Gudbrandsdalsleden16 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 will 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 – which gives you time to visit the beautiful church, 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.

The last day on Dovrefjell starts with a walk parallel to the E6 on a somewhat more difficult path to the beginning of the so-called Vårstigen. The ascent to the viewpoint at Tingsvaet – the highest point of Vårstigen – is steep, but the view is worth it. With a bit of luck you can spot musk oxen on the other side of the E6. After this the terrain flattens out and you walk through the forest to the Drivstusætra. Then it goes up again and after the bridge over the river Vårstigåa the pilgrim route leaves the Vårstigen. Above the tree line the road becomes less steep again and you can walk relatively easily for about 10 kilometers through the Vinstra valley to Ryphusan.

From Ryphusan you descend further through the Vinstra valley – a river valley with steep mountain walls on both sides. You walk largely parallel to the river Vinstra and after about 12 kilometers you pass the pilgrim chapel of St. Mikael. You walk through forests, past fields and farms in the direction of Oppdal. Passing the Vang burial ground with more than 750 burial mounds from the Viking age you reach Oppdal church and then it is just a short distance to the city centre of Oppdal.

Today you can rest from the efforts of the past few days. Perhaps a good opportunity to visit the cemetery Vang for a nice stroll that has been set out there or to look around in the city centre 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.