Engerdal: Wilderness, Water and Sámi Culture
Accommodation in Engerdal
Mountain plateaus, lakes, rivers and forests define Engerdal. The wilderness lies mostly at elevations of 600 to 800 metres above sea level. If you are planning a holiday here, you can choose to focus on different activities, including hiking, paddling, fishing and exploring the local culture. These interests offer practical guidance when looking for a holiday rental in Engerdal.
Two national parks, different ways to experience nature
Femundsmarka National Park lies between Lake Femunden and the Swedish border, in the municipalities of Røros and Engerdal. South of Femundsmarka, near the Swedish border and also in Engerdal municipality, lies Gutulia National Park. The two names refer to different areas within Engerdal’s natural landscape; when planning your trip, you can decide which experiences matter most to you.
Femundsmarka has countless kilometres of marked hiking trails. Instead of choosing a set distance, you can also follow animal tracks or waterways. Canoeing or packrafting is also possible on quiet lakes and meandering rivers. Hiking and paddling therefore offer different ways to experience the landscape: on foot along marked trails or from the water on lakes and rivers.
Local history and South Sámi culture
The Blokkodden Wilderness Museum offers insights into forestry, agriculture, hunting and fishing, as well as South Sámi culture. Engerdal’s connection to the Røros Copper Works is also among its topics. The visitor centre for Femundsmarka and Gutulia national parks features an exhibition on local history, South Sámi reindeer husbandry and wildlife. If you want to include both nature and culture in your trip, you will find a range of topics here, from regional work and history to reindeer husbandry and wildlife.
Svahken sijte, the Elgå reindeer grazing district, has a particular connection to reindeer husbandry. It is Norway’s southernmost Sámi reindeer grazing district. Most of its areas lie east of Lake Femunden; a winter grazing area is located west of the lake. This geographical context makes clear the importance of Lake Femunden in describing the grazing district.
A boardwalk at Blokkodden
A 1.5-kilometre universally designed boardwalk runs through the Blokkodden Wilderness Museum. It passes through birch forest, across marshland and uneven terrain, and leads to a small fishing jetty on the Hyttelva. The path is also suitable for wheelchairs and prams. This specific information about the path may be especially useful when travelling with children or if you need a route suitable for a pram.
Visitor facilities include the museum’s summer season and an outdoor area that is accessible year-round. These are two different ways to experience the site: the museum operates in summer, while the outdoor area is accessible year-round. The boardwalk passes through several types of landscape and ends at the small fishing jetty; it is 1.5 kilometres long.
Fishing and snowmobile trails
A single fishing licence covers more than 900 lakes, ponds, rivers and streams in Engerdal. It allows you to fish from the shore or from a boat. Exclusions are Isteren, Ormutusjøen, Svalsjøen, the private area of Sylen, Hundsjøen and Store Hyllsjøen. If fishing is part of your plans, bear these exclusions in mind when choosing a body of water.
Engerdal has regulated snowmobile trails. Engerdal Snøscooter Forening operates them, provides regular updates on their condition and sells trail maps. The current regulation was adopted on 18 October 2023, and the trail network was revised on that date. If you are considering snowmobile trails as part of your trip, you can refer to the association’s trail-condition updates.
When choosing your holiday rental, you can first consider whether hiking trails and water, fishing or cultural experiences should shape your stay. Engerdal brings together these different interests, without making them all part of the same experience: Femundsmarka offers marked trails and water activities, while the museum, visitor centre and reindeer grazing district provide other cultural and landscape perspectives.
Places to explore further
For further information, see the pages for Engerdal, Elgå, Sømådalen and Drevsjø.
For the broader travel overview: Hedmark.
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