Cycling to summer pastures

Did you know there is a cycle path all the way from Alvdal to Røros?

Just follow the signs along the 160 km designated route. Experience magnificent panorama views and enjoy beautiful, tranquil countryside as you pedal the easy country roads, and pass through no fewer than six municipalities! 

You can cycle the entire route in one go, or you can divide it into suitable day long portions – starting naturally exactly where you wish. You can book a complete cycle package at our Tourist Office, including five overnight stays with breakfast and dinner, stopping at five different places along the way: Røros Hotel, Vingelsgaard Gjestgiveri og Steien Hotel.

With overnight stays including breakfast, dinner and the possibility of preparing a packed lunch, you have the freedom to enjoy the landscape around you and let experiences sink in, safe in the knowledge that a good meal and a comfy bed await you each evening.  

Active summer activities

When you are on a bike, you are closer to nature and the lovely summer pasture landscape, with its friendly hills, water, rivers and streams. North Østerdal has a long tradition of summer pasture farming and is one of the few places in the country where this is still practised. The cattle roam freely on the hillside during the daytime and return to the farm in the evening, when it is time for milking. Happy cows means tasty dairy produce! 

Stop at one of the active summer pasture farms along the way, like Utistuvollen, and sample some delicious homemade food. It tastes extra good after a couple of hours of cycling in the fresh mountain air. You will always find an open farm, or seter, at Os, Tolga or Dalsbygda, so there is plenty of choice if you want to experience this traditional rural life. Some of the farms have activities for families. You can pet the animals, have a guided tour, join a treasure hunt, or simply enjoy being on the farm in its lush surroundings.

Panorama view towards Rondane and Dovre

The highest point along the summer pasture trail is Reinslihytta, between Grimsbu and Alvdal, at 1035 moh. The stunning panorama here makes it virtually impossible not to stop! Few other places will give you the same feeling of being on the rooftop of Norway. On one side, the mountain massif of Rondane – on the other a vista over Snøhetta and Dovre. In addition, you have a fine view of both Sølnkletten and Tronfjellet, and beneath you lies beautiful Haustdalen where the lake, Haustsjøen stretches out and reflects the magnificent surrounding countryside. 

Rural life and countryside

The summer pasture farm trail offers many experiences and attractions en route. At Savalen you can take a swim in lake Savalsjøen with the nicest sandy beach. Vingelen is an idyllic little village, well worth jumping off your bike for, where you can rest and rejuvenate at Bunåva Summer Café. The café has an information station for Forollhogna National Park, with an interactive exhibition to help you get better acquainted with the natural and cultural surroundings in the conservation areas you are cycling through. You can also learn more about life on the summer pasture farms, wild reindeer and biological diversity in the area. The summer café offers a friendly atmosphere along with local food, bread, cakes, cheese and meat products. 

At Nylandtjønna lake in Vingelen you can experience many very rare bird species. More than 80 different bird species have been registered here, including mountain ducks, tufted ducks, horned grebes and cranes. On summer days you can enjoy a bustling life of ducklings looking for insects along the beach. From the raised platform of the observation tower, you get a great view over the entire area, and all the way to the shore.

Tour summary 

Here are some recommended distances. You can, of course, cycle all or part of them, and from north to south or vice versa: 

• Røros – Vingelen 57 km. Partly on asphalt and you can visit active summer farms on the way. 
• Vingelen – Savalen 51 km. A beautiful trip on gravel roads where you meet cows, horses and sheep. 
• Savalen – Grimsbu 33 km. A distance with mixed asphalt, forest tracks and gravel roads. 
• Grimsbu – Alvdal 31 km. Good gravel roads and an ascent to Seterveien’s highest point, 1035 MASL. 

Røros Guide does bicycles rentals and Røros Volunteer centre has some bikes you can borrow for free. 

Call our tourist office and book this activity now!