The right to roam
The Right to Roam gives you the opportunity to go where you want on foot and on skis. In the best interests of nature, we encourage you to follow waymarked trails or staked trails – these have been prepared so visitors avoid the most vulnerable areas. You are allowed to pick berries and mushrooms for your own consumption, and you can pick common flowers, but not endangered and protected species. Stopovers, travel and gathering must take place in a considerate manner. It is also important to show consideration towards others who are visiting the national park. This includes residents, cabin owners and grazing animals. A basic rule for everyone who exercises the Right to Roam is: Leave nature the way you would like to find it yourself!
Taking care of vegetation and wildlife
Showing consideration towards vegetation and wildlife is important, especially during the calving, breeding and spawning seasons (from February to July, and some species in August). If you see any wild reindeer, we hope you will stop and move away from the area. The wild reindeer in Snøhetta and Knutshø are very shy and will run far away if frightened. The animals will then waste precious time and energy that should have been spent on grazing and resting. If you come across musk oxen, make sure you keep a safe distance of at least 200 m. It is also important to remember that it is prohibited by law to disturb, damage or destroy Arctic fox dens. Always keep more than 300 meters away from Arctic fox dens.
Cycling
Cycling on regular bikes in Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park is regulated in the interests of other users, and to avoid terrain erosion and the disruption of wildlife. Cycling in the national park is prohibited, with just a few exceptions.
Read more about cycling in Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella
E-bikes
E-bikes are defined as motorized vehicles in the national park, this also applies when the motor is switched off.
Therefore, you are not allowed to use an e-bike on the trail network in Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park or on roads that are closed to motorized traffic. A simple rule to remember is that you can only use an e-bike on roads where cars are permitted to drive. This means that you are not allowed to ride an e-bike on Snøheimvegen road or Vålåsjøvegen road.
Bringing your dog on the trip
Dogs are welcome in the national park as long as you show consideration towards wild animals, grazing animals and other visitors. All dogs must be kept on a leash between 1 March and 20 August in Rondane National Park. Each municipality may have its own regulations regarding keeping dogs on a leash – these apply. Dog owners are individually responsible for knowing the regulations regarding keeping dogs on a leash.
Dog sledding
All forms of dog sledding on Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella national park and Hjerkinn Protected landscape are subject to application. You are welcome to get in touch with the National Park Management, see contact information here.
Cell phone coverage
Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park and the other protected areas do not have full cell phone coverage. Therefore, it can be useful to know where there is cell phone coverage when traveling in the mountains. A good piece of advice is to download the cell phone coverage map for your mobile network before you set off on a trip.
Motorized travel
Motorized vehicles are prohibited in the national park, but visitors are permitted to drive on roads in the protected landscapes during certain periods of the year. It is not permitted to park motorized vehicles on uncultivated land.
Drones
The use of drones is prohibited in the national park. The use of motorized model aircraft is prohibited, and this includes drones. The use of drones may disturb other visitors and not least the vulnerable wildlife in the area.
Use the trails and do not build new cairns
By following and keeping to the trails, you help to take care of nature in Rondane. This avoids unnecessary wear and tear on the vegetation and any disturbance to wildlife. Cairns can be found along many of the trails. These are landmarks that help you follow the route when there is poor visibility. It is therefore important that you do not build new cairns, as this may mislead those who visit the area after you. In addition, you should never remove stones from old cairns. Some of these are very old and are protected as cultural monuments.
Cultural monuments
Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park is rich in cultural monuments from the hunting and trapping of wild reindeer in ancient times. Here, visitors will find the remnants of old houses, pitfall traps, hunting hides and guiding fences, all of which are protected. Therefore, do not move any stones from old walls.
Clothing and equipment
The weather in the mountains can change very quickly, during both the summer and winter months. You are responsible for assessing the weather, traveling conditions, and your level of fitness and skills. You should always have windproof and waterproof outerwear, hats and mittens when hiking in the mountains. The same applies to maps and a compass. Apart from these items, you need to consider what is necessary in terms of the trip you have planned. Guided tours provide visitors with safety and useful knowledge about the local areas.
Leave no trace!
Make sure you don’t leave any garbage behind. Bring a small spade in your backpack so you can dig yourself a small toilet hole – not leaving any traces of toilet visits is a lot nicer both for you and for those visiting the area after you.
Grazing livestock
It is not uncommon to see animals grazing in protected areas – visitors might meet sheep, cattle and horses. Show consideration when meeting grazing animals and keep dogs on a leash. When pitching a tent in areas where there are grazing animals, you may find that they become curious about your campsite.
Campfires
Visitors are permitted to light campfires between 15 September and 15 April. You are allowed to light campfires throughout the entire year in places where there are no obvious fire hazards or risk of forest fires, but please pay attention to local restrictions and check municipality websites. Show consideration when gathering firewood – do not damage trees and try to use dry twigs and branches. Campfire regulations stipulated in the Outdoor Recreation Act apply in the protected areas.
Camping in tents
As a general rule, visitors may pitch tents wherever they want as long as it is 150 meters from inhabited houses or cabins. However, out of consideration for the natural environment and wildlife, it is best to make use of the campsites around the various tourist cabins or other adapted sites.
Pitching tents at these sites provides visitors with access to cabin facilities for a small fee. When leaving the campsite, it is important that you leave no traces behind. If you have used stones to anchor your tent, please make sure that you place them back where you found them with the lichen-covered side facing upwards.
Caravans and motorhomes
It is not permitted to park motorized vehicles on uncultivated land. We encourage visitors to use the local campsites, of which there are many along the roads in the valleys around the protected areas.
Hunting and fishing
You may hunt and fish in the national park but remember to buy a hunting/fishing license. Using live fish as bait is prohibited. Visitors are also prohibited from taking live fish or wet fishing gear from one watercourse to another. During the hunting season, it is important that hunters and hikers show consideration towards each other. Hunting is the most important management tool for regulating the number of animals in relation to food access. Without this management, the animals will not be able to find enough food and may become more susceptible to disease.
Horseback riding and dog sledding
Private horse riding is permitted and no application/permission is required. All forms of dog sledding are subject to application. In the other areas, there are no special rules regarding horse riding and dog sledding. Individuals must assess whether the activity may conflict with the natural values found in the national park.
You are welcome to get in touch with the National Park Management if you are in doubt, see contact information here.
Organized visits/guiding in Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park
Visits are organized if the person, group, company, school or other organization plans, coordinates or arranges the trip and there are activities involving groups of participants, or an activity that is repeated, and where the activity is publicly announced in advance. In principle, all organized trips where the main objective is to observe animal and bird life, all hunting license tests and sporting events, as well as organized training are organized visits that are subject to application.
This applies to the national park, Hjerkinn Protected Landscape/habitat and species management area and (partly) Knutshø Protected Landscape.
Physical adaptation in Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park
Physical measures, such as trail marking, the development of new trails or ski trails, setting out hiking posts, geocaches and posts for post hunting are subject to application in the national park.