National biking route # 9: "Villmarksruta"

About

About Villmarksruta   (The Wilderness route)
National cycle route #9, also known as "Villmarksruta", runs from Trysil to Halden, through the easternmost parts of Innlandet, Akershus and Østfold. The entire route is 399 km long with daily stages of approximately 70 km. The trip will take approximately 5 - 7 days.

The Wilderness route is a great nature experience that is suitable for adults who are used to cycling. It might also be suitable for young people who are used to cycling, from 13 - 14 years of age.

The route lives up to its name: it mostly passes through areas dominated by forests and lakes. If you want to experience silence and long stretches that are practically free of car traffic, then the Wilderness route, and especially the northern part, is for you!

Please be aware that there are no large towns along the way, and there can be large distances between food stores, catering and service offers. For this trip, you should be well prepared with sufficient equipment and food/drink. Also remember to bring an extra hose, pump and some basic tools on the road.

As a reward for your planning efforts, everything is set for a fantastic cycling experience far away from the beaten track and city noise.


Practical details and info
Map
See the digital map and elevation profile

Challenge level
Moderately demanding, but with many easy cycling sections along the way.

Place names along the route
• Start: Halden train station  |Target: Trysil centre
• Route: Halden – Aspern – Strømfoss – Ørje – Rømsjøen – Skjærvangen – Varalden – Svullrya – Røgden – Fallsjøen – Velta – Gravberget – Bråtedammen – Håberget – Fv.25 v/Osensjøen - Trysil

Distances and elevation
• Distance: 355 km
• Total ascent:  Approximately 4,000 meters of elevation gain, with 300 - 700 meters of elevation per day's stage. (There are few really steep slopes.)
• Highest point: Near Enberget in the northern part of Finnskogen (517 m above sea level)

Terrain
• About two-thirds asphalt
• One third dirt/gravel road. Somewhat varying substrate quality.

Car traffic
Varying, but generally little car traffic. Some traffic up to Ørje, less further on to Skotterud, further north there is less, long stretches are almost completely traffic-free.

Signage
• The route is signposted as a national cycle route and has burgundy-coloured signs with a cycle logo and the number 9.
• There are some deficiencies in the signage and theres no sighs leading out of Trysil. Remember to bring a map.

Recommended bike type
• Mountain bike with low studded tires, gravel bike, or hybrid bike with slightly wide tires, 40 - 45 mm.
• Shock absorbers are not required.

Charging and electric bikes
• There are sometimes long distances between charging points and the Wilderness route is less suitable for e-bikes, especially the northern part.
• Simple measures to extend the range of an electric bike can be to ride with reduced engine assistance or to bring an extra battery.

Public transport
There are buses between Elverum and Trysil (check departures in advance), and trains from Halden.


Tour description
If you cycle the Wilderness route, you cycle close to nature the whole way. When you start in Trysil, the first half of the route leads through Finnskogen. Here you cycle on wide dirt roads and you pass various lakes and ponds, waterways, large pine bogs and a number of hills of 4-600 meters in height.

It is a large and relatively untouched outdoor eldorado, characterized by an absence of settlement. Here you can cycle far without meeting anyone and the silence in these forests is palpable. In this part of Finnskogen, there are a number of campfires, simple rest areas and gaping huts at several of the ponds along the route. On the hiking maps of Finnskogen, you will see that these places are marked.

The southern half of the Wilderness route runs more through cultural landscapes and through a number of hamlets and small towns. Here, the service offers are also shorter. In Ørje, for example, there are several eateries and food shops, here you will also find the only sports shop before you get to Halden.

From Ørje and south you follow the Halden Canal and can see a number of cultural monuments and notices from the time when the canal and boats were an important transport artery for both people and goods. Feel free to visit the locks at Ørje, Strømfoss and Brekke (detour). Today, the canal is mostly used for tourist traffic with several boats, and by many paddlers.

Recommended stages
Below you will find daily stage proposals with descriptions.
• The Wilderness route day 1: Sjøenden-Gravberget Gård
• The Wilderness route day 2: Gravberget Gård - Svullrya
• The Wilderness route day 3: Svullrya - Lebiko
• The Wilderness route day 4: Lebiko - Magnor
• The Wilderness route day 5: Magnor - Vortungen
• The Wilderness route day 6: Vortungen - Lake Aremarksjøen
• The Wilderness route day 7: Aremarksjøen - Halden

• See the entire Wilderness route from Trysil to Halden