recommended route
Ustedalsfjorden - easy round walk
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Photo: Emile Holba, Visit Geilo
This nature trail around the scenic Ustedalsfjorden Lake is perfect for a family outing, either on foot or bicycle. The 10-kilometer long graveled path is mostly flat and easy to follow. Learn about local history, culture, and wildlife from the many informational boards along the route. If the weather’s nice, take a refreshing dip at Geilo Beach, barbecue at one of the rest stops, or find an excellent fishing spot and see if the fish are biting.
Geilo has a range of accommodation options available, including cabins and hotels.
Track types
Show elevation profileTips and hints
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Close to the trail is Geilojordet farmyard, where it’s possible to visit the old farm buildings, say hello to the animals as well as to have a snack at the café.
Start
Turn-by-turn directions
The nature trail around Ustedalsjorden Lake is sign-posted, and you can start your hike wherever suits you best. This trail description begins from Vestlia Resort. Head to the pumptrack next to the resort. Here you’ll find a sign-posted path to the nature trail. Follow the path for some 300 meters to reach the lake.
If you head west, you’ll come to the Skurfen biking trail after about 600 meters. Make sure to stop for some fun here if riding bikes. Nearing the western edge of the lake, the trail departs from the water and travels up a birch-forested hill. You’ll pass a scenic rest stop with a campfire fireplace.
The trail then runs downhill towards Tuftebrui Bridge. The bridge has a unique log construction and is an exact copy of the old, protected bridge from 1884. About 1 kilometer east of Tuftebrui, you’ll reach Fekjo Cultural Heritage Park, with a landscape art installation, old farming structures, and burial mounds from the Viking era (dating back to about the year 900).
The trail continues past a sand volleyball field and Geilo Badestrand (beach), where it’s nice to relax and swim on warm, summer days. From the beach, continue alongside the lake towards Geilo town center, where you cross Geilobrue Bridge. Follow the road to the right to get back to Vestlia Resort.
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
By road
Car
Located on the borderline between eastern and western Norway, Geilo is easily accessible from either Bergen or Oslo. Road Rv7 over Hardangervidda, Fv50 Hol-Aurland, and Rv52 over Hemsedal is open all year round, as long as the weather conditions are not too harsh. Call the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens Vegvesen) on + 47 815 48 991 to ensure that the roads are open.
The journey takes 3 hours and 30 minutes from Oslo and 4 hours from Bergen.
Parking
If renting bikes at Geilo Bike Park, park your car in front of Vestlia Resort. Alternatively, there's a big parking lot at Geilojordet in the town center close to the trail.
Bus
From Oslo, take the bus Vy Ekspress from Oslo bus terminal. The journey to Geilo takes 3 hours and 40 minutes. Book your tickets and check schedules here.
Train
Geilo is about halfway on the train route between Oslo and Bergen. The journey takes about 3 hours 30 minutes, departing five times a day. Book your tickets and check schedules here.
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