Rondane National Park: home to wild reindeer

Rondane National Park (Norwegian: Rondane Nasjonalpark) is the oldest national park in Norway. With its high peaks, vast plateaus and wild reindeer, it is one of Norway’s most impressive landscapes. If you want to experience Norway away from the typical tourist spots, this is the place for you.

• Norway’s oldest national park, established in 1962.
• Provides an important habitat for wild reindeer.
• A popular destination for hikes and ski tours.
• Especially due to the striking mountain landscape, with several peaks over 2000 metres.

Why holiday in Rondane National Park?

Rondane National Park is a real insider tip among Norway’s national parks. Unlike the surrounding, better-known regions – such as Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella or Jotunheimen National Park – you will find significantly less tourism here and can fully enjoy the tranquillity of the high mountains. In the wide plateaus and quiet valleys, you will find the perfect place for a relaxing holiday with a certain sense of adventure.

Where is the Rondane National Park?

Rondane National Park is located in eastern Norway, roughly halfway between the cities of Oslo and Trondheim, covering an area of approximately 963 kilometres between the valleys of Gudbrandsdalen in the west and Österdalen in the east. From Oslo, the national park can be reached in four to five hours by car or train – a good connection to such an impressive and remote place in Norway.

The best time to visit Rondane National Park

The best time to visit Rondane National Park depends largely on the activities you have planned.

• In summer (June to August) you have the best chance of pleasant temperatures for long hikes, but you should still be prepared for sudden changes in the weather.
• In autumn (September to October), the plateau transforms into an absolute paradise – the landscape turns the most beautiful shades of yellow and red everywhere, leaving photography and hiking enthusiasts in awe.

• In winter (December to March), the Rondane National Park offers the perfect conditions for extensive ski tours in a tranquil landscape. The high plateau is usually covered in snow at this time and offers the ideal conditions for experienced winter sports enthusiasts.

Climate and weather

The climate in the Rondane National Park is typical of the Norwegian high mountains: due to its sheltered location, less precipitation falls here than in other regions of Norway. Nevertheless, the weather in the Rondane National Park is always changeable, with rain, sun and fog alternating in the blink of an eye.

The high mountain climate is characterised by cool summers with temperatures between 10 and 17 degrees, rarely exceeding 20 degrees. Winters are cold, often with temperatures around -20 degrees and plenty of snow – good equipment is essential here.

The right clothing

In the high mountains, the right outdoor clothing is particularly important, especially for multi-day hikes you should be prepared for any weather. There is also suitable equipment for children for big and small adventures in nature. The Rondane collection from Vaude has the right outfit for the Rondane National Park.

Sights and activities: Hiking, cross-country skiing etc.

Hiking in the Rondane National Park

The well-marked hiking trails in the Rondane National Park provide the perfect basis for hikes of all levels of difficulty. From easy, family-friendly tours to multi-day hikes through the vastness of the high mountains, everything is possible. Popular destinations include summit hikes to Storronden, the Storulfossen and Ulafossen waterfalls and the hut hike to Peer Gynt Hytta.

Peer Gynt Hytta

Peer Gynt-Hytta is one of the huts run by the Norwegian Trekking Association DNT and offers overnight accommodation for self-catering hikers. Named after the legendary reindeer hunter Peer Gynt, the hut is situated in a picturesque landscape and is an ideal starting point for many hikes through the national park.

Winter sports: ski tours and cross-country skiing

In winter, the Rondane National Park turns into a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. In the vastness of the high plateau you will find many opportunities for extensive ski tours, surrounded by the special peaks of the national park. There are both longer, challenging summit ascents and more relaxed cross-country skiing routes on predetermined trails. Good preparation is essential, as the high peaks are at risk of avalanches in winter due to their height. The park offers suitable, well-marked routes for beginners and experienced ski touring and cross-country skiing fans who are looking for a breathtaking time in the mountains.

Rondeslottet: The highest peak in the Rondane National Park

At 2,178 metres, the Rondeslottetpeak is the highest in the Rondane National Park. Alongside the other 2,000 metre peaks, Rondeslottet is a popular destination for experienced mountaineers. Once you reach the summit, you have a unique panoramic view of the Rondane mountains and, with a bit of luck, you can even see as far as the surrounding Jotunheimen and Dovrefjell mountains.

Waterfalls: Vesleulfossen, Storulfossen

In addition to the high peaks and the vast landscape, the Rondane National Park offers several impressive waterfalls. The most famous waterfalls include Vesleulfossen and Storulfossen, both of which are located in the Ula Valley. Although the waterfalls are impressive all year round, a visit is worthwhile in spring, shortly after the snow melts, when the water flows particularly wildly over rocks and gorges in the valley.

Wild reindeer

While the reindeer of the Sami live semi-wild in Norway’s nature, one of the last wild reindeer herds in Norway can be observed in the Rondane National Park. They forage for food in the vast plateaus of the Rondane National Park, where the “reindeer lichen” in particular grows in large quantities. To observe the wild reindeer, you always need a little luck and patience – because the animals avoid contact with humans. This makes it all the more important to behave calmly and keep your distance in order to protect the reindeer in their safe retreat.

Accommodation in Rondane National Park

In Rondane National Park you will find a selection of DNT cabins from the Norwegian Trekking Association. These offer both serviced and unserviced cabins, which are the perfect starting point for a variety of hikes. The Rondvassbu hut is the largest serviced hut in the park and can only be reached on foot or by boat – a very special experience in the middle of nature.

In addition to the selection of DNT cabins, there is also private accommodation to rent, such as the Rondane Rive Lodge or the Rondane Fjellstue, both of which offer a little more comfort than the typical cabins. The Spidsbergseter Resort also offers a wonderful place to stay – in addition to the many activities on site, there is also the opportunity to go on horse riding and cycling tours.

There is the right accommodation for every type of traveller in the Rondane National Park – from rustic to comfortable, there is plenty of nature and tranquillity.

Camping in the Rondane National Park

Camping is permitted almost everywherein Norway under the Everyman’s Right (Norwegian: Allemansretten). You can also camp in many places in the Rondane National Park as long as you show consideration for nature and wildlife. The Everyman’s Right gives you the opportunity to spend the night in the most beautiful and remote places and experience the tranquillity of the high mountains.

For those who don’t feel comfortable camping in the great outdoors, there are several designated campsites along the Rondane National Park – for tents, campers and motorhomes.

Travelling to the Rondane National Park

Travelling by car and ferry

In general, travelling by car is the best way to be as flexible as possible in Norway’s vast landscape – especially if you are travelling to Norway with a dog, the car is probably the best choice. From Germany and Denmark, it is advisable to take a ferry to Oslo or Larvik – from there you can reach the Rondane National Park in just a few hours.

Many starting points for hikes in Rondane can be reached by car, and you have the flexibility for spontaneous explorations around the national park.

Travelling by plane

If you have a further journey to Norway, you can also travel to Norway by plane and then continue to Rondane National Park by hire car or train. The airport in Oslo is a good option for travelling to Rondane National Park. Alternatively, you can find out about connections to Trondheim airport if you want to visit other areas on the way to Rondane. It takes four to five hours to get to the national park from Oslo, both by car and by train.