The district of Engerdal in Norway covers 2.196,6 km2. The population of Engerdal is approximately 1.450. Few communities in Norway have as many national parks and natural reserves as Engerdal. Most of the area lays 600-800 metres above sea level. Highest mountain is Elgåhogna 1.459 metres above sea level. Engerdal became a self government in 1911, and is a part of the Hedmark county, bordering Sweden in the east. Less than 1 % of the area is cultivated or residential land, one third is productive forest and the rest is mountains, plateaus, lakes, rivers, forest and wilderness.
The establishment of a melting hut at Femundshytten in 1739 A.C. led to a more permanent settlement in the Femund-area. Engerdal has the most southern sami settlement in Norway. The sami people still have reindeer rearing as their main industry. You may see reindeer in the area Sorken – Elgå – Valdalen. Today the sami people are all permanently settled – not nomadic. Engerdal is the place to be when you want untouched and scenic nature, stillness, peaceful holidays and fresh mountain air.
But there are also things to do; horseback riding, visit the wilderness museum, try hiking in the mountains or take a walk down in the valley. Wilderness experiences may include goldwashing. Maybe canoeing or rafting on the river is something for you? Try fishing in the rivers and lakes. The most important winter activity is cross country skiing, but you can also try alpine skiing and a tour with sledgedogs into the wilderness.
LAKE FEMUNDEN
Lake Femund is the second largest natural lake in Norway. Daily sine 1905 the M/S Fæmund II has plied the lake during summertime. Every wednesday from July 7th to August 18th the boat goes all the way to Femundsenden. Even today Fæmund II is the only transportation mean for the settlemens around the lake, that have no road connection. A lot of hikers use M/S Fæmund II to get into the Femundsmarka National Park. Ask for the time table at the tourist office, stores, petrol station, accommodation. Femund Fiskerlag arranges the annual festival – “Femund Festival” each July. The restaurant “Bryggeloftet Villmarksrestaurant” are located to the pier in Elgå. Here you may get a taste of reindeer, elk, fish from Lake Femund and many other special courses.
The canoe country Femund-Engerdal offers unlimited possibilities for those who prefer to explore the beautiful scenery from a canoe. Many different lakes and rivers are well suited for canoeing. Femund Canoe Camp at Sorken and Villmarkskompaniet at Sølenstua specializes in canoes. Here you may hire a canoe, and you will get knowledgeable instruction and trip organisation. Femund boasts plentiful supplies of whitefish, which are bred and sold in different forms by “Femund Fiskerlag” (Femund Fishermen’s Association). At Elgå pier you can buy locally produced gravid whitefish, peppered whitefish, and hot smoked whitefish – true delicacies with taste of the wilds.
FEMUNDSMARKA NATIONAL PARK
Was declared a national park in 1971, and is a typical wilderness area with pine forest, open fields, mountain plateaus and many lakes. There are no roads leading in to the 385 square kilometres wide national park. You have to walk from Elgå, Valdalen or Sylen or use the M/S Fæmund II. Femundsmarka is well known for its excellent hiking terrain and is an angler’s paradise.
GUTULIA NATIONAL PARK
Gutulia National Park was established in 1968, and was suggested as a possible preservation area as early as in 1916 because of its primeval forest. The national park is 19 square kilometres. With a few exceptions the forest has been allowed to grow wild and untouched. You can find spruce trees up to 300 years old and pine trees up to 500 years. From about 1750-1949 mountain farms were operating and you find these houses restored. During July you may buy coffee and waffles in Gutulia. Easiest access: follow the signboard and forest auto road nord-east of Sorken.
FEMUNDSHYTTEN FARM
The first melting works established in the Femund-area were located at Femundshytten, which today is a lonely farm by the Lake Femund. From 1739 to 1820 it was a lively center in the middle of the wilderness with more than 200 inhabitants and about 150 houses. Sights at Femundshytten: enormous heaps of ashes that dominate the landscape, “The Children’s Town” (a miniature copy of Røros made of rocks and pieces of slate), the farm museum and the Troll-town (made of roots and rees). Femundshytten provides overnight facilities and something to eat. There is no road access to Femundshytten. By car you follow the signs to Jonasvollen. Here you park your car and walk the 8 kilometres to Femundshytten. Another way of getting to Femundshytten is by the M/S Fæmund II from Synnervika or Elgå – Buvika. The boat arrives twice a day during summertime.
THE RØA FALLS
Røa waterfalls are 5 waterfalls located south in the community, near the Trysil border, five minutes from the main road. The site is perfect for a picnic. Look for road sign along the state highway 26 in Hylleråsen. Røa is also the name of a river in the Femundsmarka National Park and a small river in Sylen.
SMÅSJØKONGEN
“Småsjøkongen” is a huge pine tree not allowed to be felled. You find this huge tree along country road 654, one kilometer south of Småsjøvollen between Femundsenden and Elgå. Look for the sign and path.
KVISLEFLÅET
Kvisleflået is a large area of exceptional forms of landscape, vegetation, bird and animal life. The Reserve was established i 1981. Follow one of the forrest auto road (“Lortsetervegen”) at Kvilten. Toll-bar.
GALTSJØEN
Galtsjøen is an important area with a particularly interesting and rich bird-life. The reserve is 5 square kilometers and was established in 1981. The area includes the landscape around the Galtsjøen (lake Galtsjøen).
BLOKKODDEN MUSEUM
Blokkodden Wilderness Museum at Drevsjø is both nature, cultural landscape and museum combined. The open air museum shows the usage of Femundsmarka through several centuries. A southern sami winter shelter has been built to show the sami way of life. Besides coal burning, both hunting and fishing were important basics of life. In this century forestry has been a major industry. In 1986 Blokkodden was nominated for the European Council’s Museum Award. The museum is open from mid June to mid August. Daily guiding tours and various activity days throughout July. The townhall, Enger, in Engerdal, mon-fre 0900-1500. free.
THE EGGEN EXHIBITION
The Town Hall in Engerdal village shows an exhibition of the twin brothers Gjermund and Jo Eggen. They were among the best cross country skiers in Norway during the sixties and seventies. Gjermund became three times world champion in Oslo 1966 (15 km and 50 km individual and with the norwegian Relay Race team). He still holds the record as the only norwegian, since the 2. World War, that has become a world champion at 50 km. The exibition also tells the story of the Eggen Ski Factory which was situated in Engerdal village. The factory started up in 1969 and closed in 1983. At its peak 24 people were employed producing 25.000 pair of skies per year.
HANS SORKEN EXHIBITION
Hans Sorken and his carvings have become known far beyond the border of Norway. Several of his works have remained in our local community, where they may be seen. We recommend a look at the candelier in Engerdal Church or the collection of figures in the Town Hall in Engerdal village. At the Museum of Forestry in Elverum is one of Sorken’s best known works – a group of timber-floaters.
ERLING SAND EXHIBITION
It all started back at the beginning of this century, with english fly fishers. Erling’s father learned the art from the englishmen, and later passed on the knowledge to his son. Erling’s name is inseparably connected with fly tying and fly fishing. A lot of anglers recognize flies like “Engerdal’s Joker”, “Jonas”, “The Killer (Dreperen)”, “Sandra”, “The Stone Fly (Steinflua)”, eller “Worse than the Mink (Verre enn Minken)”. Mr. Sand is a professional and well-known fly maker with a fantastic file of fly-patterns and a sizeable collection of international literature on fly fishing. A selection of his production can be seen at the Town Hall in Engerdal village.
CHURCHES
None of the churches in Engerdal are open for tourists, except for the church in Engerdal. Keys can be borrowed at Engerdal kommune (Town Hall). The church is opposite the state highway 26 from the Town Hall.
PICTURES
See the pictures from Engerdal taken by some of our users. Visit their homepage or send them a e-mail.
ALPINE SKIING
In Engerdal there are two alpine hills; Engerdal Østfjell is located 5 km east of the village Engerdal and has two pists and a heated rest room with cafeteria. The alpine center at Sølenstua has three pists and a heated rest room with cafeteria. For those who prefer bigger challenges we recommend daytrips to Trysilfjellet and/or to Idrefjäll in Sweden. With car- both only an hour away.
CROSS COUNTRY
Femund-Engerdal has strong ski tradition and the facilities for cross country skiing are very good. Here you find inter connecting, marked and prepared slopes which take you into a unique mountain world. At the peaks of Brennhammaren (Elgå) or Vålåberget (Drevsjø) you find ski cabins, where the view is spectacular. From Christmas to Easter the ski cabin at Volåberget is open with sale of coffee, juice and something to eat. Maps are available. Vardfjell-Race / Kvitvola-Race are two annual cross country ski races arranged each Easter. The Vardfjell-race is 27 km and Kvitvola is 26 km. Both races are named after the mountain which they passes. Both competion and exercise classes.
GOLD WASHING
Gold was found in Engerdal in 1993. In the creek Hølbekken you learn to wash gold, and most people find some gold to take with them. This activity suit all. Rental of all necessary equipment is included. You may taste real forest coffee and “stomp” by the open fire. Lemonade for children. Every day in july from 1200-1530. Booking the day before – at latest 8 pm. Femund Ferie & Fritid as.
The ancient hunting construction at Storhøa. Lillian and Knut Vestues. With a local guide you can get to the top of Storhøa, a mountain about 1100 metres above sea level. Here you can see hunting constructions from the Stone Age, constructions made for rain-deers, which there was a lot of at that time. We walk from Gnollsetra summerfarm to Storhøa through a beautiful mountain landscape.
SAFARI
Elksafari with bus: Great opportunities to meet the king of the norwegian forrest. Where possible we make stops and you may take a close look and photograph this majestic animal. During evenings from week 23-35. Registration in advance.
Tour with guide in canoe. A very exiting and exhausting trip. Equipped with wetsuits, helmets and climbing equipment a fantastic river is explored. Climbing, jumping, swimming etc. This trip requires courage and strength, even if the trip will be adjusted according to the groups wishes. At the end a warm meal si served. Age limit: 18 years. Prebooking is neccesary.
SLEDGEDOG SAFARI
Nowaja Adventure at Drevsjø provides a tour with slegdedogs in the wilderness. This is an activity with excitement and speed. Nowaja Adventure are one of the most used organizer for tours with slegdedogs in Norway. Accommodation in huts. Meals are included. Trips can be combined with additional activities such as tenting in lavvo and ice fishing. Moonlight trips can also be arranged. Several slegdedog races take place in Femund-Engerdal during wintertime. Prices by asking.
MOUNTAIN
With one of our mountain guides to Sølen Mountain you may get to the top of the highest mountain in Hedmark (1.755 metres above sea level). On a sunny day you have a beautiful view to the mountain ranges in the west (Jotunheimen and Rondane) whit Norways highest mountains.
The varied mountain landscape offers excellent conditions for wild berries in the autumn. You can find blueberries, cranberries and even cloudberries which are the most attractive ones. Femund-Engerdal provides very good hiking trails in the gentle mountain formations. But nevertheless, the weather changes rapidly, so remember a map, compass and other necessitities. The trails are marked with DNT’s red painted T’s (DNT = The Norwegian Tourist Association). The M/S Fæmund II can easily fit into your plans. You will find accommodation at Svukuriset (attended DNT-cabin), Røvollen (unattended DNT-cabin), Elgå, Sylen, Haugen and Valdalen (all private touristquarters). In additon you may stay overnight at Langen Gård (just north of the lake Femund) and at hostels by Grøvelsjøen in Sweden.
RAFTING
Villmarkskompaniet arrange rafting tours with duration of some hours or 2-3 days. The nice family-tour is a speciality. The equipment and the guides more than satisfy the strict safety requirements. Safety equipment such as helmet, life jacket and wet suit is included in the rentals. Participants must be able to swim and wear wet shoes/running shoes with woolsocks, warm underwear and rain-/waterproof jacket. You must be of 18 years of age (16 if accompanied by parents). Participants in the family-tour must be 7 years or older. Meals are included.
FISHING
Fishing is a main attraction in Femund-Engerdal. On government property it is possible to angle in more than 800 lakes and rivers on the same fishing license! Angling is permitted for all, but everybody 16 years of age or older have to pay local fishing licences and the national fishing fee. The local cards are for sale at petrol stations, shops and lodgings. The national fee can be paid at any post office (valid all over Norway). Fly fishing, angling with maggot and spinning bait is most common.
You may catch fishes like trout, chare, grayling, whitefish, perch and pike. Burbot and roach can also be found in certain areas. Net fishing is allowed in Fjellgutusjøen, Vurrusjøen and the Engerdal part of Langsjøen. A special license is required for this type of fishing. Private waters (Isteren, Svalsjøen, Ormutusjøen, Engeren, Engeråa and Hognsjøen) requires a special fishing licenses. Ask for the fishing guide and fishing licenses at your overnight facility.
Many lakes in Femund-Engerdal are well suited for ice fishing. You can catch trout, char, perch and pike in the wintertime. The season usually starts in the middle of February and lasts until the ice melt. You need fishing licence.