Snøhetta viewpoint is an architectural masterpiece in Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park. The gigantic glass mirror wall with organic wooden shapes was built by the architecture firm of the same name, Snøhetta, also known for the underwater restaurant and the most environmentally friendly hotel in the world. The viewpoint opened in 2011 and has won several international awards since then. I can see why!
How do you get to Snøhetta viewpoint?
The address for your navigation system is ‘Hjerkinnhusvegen 33, 2661 Hjerkinn‘. Follow the E6 towards Hjerkinn and turn off at the ‘Norwegian Wild Reindeer Pavillion‘. From there you can follow the ‘Snøhetta‘ signs to the parking lot. From the parking lot it’s about another kilometer and a half (20 minutes) on foot. The footpath was specially built and is wheelchair-friendly!
A crash course in Dovrefjell
At the parking lot you’ll find all kinds of information about all the wildlife that lives in the park. Dovrefjell-Sundalsfjella is known for its musk oxen and herds of wild reindeer, after all. Once you’ve finished reading, you can take the footpath up. Along the way you’ll come across a kind of gigantic paving stones showing the history of the park going back as far as 10,000 years!
A touch of civilization in the wilderness
For miles around, apart from a transmitter mast, there’s little that reminds you of civilization. Even the viewpoint is designed so that it looks as if Mother Nature put the shelter there herself. As you walk up, the first thing you see is the rolling wooden shapes. Only when you walk around Snøhetta do you see the gigantic mirror-like glass wall.
From the inside, that glass wall gives you a gorgeous view over the wilderness. With a bit of luck, you’ll spot one of the many wild animals that have made this park their home. It isn’t exactly luxurious, but the benches are comfortable and there’s even a wood stove in the building!
Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park
The park has only existed since 2002 and was meant to ‘replace’ the original Dovrefjell. The Dovrefjell Council works incredibly hard to preserve the northern, temperate alpine ecosystems. Some of the plants that grow here even date from before the last ice age!
What’s more, a herd of native wild reindeer lives here and you can spot the famous musk oxen. During the Second World War, the musk ox that originally lived here was hunted to extinction. After the war, musk oxen from Greenland were brought to the park and the population has grown quite a bit again. If you’re lucky enough to spot them, stay FAR away from them. They can run 40 kilometers an hour, and they have gigantic horns you’d rather not get in your behind.
The viewpoint is surrounded by mountain peaks, with the 2,286-meter-high showstopper being.. Surprise, surprise: Snøhetta. The spot is a great base for various hikes in the area. You’ll have a blast here on multi-day hikes too, because there are several huts in the park where you can spend the night.
Unfortunately we weren’t lucky enough to see the wild animals, but we definitely plan to come back to this place. Snøhetta is open all summer (from June) and then closes for the winter. So plan your visit well! And don’t forget your binoculars and the patience of a saint.
Personal travel advice
Do you want to travel through versatile Norway, but are you completely overwhelmed by all the options? Then get in touch with me for personal travel advice, and who knows, maybe you’ll be Lost in Norvana this summer!
