Hiking in Sunndal: Vollasætra

Driving towards Oppdal from Sunndalsøra and just before you start the ascent to get to Oppdal(Gråura) there are several nice pastures up in the mountains. One of them is Vollasætra which you can hike to from Vollan farm. There is a small spot to park your car, just remember cash to pay for it. Then you head up the tractor road and follow the signs leading to Vollasætra. It goes upwards all the way so there is no place to relax unless you stop for a break. Some parts of the path vegetation is taking over, but look for the signs and there will be no problem finding the right way. The pasture in itself is beautiful, but the view could be better. Therefore I decided to follow the path and head for the nearest top to get a better view. All in all a nice and easy hike without any difficulties, but remember to check for ixodidaes!

Notice the sign to get to the path from the tractor road

Not much of a view from Vollasætra

Vollasætra

The pasture a bit further up

At the top I just wanted to head further and go for long hike in Trollheimen

Hiking in Sunndal: Viromsætra and Grasdalen

Finally a warm and sunny Saturday and of course my friend Tanya and I could not let it go by without taking advantage of it and go on a decent hike. We set of from the parking-lot at the end of the road in Nerdalen a parallel valley of Sunndalen (also the place you park when you want to visit the beautiful Innerdalen).
From the parking we walked towards Innerdalen, but after passing the farm we took a right turn and headed for Viromsætra and Grasdalen instead. At first we followed a tractor road along some fields with sneaky cows grassing on the left. After crossing the river Ulvåa we followd a nice path to the pasture. All the way up the to the pasture you get great views of the river finding its way down.
After reaching Viromsærta we still had energy left and since the surroundings were especially lovely this evening we continued up Grasdalen till we reached the end of the valley. Grasdalen is a lovely valley giving a great view of the Vinnu mountain and glacier. To the left we had the highest mountain in Trollheimen: Trolla. It is an infamous mountain known to be very dangerous and difficult to climb. We did not go to the top! But we fallowed a steep hill for a while until we were met by a wall... Time to head back home, but before we did, we really had to stop and take in the atmosphere and the exceptional nice view=) The best way to spend a summer evening:)

Vinnu mountain and glacier

Difficult to get much further than this...

A friendly sheep that wanted to cuddle! There's a first for everything..

Somewhere behind the wall the summit of Trolla is hiding

Grasdalen

Grasdalen

Couldn't be happier:)

Tunga

Hiking in Sunndal: Seterhaugen and Øverhaugen

After a 10 minute drive from Sunndalsøra you pass Oppdøl on your left side, if you take the next possible exit to the right (you have to cross a sheep fence) you get to the starting point of one of the best afternoon hikes in Sunndalen.

Parking is next to the sign and the boat

I like this hike because it gets your heart pumping from the second you start and you get to use your arms getting both up and down. There are two possible paths to get the first post, you can go left and take the slack but longer route or you can just walk straight ahead and take the short but steep route. I prefer to take the steep route up and the slack one down:p On the steep path you have a good view of Oppdøl and the fjord almost all the way to the top if you stop and have a look behind you.

The slack and long path

Slack or steep?

Just before you get to Seterhaugen, a former summer farm, you can take a path to the right to get a better view towards Sunndalen. Unfortunately this viewpoint will soon be gone if nothing is done with the growth of the forest.

The view towards Sunndalen, trees are starting to get in the way...

Seterhaugen

Seterhaugen is a nice place to stop for a break. There is a book inside the pasture if you want to sign you name in it. It took me 20 minutes of fast walking to get here. To get to Øverhaugen you just continue on the path headed up towards the mountain for about 20 more minutes. On the way you cross a little stream so if your short on water it is possible to get a refill.

The view from Øverhaugen

Øverhaugen

At Øverhaugen there is of course another book for signing inside=)

If you want to take the slack path down you just take the path to the right of the hut at Seterhaugen. Taking this path down will give you a view towards Ålvundeie.

All in all the trip is about 2 km one way with a 520 meter ascent from the car to Øverhaugen.