National Gravel Route 1: Sentralruta

National Gravel Route 1: Sentralruta

Route 1 is the backbone of the National Gravel Routes network — the main north–south route linking Oslo and Trondheim. Five of the eight routes connect to it, making this the route that carries riders away from the capital and deep into Norway’s interior.

The route begins by leaving Oslo through the forests of Nordmarka and finishes in a similar way through Bymarka before reaching Trondheim. These forest belts have long acted as natural gateways between settlement and wilderness.

Heading north, the route passes through landscapes around Gjøvik that played a role during the Second World War, where the surrounding forests and hills were used by the Norwegian resistance and Allied supply operations. Further north, the route crosses areas connected to Norway’s oldest movement corridors and pilgrimage traditions leading toward Trondheim and Nidaros.

Rather than staying in the valleys, Route 1 deliberately climbs onto forest roads, highlands, and old farming landscapes. Many of these gravel roads were originally built for seasonal farming and access long before cars, tourism, or modern infrastructure arrived.

The character of the route constantly changes — deep forest, rolling farmland, open plateaus, and long stretches where modern life feels far away. Route 1 is less about famous highlights and more about understanding how people moved through Norway for centuries using the landscapes that already existed.