Øvre Heimdalen is located by Valdresflya in the eastern part of Jotunheimen on the border between the municipalities of Øystre Slidre and Vågå. The valley floor, which is oriented east-west, is at an altitude of 1,100 metres. The surrounding mountains reach over 1,800 m above sea level. Birch forest grows on the south-facing valley side, but the rest of the area is above the tree line.
Research activity in Øvre Heimdalen began in 1957 with documentation of the trout population in Øvre Heimdalsvatn, and how the biomass, growth rate and age composition of the population were affected by environmental conditions.
