Orkland

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Orkland is Trøndelag’s fjord-framed fusion basin - a municipality where stave-style buildings once wowed Chicago, ski trails crisscross forested hills, and green gears spin proudly on the coat of arms. With around 18,800 residents and a landscape shaped by the Orkla River, Orkdalsfjorden, and the towns of Orkanger, Meldal, and Løkken Verk, Orkland is the kind of place where you can hike past copper mines, soak in an energy-positive waterpark, and still catch a cod burger beside a historic harbor. It’s got fjords, folklore, and a name that simply means “land of the Orkla.”

Top Attractions

• The Norway Building

  stave-style pavilion built for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

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• Gammelosen

  lakeside park with walking trails, birdwatching & swimming spots

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• Knyken Ski Center

  year-round activity hub with slalom, tubing, frisbee golf & hiking

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• Orkdal Museum

  1800s farmstead with 13 historic buildings & 4,000+ artifacts

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• Orklandbadet

  energy-positive indoor waterpark with wave pool & flume slides

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Unique Experiences

• Digital Culture Trail

  app-guided walk through Nerøra’s historic wooden-house district

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• Vålåskaret

  hike to Norway’s first protected summer farm settlement in Trollheimen

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• Selva Pilgrim Route

  25 km trail through Meldal’s medieval landscapes

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• Orkland-Ørland Island Hopping

  coastal bike tour across fjords & ferry links

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• Varig Orkla Arena

  modern harness racing venue with concerts & community events

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Where to Stay in Orkland

Chalet Orkanger - Close to Everything, Far from Ordinary9.9 / 10 · ★★★★ · 131 reviewsfrom 4 / nightNewly renovated house on a farm9.8 / 10 · ★★★★ · 23 reviewsfrom 2 / nightTråsåvika Camping8.8 / 10 · ★★★ · 134 reviewsfrom 5 / nightCozy basement apartment in Orkanger8.9 / 10 · ★★★ · 45 reviewsfrom 6 / nightBårdshaug Studio Apartment8.6 / 10 · 124 reviewsfrom 3 / nightOrkla Camping8.5 / 10 · 300 reviewsfrom 5 / night

Getting There

Orkland lies southwest of Trondheim, with Orkanger as its administrative center. The E39 highway and regional buses connect to Trondheim in under an hour. Hurtigbåt ferries link Lensvik to Trondheim, and local buses serve Meldal, Løkken Verk, and Fannrem. The area is best explored by boots, bike, or bold curiosity - especially if you’re chasing stave echoes, copper lore, or the hush of birch leaves beside a fjord trail.