Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights & Activities
Most non-Norwegians visit the park as part of a day-long musk ox safari. However,
Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella offers numerous wonderful walking trails many of which are
clearly signed. Ask in local tourist offices for route suggestions. Serious hikers will fare
best with the Statens Kartverk map
Dovrefjell
(1:100,000). However, it doesn't include the
Knutshøene section; for that, you need Statens Kartverk's
Einunna 1519-I
and
Folldal
1519-II
topographic sheets. The park's highest mountain,
Snøhetta
, can be ascended by
hikers from Snøheim (allow six hours) but it should only be attempted by experienced
walkers with equipment suitable for extreme weather. While walking independently in the
park you might well encounter musk oxen. Though generally fairly docile they can be dan-
gerous and half-a-tonne of monster-sized sheep ploughing into you at up to 60km/h will
make an awful mess. Do not approach closer than 300m and if one starts snorting then that
might be a warning to you to back off. Move away in a sideways and backwards direction
(musk oxen have poor eyesight and if you move directly backwards they cannot always
tell that you're retreating). Never get between a mother and her calf.
For a totally different look at the park, the
Fokstumyra marshes
are home to an aston-
ishing array of bird life. Approximately 87 species nest in the area and 162 species in total
have been observed. Among the species found here are the red-breasted merganser, long-
tailed duck, black-throated diver, whimbrel, wood sandpiper and short-eared owl. For a
more extensive list, pick up the brochure
Fokstumyra Nature Reserve
from the Dombås
tourist office.
Many of these species can be viewed from the 7km-long marked trail near the Dombås
end of the reserve; note that from May to July, visitors are restricted to this trail to prevent
the disturbance of nesting birds.
Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre Pavilion
VIEW POINT
Commonly known as Snøhetta (although this is in fact the name of the park's largest
mountain, as well as the architectural firm who designed it), this arresting building of
rippled timber and mirrored glass was commissioned by the Wild Reindeer Foundation to
serve as an educational centre and observation point. It's open to the public and offers
astounding views over the valley to Mt Snøhetta.
