Dovre
Municipality · Innlandet
About Dovre
Musk oxen on Dovrefjell, Norway's only wild herd, the Snøhetta viewpoint pavilion at Hjerkinn and rich birdlife on Fokstumyra marsh.
What to do and where to stay in Dovre
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Viewpoint Snøhetta (Norsk Villreinsenter Nord)Viewpoint
A free viewing pavilion facing Snøhetta at the end of a 1.5 km trail above Hjerkinn, past rebuilt old reindeer-trapping systems and a replica medieval shelter.
Tverrfjellet, above Hjerkinn · 1.5 h (3 km return) · 1 June to mid-October (open 24/7 in season); closed in winter
2Musk oxen on DovrefjellNature
Norway's only wild musk oxen live on the Dovrefjell plateau around Hjerkinn; keep at least 200 m away, and binoculars help.
Dovrefjell around Hjerkinn and Kongsvoll · Half day · Summer and autumn best
3Fokstumyra Nature Reserve and bird towerNature
Norway's first nature reserve (1923), a 950 m high marsh where cranes, ruffs, bluethroats and hen harriers breed; a marked path leads to a bird tower.
Fokstua, E6 about 10 km north of Dombås · 1 h (3.3 km return) · May–September; best birds May–June
4Snøhetta summit from SnøheimHike
A 5-hour return hike (11.8 km, 815 m up) from the DNT cabin Snøheim to Snøhetta, at 2,286 m the highest point on Dovrefjell.
Snøheim, Dovrefjell · 5 h (11.8 km return) · June–September
5GrimsdalenNature
One of Norway's finest summer-farm valleys, with the winding Grimsa river, gravel roads with views of Rondane and the staffed DNT cabin Grimsdalshytta.
Grimsdalen, between Hjerkinn and Dovre · Half day · Summer (gravel road, snow closes it)
6Allmannrøysa on the King's RoadLocal oddity
A big cairn at Hardbakken on the old pilgrim and King's Road where a 12th-century pilgrim badge was found; walkers still add a stone to shed a burden.
Hardbakken, between Budsjord and Fokstugu · Full day (13.2 km Budsjord–Fokstugu) · Summer–early autumn
7Vesle-Hjerkinn medieval shelter ruinsHistory & culture
The restored remains of two 12th-century buildings at Vesle-Hjerkinn, early shelters for travellers crossing Dovrefjell on the pilgrim road.
Vesle-Hjerkinn, near Hjerkinn · 30–60 min · Summer
8Eysteinkyrkja and Dovrefjell Pilgrim CentreHistory & culture
A mountain church at Hjerkinn built in 1969 in memory of King Eystein Magnusson; in summer it houses the pilgrim centre, where walkers get a stamp.
Hjerkinn, by E6 · 20–30 min · Pilgrim centre open in summer
9Dovre ChurchHistory & culture
A cruciform log church from 1736 clad in slate, with a medieval font, a Soviet war memorial and Commonwealth war graves; a milestone outside says 250 km to Nidaros.
Dovre village, by E6 · 20 min · Exterior all year
10Tofte royal farmHistory & culture
A historic farm where nearly every Norwegian king from St Olav's time stayed on the way over Dovrefjell; oldest building about 1683, main house 1783.
North of Dovre village, by E6 · 15 min · View from outside all year