Photo: FrDr / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · resized and converted
About This Hike
Viewpoint SNØHETTA, also called Tverrfjellhytta, is an architectural pavilion at Hjerkinn operated as part of the Wild Reindeer Visitor Centre. It is not the demanding summit hike to Snøhetta mountain. From the Tverrfjellet car park, a broad 1.5-kilometre gravel path climbs gently for about 20–30 minutes each way. Twenty slate panels along the route form a timeline through Dovrefjell's natural and cultural history. At the top, the Snøhetta-designed pavilion frames the massif through a full-width window, while its curved timber interior gives shelter from the wind. The route is designed to concentrate visitors on durable ground and protect vulnerable wild-reindeer habitat, so stay on the gravel throughout. Dogs must remain on a lead and cannot enter the pavilion, cycling and drones are prohibited, and neither the viewpoint nor its car park allows overnight stays. The attraction closes when winter snow returns, normally from around mid-October until early June, and can close at short notice to protect wildlife. Confirm the live opening status before driving up from Hjerkinn.
Highlights
- ✓ Tverrfjellhytta, named World Building of the Year in 2011, with a full-width glass wall framing the Snøhetta massif
- ✓ A wheelchair-friendly gravel path, 1.5 km with about 120 metres of ascent, across open high-mountain plateau
- ✓ Twenty slate information markers along the route, laid out as a timeline from the Ice Age to the present
- ✓ Part of the Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre at the Hjerkinn gateway to Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park
Getting There
Follow signs from the E6/Hjerkinn junction to the Tverrfjellet parking area. The final approach is about 1.5 km on gravel road; a road toll applies. Check current access and payment information before travelling.
Municipality: Dovre, Innlandet
Before You Go
Plan this as a summer visitor-centre walk, not as an approach to Snøhetta summit. The pavilion and the road to the viewpoint car park close in winter; the season normally runs from around 1 June to mid-October, depending on snow. Follow the gravel path to reduce disturbance to wild reindeer habitat, leave the bike at the car park, and check the current opening date, road access and toll arrangement before driving up from Hjerkinn.
Information checked: September 2026 against the Wild Reindeer Visitor Centre and Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park information.
⚠️ Safety Notes
- Viewpoint SNØHETTA is closed in winter. Check the current opening status and road access before travelling.
- This is open mountain terrain. Bring clothing suitable for wind, rain and rapidly changing weather.
- Stay on the marked path and do not disturb wild reindeer or enter protected wildlife areas. If you encounter musk oxen, keep at least 200 metres away.
- Cycling on the path is prohibited. Dogs must be on a lead and cannot enter the pavilion; use the designated tie points if needed.
- Do not confuse this with the separate summit hike to Snøhetta, which starts from Snøheim and requires substantially more time, fitness and mountain preparation.