Innerdalen

Innerdalen is a short, flat-floored valley enclosed by steep walls in the western Trollheimen, and its reputation rests largely on one mountain: Innerdalstarnet, a sharp horn of rock rising 1,452 metres at the head of the valley, which gives every photograph a subject. The valley floor holds a lake, grazing land and two lodges, Innerdalen Turisthytte and Renndolsetra, the latter a working summer farm serving food to walkers. Access is by a toll road to Nerdalen and then a walk of about forty-five minutes on a good track, which keeps day traffic moderate. From the valley, marked routes climb over the passes deeper into Trollheimen, and Innerdalstarnet itself is a climb rather than a walk.

History

In 1967 Innerdalen became Norway's first nature reserve; the protected valley runs about 25 kilometres from Ålvundeidet on Route 70 east to Innerdalsporten. It has long been a climbers' valley, below Store Trolla, at 1,850 metres the highest peak of Trollheimen, Skarfjellet and Innerdalstårnet: the Norwegian Mountaineering Club, Norsk Tindeklub, keeps a private cabin under Innerdalstårnet and published a climbing guide to the valley in 2001 (Wikipedia, Innerdalen).

What you'll find

• Innerdalstarnet - a sharp rock horn closing the head of the valley.
• The valley floor - lake, meadow and grazing beneath steep walls.
• The two lodges - a tourist hut and a working summer farm serving food.
• The onward passes - marked routes into the wider Trollheimen range.

When to go

July to September, when the track is clear and the lodges are open; snow lies late in the passes above. Autumn colour in late September is excellent. The valley is popular but rarely crowded because of the walk in.

What to expect

The toll road is narrow with a fee and limited parking at the end. Lodges must be booked and can be full in summer. The valley is genuinely small, so a day covers it unless you continue over the passes. Weather here is wet and changeable.

Nearby

Trollheimen's peaks and seter valleys spread east; Sunndalsora lies south-west and the Amotan gorge south-east.

Key facts