This is a place where you can buy everything you need for your trip, and if you have any questions, you will receive good help from the tourist information desk located next to the train station. Oppdal has a vibrant city center with a diverse range of shops, restaurants, activities and accommodation. From Oppdal, you can start your Dovrefjell experience with a guide. A few kilometers west of today’s city center is the Vang burial site. Discoveries made at the burial site tell us how important the mountains and wild reindeer trapping were to the people who lived in this area during the Viking Age. The Vang site is by far Norway’s largest Iron Age burial site, and one of the largest in Northern Europe!
Practical information
Access
Car and bus: Via the E6 highway or the RV70
Train: Oppdal Station, The Dovre Line
Parking
Good parking facilities in the city center
Charging station for electric cars: Yes, at the train station
Dining and accommodation
See dining and accommodation at Visit Oppdal
Experiences from Oppdal
Guided tours in the mountains
Put on your hiking boots or ski boots and join us on a guided tour. We can almost guarantee that you will have a more complete experience if you let an experienced, local guide show you the way and take care of safety. Chances are you will also learn something new along the way.
Guided tours to Snøhetta mountain:
The Vang burial site
A few kilometers west of today’s city center is the Vang burial site. Just like today, Vang used to be strategically located along the main roads between east and west, north and south. The Pilgrim Path and The King’s Road over Dovrefjell also run through this important junction. The Vang site is by far Norway’s largest Iron Age burial site, and one of the largest in Northern Europe. In total, there are approximately 900 differently sized burial mounds and cairns that are concentrated in one area..
Farm experiences
In and around the protected landscapes, there are many opportunities to experience old farms and traditional mountain farming. In Åmotsdalen valley, one of Drivdalen valley’s side valleys, visitors will find Åmotsdalen Farm that consists of buildings from the middle of the 18th century. Here you can visit the cozy farm café called ‘Kringla’, take a walk along one of the fantastic trails, or test the main attraction – one of Norway’s most awesome ziplines.
The Pilgrim Path
The Pilgrim Path he Dovrefjell section of the St. Olav Ways is one of the most popular stretches of the historic pilgrimage route from Oslo to Trondheim and Nidaros Cathedral. It passes through spectacular mountain scenery, and hikers who complete the crossing of Dovrefjell will pass four historic mountain lodges that have welcomed pilgrims and other travellers for centuries. Much of the route follows the original trail across the mountains – the historic King’s Road. However, it also passes through important calving areas where wild reindeer give birth and raise their calves. To help ensure peace and quiet for the reindeer during this sensitive period, we encourage hikers to wait until 18 June before walking the section from Kongsvold to Ryphusan via Vårstigen.
The King’s Road over Dovrefjell
A walk along The King’s Road can provide many new experiences and discoveries for each individual hiker, but the perpetual mountain landscape that surrounds the road can also provide many of the same experiences of nature. It is said that Prince Christian Frederik became so fascinated by the mountains that he began walking towards Snøhetta when he traveled over the mountains in 1814. Similarly, Vinje describes how travelers talk about the mountain as being “so magnificently beautiful”, and writes about Snøhetta mountain as he observes it from The King’s Road over Hjerkinnhø. When walking along The King’s Road over Hjerkinnhø today, one can feel the same attraction towards the majestic Snøhetta mountain and Svånåtindan mountain to the west. A hike along The King’s Road can provide experiences that are beyond time and space, and in that way the road creates connecting lines between past and present travelers.
The King’s Road over Hjerkinnhø, 7 km
Starting points for the trip are at Jøroskloppa (parking next to E6) and Hjerkinn Fjellstue. Visitors are able to reach the highest point (Hjerkinnhø, 1210 masl) from both places and experience great views of Rondane, Snøhetta mountain and Drivdalen valley. If you keep your eyes peeled, it is possible to discover many historical and cultural monuments along The King’s Road over Hjerkinnhø, such as culverts, guard stones and stone obelisks.
The King’s Road over Vårstigen, 9 km
Vårstigen is the most famous stretch along The King’s Road. The trip offers some rather exposed sections with high dry stone walls and several vantage points from which to view the beautiful Drivdalen valley. The starting point for the trip is either Gammelholet, Nestasvollan or Hesthåggån. The stretch between Gammelholet (southern parking) to Nestasvollan is 6 km. From Nestasvollan to Hesthåggån is 3 km.
All sections are suitable for children and young hikers.Read more at The King’s Road over Dovrefjell website
Cycling Trails
Oppdal offers a wide range of cycling trails outside the protected areas, especially for those who enjoy mountain biking and singletrack trails. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, you’ll find routes to suit all skill levels. For maps, trail descriptions and inspiration, visit Visit Oppdal.
| Title | Address | Description |
|---|---|---|
Kongevegen over Vårstigen | E6, 7340 Oppdal, Norge | |
Gravfeltet på Vang | 7340 Oppdal, Norge |