The European route E16 crosses the mountain and reaches its highest point at the 1,013-metre (3,323 ft) Varden.

The road follows a valley through the mountainous area, and because of this is somewhat protected from the fierce weather of the Norwegian winter.

The road is rarely closed due to wind or snow, making it the most reliable of the mountain passes in Norway.

[1] On both sides of the valley the terrain climbs steeply up to plateaus, with rolling hills and numerous lakes at sitting at elevations of about 1,300 metres (4,300 ft).

In the main valley, birch and species of salicaceae grows up to elevations of about 1,200 metres (3,900 ft).

Due to the sometimes wet and marshy land in the valley bottom, the old trail runs farther up in the hill than the modern asphalt-road does today, and is still used for hiking.

Maristova (built on Queen Margrete's command around 1390) and Nystuen in Vang (first mentioned in 1627 but believed to be much older) guesthouses provide for travelers along the road.

This site was the meeting place for people from Sogn, Valdres and Hallingdal, who met to perform midsummer blót and trade.

[1] People started to believe that the church had healing power, and that sinners had a better chance of getting absolution here.

In 1808 the priests were so angry with the ungodly activities that they demanded the church to be torn down and the market was banned.