Gudbrandsdalsleden

Gudbrandsdalsleden takes you from the capital of Norway, Oslo, to the pilgrimage town of Trondheim. It is a 643 km long, well-marked pilgrim path. Along the way you can experience beautiful cultural landscapes by lake Mjøsa, stay at historic farms in the valley Gudbrandsdalen, hike across the vast Dovrefjell mountain plateau, and enjoy the lush nature of Trøndelag. Walking from Oslo to Trondheim, and finally reaching Nidaros Cathedral - St. Olav's burial place - is an experience of a lifetime.

It is recommended to walk the Gudbrandsdalsleden trail between 1st June and 1st September to avoid snow and meltwater, and the accommodations may be closed off-season. On the Dovrefjell mountain range, the snow can last longer, and it is advised not to cross Dovrefjell before 10th June to avoid disturbing the wild reindeer during calving. Other sections of Gudbrandsdalsleden are accessible and passable for a longer period, and you can read more about this in the recommended walks for the different sections.

Gudbrandsdalsleden has hundreds of cultural heritage stories and places along the path. You will see ancient burial sites, historically significant locations, beautiful churches, and preserved buildings from the Middle Ages. You might even have the chance to stay in a building that once housed pilgrims as far back as the 1300's at Sygard Grytting.

Gudbrandsdalsleden brings you close to the legacy of the Viking king Olav Haraldsson, later known as Saint Olav (St. Olav). Water springs named after St. Olav are widespread, and they are known to have healing effects. Along Gudbrandsdalsleden you'll find the historical sites St. Hallvard Cathedral, Bønsnes, Granavollen, Hamardomen and Dale-Gudbrands Gard. Many of these locations have direct or indirect connections to the saga of Olav Haraldsson, later St. Olav.

Along the path we also find our foremost cultural carriers, the churches, and when you walk the Gudbrandsdalsleden it is never far between these sanctuaries that stand as a monument of the Christian tradition to which St. Olav introduced to Norway in the early Middle Ages.

If you have the opportunity, it is recommended to walk the entire path from Oslo to Trondheim. Walking on average 20 kilometres per day, you will spend around 4-5 weeks on your pilgrimage. This is the optimal pilgrimage where you get the opportunity to relax and live the pilgrim life to the fullest. You only need to focus on where to go, eat and sleep, and you will have plenty of time to enjoy the surroundings, the people you meet and the food and cultural experience along the path.

Another popular option is to walk Gudbrandsdalsleden in stages. You can walk for a day, a few days or a week, and continue where you left off at a later time. Most of Gudbrandsdalsleden are close to both train and bus stations with connections both south and north, making this a convenient option for many. Have a look at our list of recommended walks to see some of the opitons.

Gudbrandsdalsleden starts in Oslo, at the ruins of the St. Hallvard Cathedral. Shortly after the starting point, the trail splits into a western and an eastern route, each following one side of Lake Mjøsa, before they converge again in Lillehammer.

The choise is yours: Do you want to take the western route out of Oslo, through the forest called Krokskogen, then trough the beautiful Hadeland region on the western side of Lake Mjøsa?
Or the eastern route through Groruddalen, crossing Skedsmo toward historic Eidsvoll and the agricultural Stange region on the eastern side of Lake Mjøsa? Both options are equally lovely and cover approximately the same distance between Oslo and Lillehammer.

If you take the western route you can visit the area where St. Olav grew up, Bønsnes, and the sister churches of Granavollen. If you would like more information on the western route we recommend you to contact the Granavollen Pilgrim Center or the Oslo Pilgrim Center.

If you take the eastern route you will experience forests and agricultural landscape on the way to Tangen and Stange Vestbygd, as well as the ruins of Hamardomen in the city Hamar. Hamar was the bishop's seat and the only inland village in medieval Norway, and an obvious stop for pilgrims. If you would like more information on the eastern route we recommend you to contact the Hamar Pilgrim Center or the Oslo Pilgrim Center.

It is also possible to combine an experience from both routes by going from Granavollen to Kapp or Gjøvik and then take Skibladner, the world's oldest active steamboat, over to Hamar. You can also travel with Skibladner on the eastern route, from Eidsvoll to Hamar or Lillehammer.

At Lillehammer, the western and eastern route meet and the path enter the valley of Gudbrand - Gudbrandsdalen. The valley has a varied landscape which ranges from ancient primeval forests to small pleasant villages. Here you will experience tranquillity, wildlife and culinary experiences based on local traditional food.

The journey continues up to the Dovrefjell mountain range, reaching the trail's highest point at approximately 1300 meters above sea level. At Dovre mountain you will find traces of king roads, fishing grounds and thousand year old shelters. You’ll find the Eystein church, which is an important place to visit for many pilgrims.

The trek across the mountains require careful planning to ensure a safe journey, and the walking season is shorter than the rest of the trail (from approximately June 10th). Before you set off, check if the winter snow has melted and if the accommodations are open. If not, you should take the train across this area instead. Dovrefjell Pilgrim Center can provide you with guidance.

Don't set off too early!

Until the beginning of June, the route is "technically closed" over Dovrefjell, which means: it lacks infrastructure such as bridges, open hostels and has no visible markings. In addition, there is deep snow and subzero temperatures, usually well into June. We strongly advise against seeking out the Pilegrimsleden over the mountain during this period, it is not passable. In addition to a lot of snow, the rivers have ice water (cold meltwater), and cannot be waded across. Bridges over the rivers Hondyrju and Vesle Hondyrju will be laid out approximately June 10th.

Wild reindeer

Two of the stretches across Dovre mountain coincide with calving areas for wild reindeer. The reindeer is very vulnerable, and a European responsibility species. By scaring the wild reindeer, we deprive them of time that should have been spent on vital grazing and rest, and this is particulary important in the calving period. We generally encourage you not to walk the Pilegrimsleden over Dovrefjell before the calving period is over (10 June).

Even after the snow has melted, you must be prepared for sudden weather changes, with temperatures dropping to near zero degrees Celcius, even in the middle of summer. Always check the weather forecast on www.yr.no before crossing the mountains, and be sure to bring sufficient clothes, including gloves and a hat.

After the high mountain plateau, you'll enter Trøndelag with its forested landscapes. Passing through the woods of Trøndelag, interspersed with some open stretches and river crossings, you'll arrive in the city of Trondheim. Awaiting you here is the Nidaros Cathedral, the burial church of St. Olav and the destination of your pilgrimage.

Outside the western facade of the cathedral, you'll find the last mile stone engraved with the pilgrim symbol. Nearby, you'll also find Nidaros Pilgrim Center, located on the other side of the Nidaros Cathedral graveyard, down by the river.