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The Musk Ox Trail

The area you are now entering is the realm of the musk ox. Norway’s only population of musk oxen is found in Dovrefjell. Following the signposted Musk Ox Trail will give you good possibilities of seeing these shaggy primeval animals.
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Dovrefjell National Park Board
Hjerkinnhusvegen 33
2661 Hjerkinn
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Moskus in Dovrefjell. Photo: Ole Thøring

(Almost) guaranteed to see musk oxen

The Musk Ox Trail – a network of paths designed to give you good chances of spotting musk oxen – opened in the summer of 2017. You can choose circular trips of varying lengths, from 4.5 to 15 kilometers. Departure and return points are Kongsvoll or Grønbakken. Some of the trail goes through mountain birch forests and bare mountains, and it is possible to take a side trip to the Høgsnyta vantage point (1,320 meters above sea level). You can encounter musk oxen along the entire trail on the west side of the E6 highway, but musk oxen are a common sight particularly from Høgsnyta. In early summer, musk oxen will sometimes go down to the birch forests, so stay alert. If a musk ox feels threatened, it can attack. That’s why we ask you to walk in a curve around them if you see them along the path. Keep a distance of at least 200 meters to avoid disturbing the musk oxen. On the east side of the E6, the trail follows the old pilgrim route from Oslo to Nidaros. Although there are no musk oxen here, with the help of binoculars you can often see them on the west side of the E6. By staying on the Musk Ox Trail, you also help protect the wild reindeer in the area. It is important to restrict hiking across Stroplsjødalen valley, where wild reindeer roam. The trail is marked with wooden posts with a national park logo, and wherever paths intersect you will find an information sign with a map.
Photo: Ole Thøring