Besøkssenter villrein
Free visitor centre at Hjerkinn with an exhibition on wild reindeer and trapping installations, and the trail to the SNØHETTA viewpoint; open in summer.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Besøkssenter villrein is part of Norsk villreinsenter Nord (the Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre North) at Hjerkinn and lies roughly at the highest point along the E6 over Dovrefjell. The aim is to give visitors an experience of the wild reindeer mountains and to help preserve the wild reindeer and the mountains it lives in.
The exhibition at Hjerkinn station shows, among other things, a stuffed reindeer and a real skeleton from animals that lived in the mountains nearby, and tells the story of the wild reindeer and the challenges it faces today. In the outdoor area there are reconstructed trapping installations and a sælehus (shelter house), a replica of the houses that gave shelter to travellers over Dovrefjell.
From the car park a good path of about 1.5 kilometres leads to the SNØHETTA viewpoint, which lies 1.5 kilometres north-west of the visitor centre as the crow flies and offers panoramic views of the mountain massifs. The viewpoint closes in autumn when the snow settles, out of consideration for wild reindeer and musk ox.
Highlights
- Exhibition on the life and history of wild reindeer
- Reconstructed trapping installations in the outdoor area
- Sælehus (shelter house), a replica of earlier shelters for travellers over Dovrefjell
- Trail to the SNØHETTA viewpoint
- Free admission
Permanent exhibition
- Villrein – utstilling ved Hjerkinn stasjon – Exhibition on wild reindeer with a stuffed reindeer and skeleton, the animal’s history and today’s challenges, with trapping installations and a shelter house in the outdoor area.
- Operated by
- Norsk villreinsenter Nord
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Adults | free |
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The exhibition and activities are free for everyone. There is a toll barrier on the road up to the car park at the SNØHETTA viewpoint: NOK 50 for cars (up to 3.5 tonnes) and NOK 80 for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, paid via youpark.no.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Hjerkinn stasjon
The visitor centre lies midway between the E6 and Hjerkinn station and can be reached by train, bus, car or on foot.
By car
Free parking
The car park at the SNØHETTA viewpoint lies 1.5 km north-west of the visitor centre; it is free during the day, but there is a barrier on the road (NOK 50 for cars). Overnight stays are not allowed.
From the car park it is a 1.5 km walk along a wide gravel path to the viewpoint.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Dogs must be kept on a lead and cannot accompany you to the viewpoint; there are tethering points by the outdoor toilet. Overnight stays in motorhomes or tents in the car park are not allowed. Drones and cycling up to the viewpoint are not permitted. |
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