Jotunheimvegen is a 45-kilometre toll road through open mountain terrain between Bygdin on the RV51 and Skåbu in Gudbrandsdalen. It is a gravel road, only open in summer from late June until the first snow, usually in October. Beitostølen is about 10 kilometres from the western end.
The road passes through a landscape of large mountain lakes, summer farms, and open grazing land where you will see goats, cattle, and sheep. The summer farms along Vinstervatnet are still in use, and some sell traditional dairy products directly to visitors. This is the old mountain Norway, the kind of landscape that has looked more or less the same for centuries.
Jotunheimvegen is also part of Mjølkevegen, one of the best cycling routes in southern Norway. Cyclists ride from Gudbrandsdalen over Jotunheimvegen through the summer farm landscape, then either continue to Bygdin or turn south towards Beitostølen and on to Hallingdal.
The views towards the Jotunheimen peaks are impressive on clear days. It is not a fast road and it is not meant to be. Budget a couple of hours for the drive if you want to stop and look around.
The road passes through a landscape of large mountain lakes, summer farms, and open grazing land where you will see goats, cattle, and sheep. The summer farms along Vinstervatnet are still in use, and some sell traditional dairy products directly to visitors. This is the old mountain Norway, the kind of landscape that has looked more or less the same for centuries.
Jotunheimvegen is also part of Mjølkevegen, one of the best cycling routes in southern Norway. Cyclists ride from Gudbrandsdalen over Jotunheimvegen through the summer farm landscape, then either continue to Bygdin or turn south towards Beitostølen and on to Hallingdal.
The views towards the Jotunheimen peaks are impressive on clear days. It is not a fast road and it is not meant to be. Budget a couple of hours for the drive if you want to stop and look around.