Rondane National Park

Rondane National Park is a high-mountain protected area in Innlandet county, Norway, established in 1962 to conserve alpine landscapes and wild reindeer populations. The park encompasses a compact massif of rugged peaks and plateaus.

The area is characterized by a number of summits above 2,000 meters, with Rondslottet as the highest point at 2,178 meters; it is widely used for summer hiking and winter ski touring. A network of marked trails and staffed or self-service mountain huts supports multi-day traverses.

Protection was put in place in the early 1960s primarily to preserve the wild reindeer herds and their mountain habitat; recreational use and regulated grazing coexist with conservation objectives. The park remains an important area for nature-based outdoor activities in Norway.

Rondane lies in east-central Norway within Innlandet, forming a series of high plateaus and peaks accessible from valley towns and mountain access roads; it is reachable from regional centers by road and is a major mountain area within inland Norway.

• Protection purpose and date: Established as a national park in 1962 to protect wild reindeer herds and alpine ecosystems, making it one of Norway’s earliest protected mountain areas.
• High peaks and trail network: The park contains multiple peaks above 2,000 meters and an extensive network of marked trails and mountain lodges maintained by the Norwegian Trekking Association.

What to See#

• Rondslottet (highest peak): Rondslottet is the park’s highest peak at 2,178 meters and forms the focal point of the central Rondane massif; it is a common objective for hikers and ski tours.

Rondane is commonly accessed from the town of Otta or from mountain villages such as Høvringen and Mysusæter. Otta lies on the E6 highway and has rail and road connections to Oslo; from Otta you drive on local roads toward the park entrances at Mysusæter or Høvringen where visitor parking and marked trailheads are provided. From nearby village or park bus stops the main trailheads are generally within a short walk.

• Start hikes early in the morning to take advantage of calm weather and the best chance to see wild reindeer grazing in the valleys - wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk.
• Use the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) huts and routes: booking a DNT hut gives you access to longer ridge circuits and spreads visitors across the park rather than concentrating everyone on the shortest trails.
• Avoid the busiest summer weekends by choosing weekday approaches from Hjerkinn or Otta and aim for lesser‑used valleys if you want solitude; the main ciruits around Rondane can fill with day visitors on fine days.