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Holtålen is Trøndelag’s mountain mystery - a municipality where copper mines sleep beneath mossy hills, UFOs flicker across the sky, and stave churches whisper tales from the 12th century. With around 2,000 residents and a landscape shaped by glaciers, folklore, and the Gaula river, Holtålen is the kind of place where you can hike to a meteor crater, fish for salmon in ancient waters, and still catch a reenactment of Norway’s oldest ski competition. It’s got grit, glow, and a name that once meant “valley of the river Holda.”
Top Attractions
Hessdalen Phenomenon
mysterious lights observed since the 1980s, studied by scientists and skywatchers
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Haltdalen Stave Church
replica of a 12th-century stave church, rich in Viking-era carvings
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Gammelgården
restored 18th-century rectory with herb garden and summer café
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Eidet Smelting Works
preserved copper smelter from Holtålen’s mining heyday
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Rugelråen
dramatic ravine formed during the Ice Age, with waterfalls and crofter cottages
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Unique Experiences
Armfeldt’s Campaign Trail
hike the route of the 1718 Swedish army retreat, where 3,000 soldiers perished in winter storms
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Skiløperkompaniet
reenactment group performing Norway’s oldest recorded ski competitions
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Summer Farm Visits
taste rømmegrøt and meet goats at Elgsjømoen and other active mountain farms
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Salmon Fishing in Gaula
cast your line near Egga Falls and watch salmon leap upstream
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Horseback Tours
ride Icelandic ponies through mountain trails from Aunegrenda Stables
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Where to Stay in Holtålen
Getting There
Holtålen lies about 30 km north of Røros, with Ålen as its administrative center. The Rørosbanen railway stops at Ålen and Haltdalen stations, and buses run from Trondheim and Røros. The Fv30 highway connects to Støren and Røros, and the area is best explored by car, boots, or binoculars - especially if you’re chasing copper ghosts, cosmic lights, or the scent of waffles from a summer farm.