When
May - September
Written by
Bjørn Gjevik
Distance
791km
Days
6-13
High point
912m
Difficulty
5/10
Unpaved
30%
Total Ascent
6092
Ferries
Tunnels
Known as the wilderness route, this is certainly a part of Norway that few people get to experience. Ride from Halden in the South East of Norway near the Swedish border all the way to the historical city of Trondheim. The route is a dream for those who love to explore remote nature. Along the route, there are many shelters and cabins that are free and open for anyone to use. Some are part of the route, others require a small detour, but if you prefer to pitch a tent or sleep under the stars there is no shortage of great places to wild camp.
You will find that the route follows compacted gravel and paved roads with very little traffic – sometimes you will not see a car for hours. With only the sound of your own breath, the tires rolling over gravel and the wind whispering through the trees – this is bikepacking at its finest.
The route is not only an epic experience of wilderness and nature but also a historical journey through this part of Norway. You will come across the remnants of where lakes and rivers were used to harvest timber and float logs to the cities near the coast. In the same forests, you will see marked hiking trails that were once used by those fleeing to Sweden during the war.
Further north you will find the forests grow thinner and gives way to the mountains. Here lies the town of Røros. A world heritage site built on centuries of copper mining. It is well worth spending at least one day here, and for those who want to explore the many gravel routes and abandoned mining settlements in the region, Røros is a great base camp for further adventure.
You may spend days without meeting anyone and the silence in these forests is palpable. A number of campfires, simple rest areas, and free-to-use huts have also been created at several of the lakes along the route.
The photos may give the impression that the route is mainly gravel. This is not completely the case. Around 150km is on gravel which is concentrated mainly in the middle section. The southern and Northern parts are on paved but very quiet roads. You have options to do some detours into Sweden or at least get a photo on the border.
Those who are going to cycle the route should be aware that there can be a long way between service offers such as grocery stores, accommodation, and catering, this particularly applies to the northern half. Mosquitoes are present from late June to mid-August, especially around lakes.
Half the route is signposted and pretty easy to follow. The route is hilly in places but the gradient rarely goes over 5% making it manageable for lesser experienced cyclists. However, we recommend you have a bike touring/bikepacking experience as this is a remote route with limited support or help if things go wrong. Be organized and this will be an epic route to ride.
Photos and information also contributed by Ian Luck
We have given this a rating of 5/10. It’s long and remote but has no long, steep inclines. The road conditions are good and the traffic very low. But gravel rides in the forest are never straightforward. Expect to work hard as you gradually climb for short and long periods.
Starting from Oslo, this 450km route is a great half version ending in the town of Lillehammer, where there are train connections. This is around 80% gravel with some difficult sections towards Lillehammer (might need to hike a bike for short periods).
The route is remote, and you must be organised in places to ensure you have enough food. Use this map to plan resupplies and accommodation options.
In general, there will be limited public transport access on this route. You should be self-sufficient in places. It is recommended to carry extra inner tubes and spare parts.
There are no tunnels on this route, except for one abandoned tunnel, which is now only used for bikes and pedestrians. It has no lights inside but it’s easy to navigate and not pitch black.
There are no busy roads on this route. As you get close to Trondheim you find cycle paths and lanes separating you from the traffic.
Southern Lowlands: The low forest areas have in general a drier and warmer climate than other areas of Norway. However, it can get cold at night. I always recommend you have some warm clothing for unsettled days and cool nights.
Northern Highlands: Heading north expect the weather and climate to change. It becomes highly unpredictable up here and I have experienced all sorts of conditions. Do not underestimate how cold it can get above 800m. I would bring gloves for the northern part of this route (just in case). If you camp high up expect that night temperatures can be very cold. Ideally, your sleeping bag should handle zero Celsius for comfort level.
Finnmark too has a certain mystique. Being about the same distance from Oslo as Istanbul, in some ways, it’s basically the last stop before the North Pole. The undoubted highlight of the journey is simply cycling the wild expanse of Europe’s last great wilderness. It will feel very lonely up here but isn’t that a reason to cycle it? The cycling heat maps of the world are full of well-ridden roads. Here you will join a small group of cyclists seeking something extraordinary. Passing wild herds of reindeer and perhaps not seeing another human for many hours is why you came – right? The ride comes to an end in the town of Kirkenes which has Russian road signs. This will indicate you have reached the boundaries of the Western world!
Finnmark too has a certain mystique. Being about the same distance from Oslo as Istanbul, in some ways, it’s basically the last stop before the North Pole. The undoubted highlight of the journey is simply cycling the wild expanse of Europe’s last great wilderness. It will feel very lonely up here but isn’t that a reason to cycle it? The cycling heat maps of the world are full of well-ridden roads. Here you will join a small group of cyclists seeking something extraordinary. Passing wild herds of reindeer and perhaps not seeing another human for many hours is why you came – right? The ride comes to an end in the town of Kirkenes which has Russian road signs. This will indicate you have reached the boundaries of the Western world!
All cycling routes published on CYCLENORWAY.com are simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. All route guidelines were prepared under diligent research. However, we can never for certain insure the complete accuracy of the routes. Cycling in Norway is in general very safe. Nevertheless, should you choose to cycle this route you do so at your own risk.
Check out this helpful video to see how the routes can be uploaded onto your mobile device and cycling computer.
Cycling long distance is tough, and you should not attempt routes that are beyond your level.
If you discover any inaccuracies on this page, please let us know so we can correct them.
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