Innlandet is the mountain heart of the country where the highest peaks in the north dominate the view. You find yourself in the shadow of Galdhøpiggen in the Jotunheimen National Park where the peaks are covered in snow even in summer. The region is a world of deep pine forests and the massive blue waters of Lake Mjøsa. It is a highland sanctuary where the mountains feel endless.
Driving through this region takes you over the high Valdresflye pass with views of glaciers and alpine lakes. You can visit the Olympic city of Lillehammer or explore the mining town of Røros with its 17th century wooden houses. The roads lead through a landscape that changes from the beautiful fields of Hamar to the rocky peaks of Rondane. It is a world made for camping under the stars and waking up to a view of the fells.
The route follows the great valleys like Gudbrandsdalen where the mountains rise steeply on both sides. You can explore the national parks or take the backroads through the forest of Østerdalen to find hidden fishing spots. The scenery is classic Norway with wooden cabins and rolling hills. Innlandet is the soul of the Norwegian mountains where the spirit is free.
Innlandet highlights
- Galdhøpiggen Peak Hike to the highest point in Northern Europe in the heart of the Jotunheimen mountains. The view from the top covers a sea of snowy peaks.
- Røros Mining Town Walk through the streets of this frozen in time wooden city. The colorful houses and old copper works are a beautiful site.
- Besseggen Ridge Take on one of the most famous hikes in the world with a view of two lakes. One lake is bright blue while the other is emerald green.
- Lillehammer Olympic Park Visit the site of the 1994 Winter Games and see the massive ski jumps. The view of the city and the lake from the top is spectacular.
- Valdresflye Pass Drive across a high mountain plateau where the road feels like it is touching the sky. The open views and arctic tundra are breathtaking.
- Rondane National Park Explore the oldest national park in Norway with its massive rounded peaks. The landscape is a mix of lichen covered rocks and deep valleys.
- Hamar Cathedral Ruins See the glass cathedral that protects the stone ruins of a medieval church. It is a stunning piece of modern architecture on the lake shore.
- Gudbrandsdalen Valley Follow the historic main artery of the country through lush fields and past old farms. This valley is the heart of Norwegian agricultural heritage.
- Jotunheimen National Park This "Home of the Giants" offers the most dramatic mountain scenery in the north. It is a playground for climbers and wilderness hikers.
- Peer Gynt Road Drive this high mountain gravel road for a taste of the landscape that inspired the old myths. The views of the mountains are constant and grand.
The local Four
History of Innlandet
Innlandet is the mountain sanctuary of the North where history follows the flow of the great rivers. For a millennium the Gudbrandsdalen valley was the main highway for kings and pilgrims traveling toward the holy shrine in Trondheim. Local chieftains built massive timber halls and became powerful players in the Viking age wars. The region was the heart of the old agrarian society where the size of your farm determined your place in the world.
The high mountains of Jotunheimen were once the domain of legends and hunters who pursued wild reindeer across the glaciers. In the 1800s these peaks became the birthplace of Norwegian mountain tourism as explorers and poets sought the "Home of the Giants." Meanwhile the copper mines of Røros created a unique urban wilderness where people lived in tiny wooden houses in one of the coldest spots in the country.
During the dark years of the 1940s the deep forests and high valleys became a stronghold for the resistance movement. Secret radio stations and supply drops were hidden among the pines as the "forest brothers" fought to reclaim the nation. Driving through Innlandet today takes you past Olympic arenas and medieval farmsteads that have survived the test of time. It is a region where the history is as solid as the granite peaks.