vatnet" or "-vannet", and some (usually smaller) lakes are called "-tjern", "-tjønn" or "-tjørn", and some are even called "-fjord" according to naming tradition in east Norway. The big lakes in the south are Gjende, Bygdin and Tyin.

Several English and German noblemen used to visit Jotunheimen in late 1800s and early 1900s to explore the mountain area, and climb the mountains. The Norwegian poet Vinje named many of the peaks in the western part of the park and is justly celebrated with a monument near Fondsbu DNT Hut. The Norwegian national playwright Ibsen set one of the most famous scenes in his classic Peer Gynt on the dramatic Besseggen Ridge in the eastern part of the park. The Besseggen Ridge has become one of the most visited natural attractions in Norway with 1–2 people passing any given point every 2–3 minutes in high summer – not a place for solitude! The eccentric Englishman HC Slingsby popularised the area through his trip reports published in the Scottish Mountaineering Journal in the 1880s and 1890s. He also published a classic book-length account entitled Norway: the northern playground. Three in Norway (by two of them) (written by Lees and Clutterbuck, 1882) is a classic travelogue about a long summer and early autumn spent mostly around Gjende lake.

Jotunheimen has alpine mountains, glaciers with lakes and small rivers. Utladalen canyon, the deepest valley in Norway, runs like a deep crack between Western and Eastern Jotunheimen.

This is a high mountain area with very few trees, mostly heathery terrain with some bushes.

Rapid weather changes can occur, there are lots of snow in the winter due to the high altitude, the summer is nice with up to over 25 °C (80 °F) when there is good and sunny weather. Note that at higher altitudes deep snow can remain from winter until midsummer. The hiking season varies, but usually starts in late June, while July–August are the best months. Visitors should obtain specific information about snow conditions if they plan to hike in June. Utladalen valley is largely lowland and can be visited in May.

• visitjotunheimen.com

There are no roads within the boundaries of the national park.

• Road E16 (Filefjell mountain pass) runs on the south edge of area.
• Road 51 (Valdresflye pass) runs on the eastern side, this road climbs to about 1400 meters and allows a high starting point.
• Road 55 (Sognefjellet pass) runs on the western/northern edge, this road climbs to almost 1500 meters and allows a high starting point. Close to Galdhøpiggen and the great summits in Hurrungane.
  • The private road to Juvasshytta climbs to 1800 meters and gives a relatively short walk to Galdhøpiggen, there is also a summer skiing resort.
• Road 53 (Årdal-Tyin road) offers good access from low starting point in Årdal (Utladalen valley in particular) and from Tyin lake a high starting point.
  • Road 252 to Eidsbugarden, summer only, no asphalt. One of the departure points deepest within Jotunheimen.

Train from Oslo and Gardermoen Airport to Otta 300km north of Oslo and take bus 80km west to Lom.

• Nor-Way Bussekspress (express buses). Most express buses running through the region are operated by this company. Connections to Oslo, Lillehammer, Sogn, Trondheim and Nordfjord .
• Valdresekspressen (express coach), ☏ +47 61 36 59 00, fax: +47 61 36 16 00, post@valdresekspressen.no. Route (Up to five daily departures): Oslo-Hønefoss-Valdres-Beitostølen-Gjendesheim-Leirvassbu (only summerseason to Gjendesheim and Leirvassbu) and Oslo-Hønefoss-Valdres-Tyinkrysset-Tyin-Årdal. .
• Øst-Vest Xpressen (express coach), ☏ +47 61 36 59 00, fax: +47 61 36 16 00, jvb@jvb.no. Route (One departure per day): Bergen-Voss-Lærdal-Tyinkrysset-Fagernes-Lillehammer. .
• Snowmobile (snowmobile), ☏ +47 61 36 59 00, fax: +47 61 36 16 00, jvb@jvb.no. Connections: Tyin-Tyinholmen-Eidsbugarden (Fondsbu) and Beitostølen-Bygdin. In summerseason there is a local bus-service on those two routes. .
• Bus through the Sognefjellet mountain pass from Sogndal and Luster to Otta and Lom, operated by Nettbuss (updated 2016).

• 61.6725568.3707781 Galdhøpiggen sommerski (Road 55 Lom-Skjolden, Galdhøpiggen road from Galde junction to Juvasshytta). Summer ski resort at Galdhøpiggen summit (Norway's highest), in Jotunheimen, open May until Autumn. Season depends on snow conditions.  

• 61.6333338.32 Galdhøpiggen. Galdhøpiggen is the highest mountain peak in the Nordic countries at 2469 m above sea level. Galdhøpiggen is the highest mountain in Europe north of the Alps. Galdhøpiggen is in the northern part of Jotunheimen just south of route 55. Galdhøpiggen and nearby summits are surrounded by glaciers. The standard route is a moderate day hike (about 7 hours) from Juvasshytta lodge across a glacier; it must be done with a guide. Guiding begins in early June depending on snow conditions. There is also a summer ski resort at Juvasshytta lodge. Road to Juvasshytta departs from route 55 at Galde hamlet near Bøverdalen church. The Galdhøpiggen road is steep and low gear downhill is needed not to overheat breaks. This is the highest road in Norway and snowfall may occur also in summer. The more demanding route is from the Spiterstulen lodge.  
• Second highest is 61.6518.5583 Glittertind with 2452m. A technically easy but demanding hike from the Glitterheim lodge. Glittertind has long been recognized by some 20-30 meters permanent hard snow or glacier on the summit. Exact height was not known until 2020 when the snow cap had receded and the highest point of rock emerged. When the snow cap was included, Glittertind was previously a few meters higher than Galdhøpiggen.
• 61.5038.7274 Besseggen is a narrow edge with steep drops on both sides. It is one of the most popular day hiking routes in Jotunheimen. Many striking photos of Jotunheimen are from Besseggen. The full circle includes a boat ride and takes 8–10 hr. Available from mid June to early October.
• 61.387.9458335 Vettisfossen waterfall has Norway's highest undisturbed drop at about 300 m (980 ft). The waterfall was protected by law in 1924. Vettisfossen can be visited by hiking through the Utladalen valley. Utladalen is Norway's deepest valley as it cuts deep into the bedrock south of Hurrungane. There are several other fine waterfalls along the route.
• 61.51657.90856 Fannaråki. Fannaråki is the 2068 meters above sea level and the DNT lodge right on the summit is the highest accommodation in Norway. There was a manned meterological observatory from 1926 until 1978 and a small staff stayed on the summit all winter (the building was adopted by DNT when the observatory was abandoned). In 1943 they measured wind speed at 250 km/h. The lowest temperature ever measured in July was –8,3 °C. The panorama from Fannaråki is one of the best in Jotunheimen. Fannaråki sits on the south edge of Sognefjellet plateau is seen from the road as a distinct almost straight ridge. The shortest hike is from Sognefjellshytta, but part of this hike is across the glacier where guides are needed (available July and August). Total about 6 km and 5 hours hike. The hike from Turtagrø is steeper and more demanding but glacier crossing not needed.  

• 61.4617.8737 Store Skagastølstind at 2405 meters is the third highest summit and reachable by climbing only. Part of Hurrungane group in western Jotunheimen, the wildest part of Jotunheimen at the inner end of Sognefjordn.
• 61.4313897.7941678 Store Austabotntind in the western end of Hurrungane group is one of the finest summits i Jotunheimen. Relatively easy as a climb but exposed, so climber's gear is needed.

Wild camp. Not more than three days in a row on the same spot and at least 150 meters from buildings.