Discover Risdal

The area around Risdal includes mountain hikes around Storhøliseter and historic sites; the broader destination of Nord-Fron complements these local attractions with its own trails, scenic destinations and cultural events. You can plan your stay around a hike, architectural and literary history, or an event.

Hiking around Storhøliseter

Storhøliseter, with its long tradition of welcoming mountain hikers, is located near Risdal. From there, you can hike in the mountains and climb Storhøpiggen, which is considered a rewarding hiking destination. Marked T-summer trails lead from Espedalen Fjellhotell or Dalseter Høyfjellshotell to the self-service Storhøliseter cabin in about three hours. The approximate duration and the stated starting points provide practical guidance for planning this hike.

Farms, cabins and literary history

The architectural history of the surrounding area is also diverse. The oldest house at Storhøliseter is over 300 years old and belongs to the Søre Risdal farm in Skåbu. The oldest cabin at Storhøliseter, Casparistua, is almost 300 years old. It is named after the poet Theodor Caspari (1853–1948), who lived at Storhøliseter for many years and spent 20 years there every year.

Also nearby, at the Risdal nørdre farm in Skåbu, are buildings protected under Section 15 of the Norwegian Cultural Heritage Act. The farm’s storehouse was built by the architectural artist Thord T. Risdal. The farm buildings and the historic houses and cabins at Storhøliseter offer different points of interest: here, the focus is on protected farm buildings; there, on the age and history of individual houses and their connection to Caspari.

Nord-Fron as a broader travel destination

Kvam railway station, on the Dovre Line, is in Nord-Fron. Trains run from there towards Lillehammer, Oslo S, Drammen, Dombås and Åndalsnes. Check the timetable for your travel dates, as train services may change. In the broader destination of Nord-Fron, the road to Storhøliseter is open only in summer. Near Risdal, Storhøpiggen reaches an altitude of 1,434 metres.

At Veslfjell on Jotunheimvegen in Nord-Fron, there is an information point with views of Langsua National Park, the Hersjømyrin Nature Reserve and the Espedalen Landscape Protection Area. You can take a short walk to Falkfangerhøgda or cycle along Jotunheimvegen. The Espedalen Landscape Protection Area also extends into Nord-Fron and protects a natural and cultural landscape with ecological, cultural and recreational value.

Cultural events and regional routes

The broader destination of Nord-Fron hosts the ten-day Peer Gynt-Steven cultural festival in early August, featuring theatre, concerts, art exhibitions, literary talks and events for children. It has been held every year since 1967 at the Peer Gynt farm Hågå in Vinstra; individual programme items may vary from one edition to the next. The Countryfestival and Skåbu Liv Lågå are also annual cultural events in the broader destination of Nord-Fron: the Countryfestival takes place on the first weekend in July at the Kåja festival grounds in Vinstra, and Skåbu Liv Lågå on the third weekend in July. Check the dates for the year you plan to visit.

The broader destination of Nord-Fron offers everything from literary history to sporting events. Per Gynt farm is a medieval farm on the hillside above Vinstra. The historical Per Gynt probably lived there in the 17th century and served as the model for Ibsen’s Peer Gynt. Today, the farm comprises 17 protected and listed buildings that offer insights into more than 500 years of Norwegian history. “Furusjøen rundt” combines a cycling race, a running race and a ski race around the mountain lake Furusjøen. The Skåbu fjellmaraton features marathon, half-marathon, ultramarathon and children’s races; formats may vary from one edition to the next.

Routes also offer different ways to explore the area: the Pilgrim’s Way through Gudbrandsdal passes through Nord-Fron on its route from Lillehammer to Otta. In the broader destination of Nord-Fron, the Peer Gynt Seterveg starts at Sødorp in Vinstra and leads across Østfjellet to Kvam. It is a suggested summer scenic drive; road conditions and opening dates may vary.

For your travel plans, you can choose from several themes: hikes around Storhøliseter, architectural and literary history, or an event in Nord-Fron. Plan your hotel dates around the occasion you want to attend, and bear in mind the seasonal opening of the road to Storhøliseter and the approximate duration of the marked summer trails.

Discover more destinations: Kvam, Vinstra, Skåbu.

Back to the broader travel overview: Nord-Fron.