Solheimstulen is beautifully situated at the very end of the Jønndalen valley in Uvdal, Numedal. Sheep and cows graze in the valley, and the cabin is surrounded by a large, fenced grassy area. The cabin offers 67 beds in comfortable 2- and 4-person rooms, including dedicated dog-friendly options and wheelchair-accessible bedrooms on the main floor."
Contact information
Hosts: Øystein Bjarne Skjærvik and Charlotte Cauwe
E-mail: Solheimstulen@dnt.no
Phone: +47 90 65 03 20
The History of Solheimstulen
Solheimstulen is steeped in history, and the charming, traditional mountain atmosphere is still deeply embedded in its walls. The lodge has welcomed travelers since the early 1900s, and for 125 years, it was affectionately run and privately owned by the exact same family.
Strategically located along the historic Nordmannsslepa trade route, the lodge has always played a vital role for hikers and traders crossing the eastern part of the Hardangervidda plateau.
A New Chapter with DNT
Due to a generational shift and illness in the family, the long-time owners were eventually unable to keep the lodge open. To secure the future of this historic landmark, they wished for DNT (The Norwegian Trekking Association) to take over.
DNT Drammen og Omegn acquired the property in 2018. This takeover provided long-term predictability for all tourism and hiking routes on the eastern side of Hardangervidda, where unpredictable opening hours among private lodges had long been a challenge. Solheimstulen now works in close tandem with its closest neighboring DNT lodges, Mårbu and Rauhelleren.
From Historic Farm to Modern Lodge
Between 2018 and 2025, Solheimstulen underwent a massive transformation. Funded by generous grants from Sparebankstiftelsen and thousands of dedicated volunteer hours (dugnad), the property was thoroughly upgraded. Today, Solheimstulen stands as a state-of-the-art tourist lodge, while beautifully preserving its rich heritage and the countless memories from the old mountain farming days.
Traces of the Past
The landscape surrounding the lodge is a living museum, making it a fantastic arena for cultural learning:
Jønndalen’s Roots: The valley's rich mountain farming traditions, wildlife, and ancient iron-extraction history are preserved here, in fact, the iron extraction is what originally gave Jønndalen (Iron Valley) its name.
The Trapping Pits at Dyregravshalle: Just a few kilometers west of the lodge, inside the national park border, lies Dyregravshalle. This is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient reindeer trapping systems in the region, featuring earth-dug pits and educational information boards that bring history to life for new generations.
