Experience architecture, art, and Norwegian cultural heritage as you drive through vast landscapes and past towering snow-capped mountains in Rondane.
Norwegian Scenic
Route Rondane
A memorable journey through mighty mountains
The Norwegian Scenic Route Rondane, one of 18 Norwegian Scenic Routes, takes you deep into Rondane National Park.
If you're driving between Oslo and Trondheim, this is the route for you!
It's the perfect detour to take along the way, whether you're travelling on the E6 through the Gudbrandsdalen valley, or the Rv 3 through the Østerdalen valley, with plenty of wonderful things to see and do.
A scenic drive through Rondane
Experience the beauty of Norway's first official national park and its surrounding landmarks on this unique drive. The 75-kilometre-long Norwegian Scenic Route Rondane runs between Folldal and Venabygdsfjellet, including a detour from Enden to Sollia Church.
The route lies between Trondheim and Oslo, so you can start in either city and drive for about three to four hours to reach your starting point. In fact, taking the Scenic Route Rondane is about 14 kilometres shorter than following the E6 motorway if you're travelling between Oslo and Trondheim. However, you should allow extra time (at least 30 min without stops), as the road is narrow and winding.
It's also possible to fly to Oslo or Trondheim and hire a car from the airport. Alternatively, you can drive from Ålesund for around four hours to Folldal.
You can book plane tickets with Norwegian, Widerøe, or SAS.
If you are starting in Oslo, drive for four hours up to Ringebu, along the E6. This is where you leave the motorway and begin your mountain adventure!
But be sure to make a stop in Ringebu first: here you'll find Norway's second-largest stave church!
It's also a great place to stop for a meal or to buy the best local food the valley has to offer.
Head to Annis Spisested for traditional Norwegian dishes and delicious homemade sausages. You can also buy a variety of meats and local products in the excellent food shop to take with you on your journey!
Once you reach Venabygdsfjellet, after a roughly 30-minute drive uphill from Ringebu, it’s time to begin your Scenic Route Rondane adventure.
You'll be met with spectacular mountain landscapes from the get-go. There are also plenty of fun activities available no matter the season, including fishing, skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, dog sledding, cycling, and hiking.
It's a great area to spend a night or two, as there are many good mountain lodges and rental cabins in the area. You can even try horseback riding along beautiful mountain trails!
Venabu Fjellhotell and Spidsbergseter Resort offer a range of packages from one-hour riding lessons to week-long riding holidays.
Drive about 20 kilometres down the road towards Enden (which means "The End"). From there, you can take a right turn for an 11-kilometre detour to reach the historic Sollia Church. The wooden church was consecrated in 1738 and is one of the best preserved baroque churches in Norway.
Try some local cheeses, jams, and baked goods at the nearby cheesemaker Sollia Ysteri. During the summer months you can visit the farm café and shop for traditional Norwegian food at Sollia Prestegård.
Head back to the main road and drive north for about 10 minutes to the next exciting stop where you can visit Fossehuset, the museum at Atnbrufossen waterfall.
The museum was formerly a sawmill. Today, the building hosts art exhibitions and concerts.
After exploring the museum, hop back in your car and drive north for just five minutes along Lake Atnsjøen to the stunning Sohlbergplassen rest area and viewpoint. Designed by architect Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk, it first opened in 2008.
There's also a story behind the name of the viewpoint. This view of the mountains and lake in Rondane is the same one that inspired artist Harald Sohlberg to paint his famous work Vinternatt i Rondane (Winter Night in Rondane, National Museum) in 1914, after witnessing its beauty on a skiing trip.
Just 2 kilometres further along the road lies the artwork Skyldner ("The Debtor"), created in 2022 by Matias Faldbakken. This enormous mosaic is based on a charcoal drawing of a wooden head from the 12th century.
During the winter, the artwork disappears beneath layers of snow, but the spot still offers a good view of the mountains beyond.
After admiring the artwork, you can drive another 10 minutes along the road to Strømbu, an architecturally striking rest area and viewpoint designed by Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk. Relax in the lounge, where you'll have views of the River Atna winding through the pine forest, or take in the panoramic scenery from the rooftop terrace.
This is also the gateway to endless outdoor adventures in Rondane National Park. It's a perfect starting point for several hikes, and you can rent both bikes and canoes. There's a kiosk where you can buy snacks and get advice on the different hiking routes.
One of the popular hikes takes around 2-3 hours from the car park and goes to the Bjørnhollia cabin, owned by the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT). Enjoy Rondane National Park and perhaps spend the night in a cabin for a peaceful night's rest.
Once you get back on the main road and continue driving north, there are several detours you can take before you reach Folldal at the end of the route. How about exploring more hikes in Dørålsdalen valley and staying in one of the cosy cabins there? Or maybe cycling along the impressive Grimsdalen valley, between Rondane and Dovrefjell, is more your pace?
Fun activities!
Enjoy some fresh air with one of these wonderful activities in Rondane.
Where to stay
Find a place in the Rondane area that suits you and your travel plans.
Continue following the road north for about 30 kilometres from Strømbu to the Folldal Mines. This marks the end of the scenic route – or the beginning, if you're arriving from places like Trondheim or Ålesund.
Step back in time and explore 70 preserved buildings from the mining community that lived and worked here between 1748 and 1993, producing zinc, copper, and sulphur. You can even join a fun guided tour that takes you by rail into the old mines.
It's also possible to spend a night or two in Direksjonen, the home that was built for the mine director, and there's a café that serves traditional food made with local ingredients. Don't forget to take in the spectacular views from the car park!
Drive for about 16 minutes east of Folldal to experience a night at the charming, genuine, historic Kvebergsøya farm from the 1600s, carefully restored to modern standards.
It also serves traditional Norwegian cuisine, made from quality ingredients.
Or drive west towards the E6 for about 30 minutes until you reach Hjerkinn.
Here you can enjoy the views from the impressive viewpoint that was designed by famous Norwegian architects Snøhetta. You can also spend the night in a typical Norwegian mountain lodge, like the Hjerkinn Fjellstue, and enjoy some more horseback riding!
For more interesting architecture, check out Eystein Church.
Nice to know before you go
Take your time on the narrow, winding mountain roads, and use lay-bys to allow oncoming cars to pass where possible.
The road is usually open year-round, but the section connecting the scenic route to the E6 motorway in Gudbrandsdalen (at Frya) may be closed for short periods during the winter months during bad weather.
Information for cyclists: It's a relatively easy road to cycle on and the traffic in this part of Norway isn't too heavy. From the valley at Enden, you can visit the Sollia Church on a 24-kilometre round trip. A new national cycle route is also being planned near Folldal, which will run all the way from Røros to Hardanger.
Source: Norwegian Scenic Routes
The Rondane Scenic Route
Check out Rondane's highlights!
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