Rondane National Park Cycling Loop — Grimsdalen & Venabygdsfjellet

From Vinstra the route heads north through the Gudbrandsdalen valley — 70 kilometres of relatively easy riding along the river before the mountains begin. The shop in Dovre around km 69 is the last resupply before things get serious, and I would strongly suggest filling every pocket. From Dovre the road turns east and climbs hard into Grimsdalen, gaining over 600 metres in about 10 kilometres to reach the high plateau above 1,100 metres.

Grimsdalen is the highlight of the entire ride, and honestly one of the finest valleys I have cycled anywhere. The road runs between Rondane and Dovrefjell national parks, following the Grimsa river through a vast open landscape of ancient mountain farms and windswept grass. When I rode this, I spotted wild reindeer twice — once on the plateau above, once crossing the road ahead of me. Grimsdalshytta arrives around km 99, perfectly timed for lunch. The roemmeporridge there is the real thing — I sat on the terrace looking at the Rondane peaks and did not want to leave.

After Grimsdalen the route descends before climbing again onto Venabygdsfjellet, part of Norwegian Scenic Route Rondane. This is a different kind of mountain riding — the road is paved and carries some traffic, but the views over the Rondane massif with its ten peaks above 2,000 metres are extraordinary. Venabygdsfjellet is a Norwegian Scenic Route and is open year-round. It's Grimsdalsvegen that sets the season — it opens no earlier than 5 June and closes on 1 December. The high point on Venabygdsfjellet sits around 1,030 metres before the long descent back into the valley. The final 30 kilometres follow a rolling road south through the Gudbrandsdalen valley back to Vinstra. At 218 kilometres with just over 2,900 metres of climbing, this is a genuinely long day — but Grimsdalen alone makes it worth every pedal stroke.