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This isn't a road you drive to spot reindeer. It's a road where the reindeer has four entirely different stories to tell. Wild, managed, and South Sámi, on both sides of the border. Between the stops you'll find large trout, mountain churches from the 1200s, waterfalls, one of Europe's largest canyons, and some of the Nordic region's oldest trees.
The route can be driven in either direction — as a day trip or spread over a weekend. Crosses the Norway–Sweden border at Idre.
From the South Sámi mountains at Idre in Sweden, to Engerdal and Femund, across to Rendalen's dramatic nature, toward the wild reindeer of Rondane at Sollia, and back out through the gateway at Ringebu. Seven stops, one route, four different relationships with the reindeer.
At Idre Fjäll in Dalarna, Sweden, you can enjoy a wide range of year-round activities. In winter the area is a paradise for alpine and cross-country skiing, while summer brings mountain biking, hiking, wheeled dog-sledding, horseback riding and exciting beaver safaris. Idre is home to Sweden's southernmost Sámi village, and reindeer are a common sight in the area year-round. Historical background: the villages of Idre and Särna were formally incorporated into Sweden in 1751, having previously been part of Norway.
Visit: visitdalarna.eu
Engerdal is a paradise for outdoor life, with more than 800 fishing lakes and the gateway to Femundsmarka National Park. At the visitor centre in Elgå you can learn about the Elgå reindeer herding district, Norway's southernmost area for Sámi reindeer husbandry. The village was also home to skiing legend Gjermund Eggen, who won three gold medals at the World Championships in Holmenkollen in 1966. Together with Rendalen, Engerdal is a host municipality for Femundløpet, the world's largest sled dog race by number of participants.
Visit: femundengerdal.no
Rendalen's administrative centre, with Øvre Rendal Church from 1759 and the Bull Museum - childhood home of author Jacob Breda Bull. Where the rivers Mistra and Rena meet at Åkrestrømmen, the spot is known among anglers for large trout migrating up from Storsjøen, and for whitefish fishing with dip nets each autumn - a tradition that has lasted generations. There's also a swimming spot, and it's a short drive to the alpine facilities and ice hall. This is also where something unique is managed: Rendal Renselskap, an arrangement dating to 1921 in which 240 landowners manage around 2,000 privately owned, semi-wild reindeer - a form of husbandry found nowhere else in Norway, entirely independent of Sámi reindeer herding.
Visit: opplevrendalen.no
For generations, Hanestad has been the natural stopping point in Østerdalen, inn, station and crossroads. In a village of around 40 permanent residents, the inn seats 90 guests, and has become a favourite among locals and long-haul truck drivers alike. And we shouldn't forget the fishing in the Glomma, Norway's longest river.
Visit: opplevrendalen.no
Atna lies along the Rondane scenic route in Stor-Elvdal, at the foot of Rondane. Here you'll find Atnsjøen, known for good fishing for trout and char - sometimes up to five kilos - and Atnsjømyrene nature reserve, a Ramsar-protected wetland. At Atnbrua lies Fossehuset, an old mill by the Atnbrufossen waterfall with a restored timber-floating facility, and Sohlbergplassen, the viewpoint where Harald Sohlberg painted "Winter Night in Rondane" in 1914.
Visit: atnacamping.no
Sollia Church was built by master builder Jon Jonsen in 1737–38, and is still in use. You'll also find Sollia Vicarage, Sollia Ysteri and the Sollia War History Museum here. From here the road leads into Atndalen and towards Rondane, home to Europe's last wild mountain reindeer. You're unlikely to see them, that's precisely the point: wild reindeer survive by keeping their distance from people.
Visit: rondanevegen.no
Ringebu Stave Church was built around 1220 and is one of only 28 remaining stave churches in Norway, with a dragon-carved portal and a red tower dating from 1631. The Pilgrim's Route passes right by. From here Rondane opens up to the west, mountains that have been hunting grounds and wild reindeer country for thousands of years.
Visit: Ringebu village
The route follows a cross-axis between two established main routes, Rv3 and Gudbrandsdalen, with the reindeer as the connecting thread: wild reindeer in Rondane, the Rendalen reindeer at Bergset, South Sámi managed reindeer in the Elgå reindeer herding district in Engerdal, and managed reindeer in Idre.
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