Rondane is the mountain range that taught Norway to protect its wild places. In 1962 it became the country's first national park, and today it covers 963.5 square kilometres of high plateau, scree-covered peaks and deep glacial valleys.
It feels very different from the fjord country further west. The landscape here is dry, open and pale with lichen, and the summits rise in tight clusters above wide, rolling moorland.
This guide covers what you need to plan a visit to Rondane National Park: the main trails and summits, the huts, the maps worth carrying, camping rules and what changes when winter arrives.
Where Rondane is and what makes it special
Rondane sits in Innlandet county in eastern Norway, between Gudbrandsdalen and Østerdalen. The town of Otta, on the main railway line between Oslo and Trondheim, is the usual gateway from the west.
The park holds ten peaks above 2,000 metres. The highest is Rondslottet at 2,178 metres, followed closely by Storronden at 2,138 metres. Many of these summits can be reached on waymarked paths, with no climbing gear needed in summer.
Rondane is also one of Europe's last refuges for the original wild reindeer. These shy animals have grazed here for thousands of years, and you can still find old trapping pits and hunting sites across the park. Much of how the area is managed, from closed trails to camping advice, comes back to protecting them.
Getting to Rondvassbu, the main trailhead
Most hikers start at Rondvassbu, a staffed DNT lodge at the southern end of the lake Rondvatnet. No public road reaches it, which keeps the heart of the park quiet.
In summer you drive from Otta towards Mysusæter, then take the toll road up Tjønnbakkvegen to the Spranget car park. From there it is about 6 kilometres along a gravel road to Rondvassbu. Walking takes around an hour and a half, and many people rent a bike at Spranget and cycle in within half an hour.
Access is changing, so check before you travel. In 2026 overnight parking at Spranget was banned between 11 pm and 6 am, and DNT has said the Spranget car park will close from summer 2027, with Mysusæter as the nearest parking. The DNT page for Rondvassbu has the current arrangements, including any bus links from Otta.
The best day hikes and summits
Rondvassbu puts several of the big peaks within reach of a single day. The terrain is rocky almost everywhere above the valley floor, so expect slow progress over boulders and scree rather than smooth trails.
Storronden (2,138 m). The most visited summit in the park and one of the shorter routes. The marked path climbs behind the lodge, follows the west ridge over long stretches of scree and passes a false summit before the cairn. Allow 4 to 5 hours for the round trip of about 8.5 kilometres. On a clear day you can see all the way west to Jotunheimen.
Rondslottet (2,178 m). The park's high point is a longer and tougher day, about 12.4 kilometres return from Rondvassbu and 6 to 8 hours of walking. The route goes up through the Rondholet valley and usually takes in Vinjeronden (2,044 m) on the way. Large boulders and faint markings make it hard going in rain or fog, so save it for a settled forecast.
Vinjeronden on its own. If Rondslottet feels like too much, Vinjeronden is a worthy target in itself. The last climb is steep, but the summit is broad and flat, with a fine view across the massif.
Formokampen (1,428 m). For a gentler outing on the park's southern edge, start at Høvringen and walk up to this rounded top between Gudbrandsdalen and the high peaks. It is a good family hike with information about the history of reindeer hunting at the summit.
If you are combining Rondane with other mountain areas, our guide to Jotunheimen hiking covers the higher, more glaciated range to the west.
Rondane national park trails for multi-day trips
The classic multi-day route is the triangle between Rondvassbu, Dørålseter and Bjørnhollia. Each leg is a full day through a different valley, and the loop gives you a real sense of how varied the park is, from lake shores to high passes and open birch country.
A good way to use the triangle is to walk it clockwise or anticlockwise and add a summit day from Rondvassbu at the start or end. Grimsdalshytta, further north towards Grimsdalen, is another option for a longer route out of the park's busier core.
The huts work much like those elsewhere in Norway. Staffed lodges such as Rondvassbu and Bjørnhollia serve meals and offer beds, and booking ahead is wise in July and August. Membership of DNT, the Norwegian Trekking Association, gives cheaper overnight rates.
Some trails in the north and south of the park have been closed to steer walkers away from key reindeer habitat. Stick to the marked paths shown on current maps rather than old route descriptions.
Maps and navigation
A proper map matters here. Markings on the higher routes can be sparse, the scree looks much the same in every direction, and cloud can come down fast.
Most hikers carry a topographic map of the Rondane area at 1:50,000 or a similar scale, which shows the marked trails, huts and closed routes. The free UT.no website and app from DNT is useful for planning, with trip descriptions and trail lines you can download for offline use.
Take a compass as well as a phone. If you want a refresher before you go, our guide on how to read a topographic map and compass covers the basics.
Rondane national park camping rules
Norway's right to roam applies inside the park. As a general rule you can pitch a tent anywhere at least 150 metres from an inhabited house or cabin, as long as you leave no trace.
In Rondane, though, the park authorities ask campers to use the tent sites at Rondvassbu, Bjørnhollia and Grimsdalshytta where possible. These sites keep tents away from reindeer grazing areas and migration routes, and for a small fee you can use the hut facilities.
A few extra rules apply. Large groups staying in one place for more than 30 person-days need permission, and if you anchor your tent with stones, put them back with the lichen side facing up. Our article on the rules of wild camping explains the wider right to roam in more detail.
Meeting wild reindeer
If you spot reindeer, stop and give them a wide berth. They are easily disturbed and will run if you come closer than about 500 to 600 metres, often carrying on for several kilometres.
That flight costs them energy they need for grazing and raising calves. Use the terrain and the wind to keep your distance, and keep dogs under close control. Calving season in spring and early summer is the most sensitive time, and visitors are asked to leave the high mountain to the reindeer until the staffed huts open around mid-June.
Rondane national park in winter
Winter changes Rondane completely. Snow covers the boulder fields, the lakes freeze and the park becomes a cross-country ski destination.
Rondvassbu is about 11 kilometres from the car park on skis, with a steep first stretch up Tjønnbakken. The classic Rondvassbu to Dørålen to Bjørnhollia triangle is marked with branches for skiers from shortly before Easter.
Winter trips here need full mountain experience. Days are short, the wind on the plateau can be severe, and avalanche risk exists on steeper slopes. If you are new to snow on open mountain ground, consider a guided trip for your first visit.
When to go and practical tips
The main hiking season runs from mid-June to early October, roughly the period when Rondvassbu is open. Snow can linger on high ground into July, and it can snow on the summits even in midsummer.
Pack for real mountain weather: a windproof shell, warm layers, a hat and gloves, sturdy boots with good grip on rock, and enough food for a long day. Streams are scarce on the high ridges, so fill your bottles in the valleys before you climb.
On your way in or out, stop at Sohlbergplassen on the Norwegian Scenic Route Rondane. The viewpoint above the lake Atnsjøen frames the peaks almost exactly as Harald Sohlberg painted them in his 1914 masterpiece "Winter Night in the Mountains", once voted Norway's national painting.
About Erik Lindqvist
Erik Lindqvist is a Scandinavian trail guide and outdoor writer based in Norway. He has spent fifteen years hiking fjord paths, mountain ridges, and forest tracks across Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.
