Snøhetta
2,286 m
Norway
Also known as SnæhettaAlso known as
Snæhetta
- Elevation
- 2,286 m
- Prominence
- 1,676 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Aug
- Routes
- 1
NoticeReported 4 Oct 2026
Snøheim lodge, Snøheimvegen and the shuttle bus closed for the winter after 4 October 2026. Outside the season the approach from Hjerkinn is on foot or ski only.
dnt.no
Routes
1Sources differ: Krevende (demanding) fottur (UT.no (DNT))
The standard summer ascent: shuttle bus from Hjerkinn to the DNT lodge Snøheim (1,474 m), then a DNT-waymarked path north past the lakes and the ruins of Gamle Reinheim and steeply up stony ground and late snowfields to Stortoppen (2,286 m), the main summit with a radio link station. About 6 km and 810 m of ascent each way.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 9.0 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +857 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,286 m
- Time Up
- 4h 04m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 11m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Snøheimvegen from Hjerkinn is closed to private cars, so take the shuttle bus (about 30 minutes) from Hjerkinnhus to Snøheim, which runs only while the lodge is open in summer. From Snøheim cross the bridge over the Stridåe and follow the red-T-marked path along the west side of the Stridåtjønnin lakes. Gentle terrain leads north to the ruins of the old Reinheim hut (Gamle Reinheim). From there the path climbs steeply over boulders and scree, often crossing snowfields high up, to the broad summit of Stortoppen. The upper section is marked with sturdy metal posts with reflectors, useful in fog. The summit is not exposed but carries a radio link station built by the Norwegian Armed Forces, a generator building and a helipad. Allow 2½–3½ hours up. Descend the same way in 2–2½ hours; the scree slows the descent. Midttoppen (2,278 m) can be added in 30–40 minutes return from Stortoppen; the traverse on to Hettpiggen and Vesttoppen is a roped climb. Plan around the bus timetable, as the last bus leaves Snøheim in the evening, or stay at Snøheim. Snow showers are possible even in midsummer, and musk oxen graze around Snøheim: keep well away from them.
Start
Snøheim1,474 m
- Dovrebanen train (Oslo–Trondheim) to Hjerkinn station, then the Snøheim shuttle bus (NOR-WAY route 200) from Hjerkinnhus; in 2026 it ran 26 June – 4 October with five departures a day, adult fare NOK 129 each way.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snøheim → Snøhetta Stortoppen | 9.0 | 857 | 45 | 4h 04m |
Waypoints
- Hut: Snøheim1,474 m
Shuttle bus terminus; DNT staffed lodge
- Feature: Stridåtjønnin1,497 m
Path follows the west side of the lakes
- Feature: Gamle Reinheim1,669 m
Ruins of the old Reinheim hut; steep climb begins
- Summit: Snøhetta Stortoppen2,286 m
Key Passages
- Steep boulder and scree slope above Gamle Reinheim
- Late-lying snowfields below the summit
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 85%Overview
The highest mountain in Norway outside Jotunheimen (2,286 m) and the centrepiece of Dovrefjell–Sunndalsfjella National Park. A long, well-marked summer hike from the DNT lodge Snøheim, reached by shuttle bus across musk-ox country, leads to its broad, stony main summit.
Snøhetta rises above the high Dovrefjell plateau, between the Oslo–Trondheim corridor and the Sunndal valleys. It is a massif rather than a single peak: Stortoppen (2,286 m) is the main summit, with Midttoppen, Hettpiggen and Vesttoppen strung along a ridge to the west and glacier-carved corries on its north side. With about 1,675 m of prominence it is one of the most prominent mountains in Norway.
The usual ascent is a 5–6 hour return hike from Snøheim, a staffed DNT lodge at 1,474 m that can only be reached by a summer shuttle bus or on foot or ski from Hjerkinn. The path is waymarked throughout, and the climbing is on boulders, scree and snowfields rather than rock. The main summit carries a radio link station, generator building and helipad, so some prefer the quieter Vesttoppen, which is also easy to reach but is a separate ascent.
The surrounding plateau is home to wild reindeer and a reintroduced population of musk oxen, which are often seen near Snøheim and must be given a wide berth. The weather is harsh for the latitude: snow can fall in any month.
Climbing Notes
In summer this is a long day walk for anyone in reasonable shape, but the terrain is stony and steep in its upper half and the weather can turn quickly. Plan the day around the shuttle bus from Hjerkinnhus: take an early bus in and allow 5–6 hours for the return hike plus breaks before the last bus out, or book a night at Snøheim. Carry warm clothing, hat and gloves, a map and compass, and follow the marker posts in fog.
The bus and lodge run only from late June to early October (26 June – 4 October in 2026). Outside that period Snøheimvegen is closed and the approach from Hjerkinn adds a long walk or ski along the closed road (roughly 13 km each way); in winter and spring Snøhetta is a ski-mountaineering objective requiring navigation skills, avalanche awareness and full cold-weather kit. Keep well away from musk oxen, which can charge, and respect the wild reindeer, especially during calving in spring.
History
Snøhetta was first visited in 1798 during a scientific expedition, when it was believed to be the highest mountain in Norway, because it was visible from the old road over Dovrefjell while the higher Jotunheimen peaks were little known. The phrase 'until Dovre falls' was part of the oath sworn at the Norwegian Constituent Assembly in 1814. The original Snøheim lodge stood closed for more than 50 years while the area was a military firing range; the new DNT lodge opened in July 2012. A small monument to the philosopher and mountaineer Peter Wessel Zapffe stands near Vesttoppen.
Season
Best Jul–Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Possible
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Very short days and severe cold; road closed
- Feb
- Winter; long ski approach from Hjerkinn
- Mar
- Ski ascent from Hjerkinn for experienced ski-mountaineers
- Apr
- Ski touring; avalanche awareness needed
- May
- Spring snow; Snøheimvegen closed to buses
- Jun
- Shuttle bus and Snøheim open from late June; much snow remains
- Jul
- Main season; snowfields on the upper slope
- Aug
- Main season
- Sep
- Cooler, first snow possible; wild reindeer hunt 20 August – 20 September
- Oct
- Bus and Snøheim close in early October (4 October in 2026)
- Nov
- Winter; road closed
- Dec
- Winter; road closed
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Book Snøheim through DNT (dnt.no/snoheim, +47 47 86 22 86); shuttle bus seats can be booked with the stay or on nor-way.no (from 'Hjerkinnhus, Dovre').
- Fees
- Shuttle bus Hjerkinnhus–Snøheim: adult NOK 129 each way, 6–17 years NOK 69, under 6 free, dog NOK 60 (2026)
- Parking at Hjerkinnhus: NOK 65 per day (DNT, 2026)
- Snøheim overnight and meal prices with DNT member discounts
- Rules
- Snøheimvegen is closed to private motor vehicles; only the shuttle bus, military vehicles and holders of special permits may drive it
- Cycling is not allowed in the national park or on Snøheimvegen except from 1 June to 15 July; bikes cannot be taken on the bus
- Dovrefjell–Sunndalsfjella National Park: keep well away from musk oxen and avoid disturbing wild reindeer
- Sleeping bags are not allowed in Snøheim's beds; bring a sheet sleeping bag or hire bedding
- Getting There
Dombås, about 40 km south of Hjerkinn; Oppdal to the north
Trondheim Værnes (TRD), about 3 hours by road or rail
- Dovrebanen trains (Oslo–Trondheim) stop at Hjerkinn station
- By car on the E6 or Fv29 to Hjerkinn; park at Hjerkinnhus / the Wild Reindeer Centre
- Shuttle bus (route 200) Hageseter – Hjerkinnhus – Snøheim, about 30 minutes, five departures a day in season; extra departures run when full
Hazards
- Weather
- Remoteness
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,474 m
SnøheimHutStaffedBooking required
80 beds · Late June to early October (26 June – 4 October 2026)