Store-SkagastølstindScandinavian Mountains over 2000 metres - James Baxter
Areas › Rondane › Walking Routes › Ro.13
| Ro.13 | Dørålseter lodges to Grimsdalshytta lodge |
|---|---|
| 6½ hrs / 20km 780m  / 870m |
Marked in summer with cairns and marked in spring with twig poles. |
This well marked path leads away from the high mountains of Rondane but is a well used path in the summer and spring when it is a ski trail.
From Dørålseter ascend north west for a km and then ascend north for another km which will lead you into a remarkable cleft in the mountain caused by violent erosion as ice dams in Dørålen prevented the River Døråi following its present course and diverted it north instead. Once through this eerie gap the almost paved path heads north for three km down into the birch woods of Haverdalen valley.
Just before the River Haverdalsåe the path heads east for 200 metres, crosses the bridge over the river and then heads west again for 200 metres. A short distance away from the river in the Birch forest the path intersects another. The branch heading west is a marked path which goes up the valley for another 7 km to reach Haverdalseter lodge and the branch to the east is an unmarked path which heads down to the gravel road in Grimsdalen 6 km away. The branch we want to take for Grimsdalshytta is straight on to the north up the gentle slope through the birch forests.
After a km the path reaches the tree line and levels out for a further five km as it heads north west across the undulating plateau. After the five km the path starts to gently descend down the north side of the plateau crossing a few small streams and enters the birch forests again.
After two km through the birch forests the path eventually comes to the River Grimsi. Here just before the bridge over the river a marked path (Ro.15) leads off to Høvringen, 30 km to the south west. Cross the bridge to the north of the River Grimsi and follow the path north for 300 metres to reach a gravel road, called Grimsdalsveien. This toll road connects Gudbrandsdalen with Atnadalen, but is only open in the summer.
Cross the road and follow another road north for 600 metres to reach Grimsdalshytta lodge.