Skjåk municipality has approximately 2.340 inhabitants and covers a area of 2.075,6 km2. Farming and forestry have always been important for settling and employment in Skjåk. The administrative centre is at Bismo with approximately 500 inhabitants. Skjåk is Norways biggest National Park municipality. The entire area offers plenty of opportunities to experience magnificent nature and culture firsthand.
Skjåk is the westernmost municipality in the valley of Ottadalen and here is some leisure you can do, mountain biking, motorcross, watersports (jet-skiing, barefoot, water skiing, water scooters). It is bordered to the north by the municipality of Norddal, Rauma, and Lesja, in the east and southeast by Lom, in the south by Luster and in the west by Stryn and Stranda. The municipality lies along the Otta river between the mountainous areas of Breheim and Reinheim. Bismo is the modern population center and the location of the majority of industry and shopping as well as the municipal administration.
The community is at the meeting point between Gudbrandsdalen and the mountains between the eastern parts of Norway and the west coast. The municipality lies on a historically significant traffic artery between Stryn and Nordfjord, Geiranger, and Sunnmøre and the more easterly Ottadal municipalities of Lom and Vågå.
Gudbrandsdalen valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer and the lake Mjøsa, extending 230 kilometers toward Romsdalen. The river of Gudbrandsdalslågen (Lågen) flows through the valley, starting from Lesjaskogsvatnet and ending at Mjøsa. The Otta river flowing through Otta valley is a major tributary to Gudbrandsdalslågen.
Together with Glomma river and Østerdalen, Gudbrandsdalslågen and Gudbrandsdalen forms Norway´s largest river / valley system. Gudbrandsdalen is home to Dovre Line and the E6 road, and is the main land transport corridor through South Norway, from Oslo and central eastern lowlands to Trondheim and Møre & Romsdal.
NATIONAL PARKS
Reinheimen National Park was established in 2006. The park consists of a 1,969-square-kilometre (760 sq mi) continuous protected mountain area. It is located in Møre & Romsdal and Oppland counties. The park includes parts of the municipalities of Lesja, Skjåk, Vågå, Lom, Norddal, and Rauma. The park consists of much of the Tafjordfjella mountain range as well as the reindeer habitat in the northern part of the Ottadalen valley.
Breheimen National Park is a national park that was established in 2009. The park is located in the municipalities of Skjåk and Lom in Oppland county and in Luster in Sogn & Fjordane county. The park covers 1,671 square kilometres (645 sq mi) of the Breheimen mountain range. The park is surrounded by three other national parks: Jostedalsbreen National Park, Jotunheimen National Park, and Reinheimen National Park. The park includes the mountains Hestbreapiggan, Tverrådalskyrkja, and Holåtinden as well as the glaciers Harbardsbreen, Spørteggbreen, and Holåbreen.
SKIING
60 km to Stryn Summer Skiing Centre, Lom (60 km), Geiranger (35 km). Snow rafting, Telemark skiing.
MOUNTAINEERING
Walk, wander and enjoy the fields, the forests and mountains. Plenty of memorable experiences await you. Mountain walking in the Tafjord mountains in the west and the Breheimen mountains in the south. Guided mountain walks to Norway´s highest mountain “Galdhøpiggen”. glacier climbing, rafting and grotting. Mountains over 2000 meters are Store Hestbrepigg 2.171 metres, Store Hestedalshøgdi 2.091 metres, Tverrådalskyrkja 2.088 metres, Lodalskåpa 2.083 metres, Hestbrepigg 2.078 metres, Lomseggi 2.068 metres and Midtre Holåtind 2.047 metres.