Gudbrandsdalsleden14 days(self-guided)

A short walk from the train station to the first accommodation.

Today you start the ascent of Dovrefjell. On the bare plateau, wind and weather have free rein. You follow the old king’s road to today’s highest point: Allmannrøysa (1210 meters above sea level). For centuries people have placed a stone on this pile when they passed this point, but now the old road has been given monument status and the laying of stones is no longer allowed here. From Allmanrøysa there is still a descent of more than 6 kilometers to the fjellstue Fokstugu.

You walk back to the other side of the E6 and follow the path along the river Foksåa up through the Foksådal. The first part takes you above the tree line again, but later you mainly walk between birch trees. Along the way you enjoy the magnificent view over Dovrefjell and the Fokstumyra Nature Reserve, Norway’s most famous bird sanctuary. Finally you reach Lake Avsjøen, which you pass on the east side. After a few kilometers you reach Veslehjerkinn; this area was already inhabited during the Viking age. Here stood the first sælehus – a safe haven for pilgrims and travelers – built by order of King Eystein Magnusson. At Hjerkinn, at an altitude of 965 meters, is the Eysteinkyrkja. The church from 1969 is designed after Norway’s national mountain, Snøhetta.

A shorter day today – so you can take your time to visit the church, the Eysteinkyrkja. You then follow the old king’s road over Hjerkinnhø and after a few kilometres you pass the highest point (1288 m) with a beautiful view of Snøhetta and Rondane. Tonight you will stay in the ‘palatial’ accommodation Kongsvold Fjeldstue and enjoy a special pilgrim dinner in the historic dining room.

Today you travel by train from Kongsvoll to Oppdal and you can rest from the efforts of the past few days. Depending on the train times, it may be a good opportunity to walk to Oppdal Church, which is located 2 kilometers outside the center. Of course you also have the opportunity to look around the center of Oppdal.

After leaving the apartment complexes around Oppdal behind, you continue walking through cultivated landscape and forests, surrounded by a beautiful mountain area. It’s not a difficult hike; you walk on typical Norwegian grusveier, interspersed with grass paths, to the next accommodation address. Along the way you regularly have beautiful views over the valley on your right.

Today’s tour leads through the beautiful Orkla valley – the river meanders through a cultural landscape with vast pine forests on the mountain slopes. Until Skjepphaugen, where you cross the river, you mainly descend. After the bridge you can choose between a steep climb with beautiful views over the valley or a flat walk along the banks of the Orkla. The last 2 kilometers you walk parallel to highway 700.

You reach Rennebu through the forest. After Rennebu you follow national road 700 for one kilometer and then you climb up the mountainside again. On the way you will pass some old farms – so-called trønderlån – the typical style of large and medium-sized farms in Trøndelag. When you are back on the main road, it is only a few kilometers to the overnight address.

Also today a nice stage along the Orkla, through Meldal to the mining village of Løkken Verk, mostly on flat gravel roads, asphalt and grass paths, but after Meldal and Malmplassen there are also a few steep climbs.

A short stage today, so actually half a rest day. At Malmplassen you will be reminded of the mining industry and you will see some remains of the old smelting furnace. There is also a milestone here that indicates that it is still 61 kilometers to Nidaros.

After passing Lake Solsjøen and Korslia Farm, you will reach a shelter designed as a ‘living room’. A great place for a break. Then a tour through a beautiful and deserted peat area begins. This was the route used by the pilgrims in summer, in winter they walked higher along the slope through the snow. After a few kilometers you leave the marshy area again and walk on forest paths and gravel roads to Skaun.

The milestone in Skaun states that it is still 38 kilometers to Nidarosdom in Trondheim. You first walk to the historic site of Husaby. You walk between fields and meadows in the direction of the river Gaula.

In the first kilometers of the last stage to Trondheim, a short but tough climb awaits you. Later you walk through a forest area and finally through the streets of Trondheim to the Nidaros Cathedral, the goal of this pilgrimage walk.

You can book extra nights in Trondheim if you want.