Sunndal
Municipality · Møre og Romsdal
About Sunndal
Innerdalen, often called Norway's most beautiful mountain valley, the 845-metre Vinnufossen by Sunndalsøra, and salmon fishing on the Driva.
What to do and where to stay in Sunndal
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1InnerdalenHike
A protected mountain valley in Trollheimen under the 1,452 m Innerdalstårnet, reached on a 3.5 km gravel road walk of about an hour from Nerdalen parking.
Innerdalen, off Rv70 near Ålvundeid · Half day–full day (2 h return to the valley) · June–September (walk in)
2Renndølsetra summer farm caféFood & drink
A summer dairy farm in Innerdalen run by the Opdøl family since 1740; the café is known for waffles and serves cream, butter and yoghurt from its own free-roaming cows.
Innerdalen, about 3 km walk from parking · 1 h (plus walk in) · about 16 Jun–20 Aug daily, weekends to end of September
3Vinnufossen and the Vinnu stone stairsNature
Vinnufossen drops about 845 m from the Vinnufonna glacier; a stone staircase of just under 700 steps, opened in 2022, climbs beside it to viewpoints.
Holsskeiet rest area, Rv70, about 6 km from Sunndalsøra · 30–40 min up the stairs · stairs open 15 May–1 Nov; falls biggest May–July
4Åmotan gorgeNature
Where five rivers meet south of Gjøra, three falls – Svøufallet (156 m), Lindalsfallet and Reppfallet (about 110 m each) – pour into the gorge; marked paths with bridges and chains lead in.
Jenstadjuvet, south of Gjøra, upper Sunndalen · 2–3 h · spring–autumn
5EkkertindHike
A 1,189 m peak called Sunndal's answer to Preikestolen, climbed from Vollan farm at Gjøra through flower meadows and birch forest past the Vollasetra hut.
Vollan farm, Gjøra · About 5 h each way (4.75 km, 992 m up) · summer–early autumn
6FlånebbaHike
A 1,147 m top above Ålvundeid, climbed from Rødset farm on a demanding path; on clear days the view reaches the sea at Grip and Snøhetta on Dovrefjell.
Rødset farm, Ålvundeid · Day trip (8 km, 1,130 m ascent) · summer–early autumn
7Aursjøvegen down LitldalenViewpoint
The Sunndal end of the 1947–50 construction road: from the Aursjøen dam at 862 m it drops through Torbudalen and Litldalen on narrow gravel to Sunndalsøra.
Aursjøen dam to Sunndalsøra via Litldalen · 1.5–2 h drive for this stretch · about 1 June until October snowfall
8Leikvin heritage park and PhillipshagenHistory & culture
A rural museum about the British salmon lords on the Driva in 1850–1950, next to a rhododendron garden laid out in British landscape style in the 1890s.
Leikvinvegen 21, Grøa · 1–1.5 h · museum 15 Jun–15 Aug Tue–Sun 12–17; park all year; garden best May–June
9Lady Arbuthnott's grave at LøykjaLocal oddity
Barbara Arbuthnott, a Scottish aristocrat who came to the valley in 1866 and became its 'uncrowned queen', lies by Løykja chapel a few hundred metres from Leikvin.
Løykja chapel, near Leikvin, Grøa · 20–30 min · all year
10Red boathouses at SunndalsøraSwim
A row of red boathouses in the small-boat harbour of Sunndalsøra, a favourite photo, with a bathing pier beside them.
Small-boat harbour, Sunndalsøra · 15–30 min · all year (swim in summer)
Nearby, also among the best for mountains
- OppdalTrøndelagMountains (among Norway's best)Hiking (among Norway's best)
- RaumaMøre og RomsdalMountains (among Norway's best)Hiking (among Norway's best)
- DovreInnlandetMountains (among Norway's best)Wildlife (among Norway's best)
- StrandaMøre og RomsdalMountains (among Norway's best)Fjords (among Norway's best)