Innerdalen, often regarded as “Norway’s Most Beautiful Mountain Valley”, is a slow paced and picturesque area of Western Norway. The valley was officially declared as Norway’s first protected landscape in 1967 which could be why the mountain area and the tourist cabins within it feel so idyllic. Surrounded by mountains and with farm animals roaming the landscape, sitting by the lake eating homemade waffles, you can understand why the valley has its reputation.
Once you enter Innerdalen, you will see Innerdalstårnet in the distance, the unusually shaped mountain peak that acts as a landmark among the area. In the forefront you have Innerdalsvatnet Lake, with the two tourist cabins picturesquely placed beside it.
We hiked to Innerdalen for the afternoon during a 10-day West Norway road trip last summer and it ended up being one of our favourite days. it is the perfect mix of a short hike, beautiful views, good food, and possibly even a swim if you are brave enough! In this guide you will find everything you need to know about hiking to Innerdalen, including where to park, more details on the trail, and even possibilities for staying the night.
See more: The Best 10 Day West Norway Road Trip Itinerary
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Quick Facts: Innerdalen Hiking
Distance: 3.5km
Hike time: 1 – 1.5 hours
How to get to Innerdalen
Innerdalen Valley is located just outside of the city of Sunndalsøra. The drive is just 25 minutes, following the road Rv70 north, through the Oppdølstrandtunnel and turning right onto Viromdalsvegen to the parking. Unfortunately, there is no public transport or private bus that takes you to Innerdalen, however, it is possible to take the bus to either Ålvundeid or Sunndalsøra and then catch a taxi from there.
Where to park by Innerdalen Valley
Unfortunately, it is not possible to drive to Innerdalen, so you need to park at the Nerdalen carpark and walk (map). This is the same location as the start of the hiking trail which makes it much less complicated. The parking is paid but you can use either Vipps or card at the machine in the carpark. When we visited it was 75kr for one day and 175kr for the weekend.
Hiking to Innerdalen Valley
Hiking the Innerdalen Valley is a relatively short 3.5km trail. While it is along a well-kept gravel road, something you don’t tent to read in the guides before going is that much of the hike is up a steep hill. Don’t let me put you off though – just make sure to wear the right shoes and be prepared for the walk!
From the car park, you head steadily up the road, past several shorter walking trails that diverge off the path. It is quite a consistent climb before you reach a beautiful view over Innerdalen Valley and the path begins to head down towards the mountain cabins.
Hiking in Innerdalen
There are plenty of additional hiking routes that begin in Innerdalen – whether you want to climb Innerdalstårnet for a view over the valley, take a longer walk to the DNT cabin Kårvatn, or head around Renndalsbrona for a short but extremely beautiful walk. You can find all details and inspiration for all the nearby hiking trails on this page.
Renndølsetra Café
Renndølsetra is the first mountain cabin you pass as you enter Innerdalen. This cluster of little wooden houses, all with grass roofs and a charming character, is a family run summer farm that has been in use since 1740. Today, the farm runs a small hotel and café which you must visit on your trip to Innerdalen! They are famous for their waffles with blackcurrant jam and sour cream – a winning combination (especially when eaten in the idyllic grassy field surrounding the farm).
The café is open during the summer months – from the middle of June to the middle of August – between midday and late afternoon. You can find more details about the place, the menu, and the opening hours on this page.
Staying in Innerdalen
While you can just visit Innerdalen for a few hours, there are several different options for accommodation if you want to stay overnight! We had personally considered camping but unfortunately were not lucky with the weather forecast so decided to walk back and sleep in our van instead. It’s on the list for next time though – both the huts looked super cosy!
Renndølsetra
In the converted old farmhouses of Renndølsetra you will find accommodation made up of 20 beds split over 7 rooms and a cabin. This is an idyllic place to stay – especially if you want to enjoy more of the hiking opportunities in the valley! Renndølsetra is available for full board (including a homemade dinner and breakfast), and pets are allowed in some rooms! Find all the details on this page!
DNT Innerdalshytta
The second option for accommodation in Innerdalen is the DNT Innerdalshytta mountain cabin. Here, there are three different buildings – Nyhytta (The New Hut), Gammelhytta (The Old Hut), and Låven (The Barn). Both Nyhytta and Gammelhytta are only open during the summer (June to September) while Låven is open all year round. Nyhytta is the main cabin, where full board is included in reservation. Gammelhytta is a self-serviced cabin dating back to 1893. It is one of the first tourist cabins to be built in Norway and has a unique charm to it. If you want to visit Innerdalen in winter then Låven is open, with beds for 20 people. This too is a self-service cabin.
The best way to book accommodation here is to send an email to innerdalshytta@knt.no. Find out more on this page.
Innerdalen Camping
While you can’t freely camp in the Innerdalen nature reserve, Renndølsetra and DNT Innerdalshytta both have options for camping nearby. This is not something you have to book in advance – it is just to turn up and pay the fee! At Renndølsetra, it is 90kr per person per night to camp which includes access to the toilet and trash facilities as well as the café. At the DNT cabin, it is 100kr a night per person if you are a member, 125kr for non-members, and 50kr for children from 4-12.
More information:
When to visit Innerdalen
Innerdalen is a great place to visit from spring until autumn – however the DNT hut and Renndølsetra are only serviced during the summer months so if you want to visit the café or stay overnight with full board then this is the time to visit! Outside the season, however, there is still places to stay and the hiking and skiing opportunities beautiful all year round.
Where to head after Innerdalen
Spending more time in Norway after Innnerdalen? Here’s some tips:
