Lake Mjøsa cycling adventure

Mjøsa round – a hilly, long-distance ride in Innlandet
Text and photos: Øyvind Wold

What do you get if you take the country’s largest lake and add Norway’s most spectacular cultural landscape, beautiful views, interesting culture attractions, and long stretches with little or no traffic? “Mjøstråkk” is what you get – a way-marked route encircling the stunning lake Mjøsa. 

This exciting cycling adventure is a journey through idyllic scenery featuring several renowned attractions. There is plenty to explore along the way – swimming spots, vantage points, farm shops, museums, galleries, and a variety of food & drink pit-stops. Several of the farms have local products for sale during the summer season, and others offer accommodation. The open cultural landscape is breathtakingly beautiful, particularly around Kapp and between Stange and Moelv. 

Roads and paths range from idyllic dirt tracks through the forest to a flat, converted former railway line along the lake, local country lanes, and a few stretches along the main route. The amount of traffic varies, but most of Mjøstråkk follows quiet back roads. 

Who is Mjøstråkk suitable for?
If the aim is to cycle the entire route, it is a clear advantage to be an experienced cyclist and in reasonably good physical condition. With four to five days available, the daily legs will equate to a manageable fifty to sixty kilometres. This leaves time to stop and explore attractions and experiences along the route. The individual legs differ in level of difficulty, but the eastern side of Mjøsa is in general considered a less challenging ride than the western side. 

If bringing children (aged 10+), the stretch from Minnesund to Tangen station (29 km) has a dedicated cycle path with no traffic, and is the easiest and safest section.



Proposed legs / starting points
The various starting points can easily be reached by train. Tangen, Stange, Hamar, Brumunddal, Moelv, Lillehammer, and Gjøvik are all stations with access to or from the Mjøstråkk route.

Minnesund – Hamar; 53km, 432 m elevation gain, fairly easy

For a gentle first leg, the recommended starting point is Minnesund in the south – approx. 10 km from Eidsvoll station. This stretch to Tangen runs close to Mjøsa, partly along a former railway line, and follows flat, easy and safe terrain ideal for cycle touring. By Morskogen Vokterbolig, approx. 10 km further on, is an attractive recreational area with a grassy field, quay and benches. It is also possible to stay the night in the old, non-serviced station building. The gentle terrain continues to Tangen station (30 km), which marks the start of a hillier section climbing up to the Stange area.

By Store-Ree farm, the landscape opens up and reveals spectacular views of Mjøsa and its surrounding villages as the ride continues to Hamar. From Ramset farm and north towards Atlungstad, there is an easy stretch of approx. 20 km with numerous gentle downhill sections. Café and museum by the distillery, Atlungstad Brenneri.

Hamar – Lillehammer; 61 km, 627 m elevation gain, easy to moderately challenging

This leg starts with one of the most beautiful stretches along the entire Mjøsa; the beach promenade as you leave Hamar, past Koigen recreation ground and beach, and then in-between the old wooden buildings at Domkirkeodden and the Hedmark Museum. The route continues around Furuberget, and then follows Jessnesstranda  there – a traffic-free path lined with old cabins, close to the water's edge. Refreshments are available at the welcoming Fiskerhytta Fagervik café. 

From Brumunddal, the route continues across Rudshøgda through the beautiful landscape that inspired Alf Prøysen’s life and work. Take a break at Fru G. café, located along the route, a few kilometres before Moelv.

From Moelv towards Brøttum, Mjøstråkk follows the slightly busy route 213 for 15 kilometres. Please note that this stretch does not have a cycle path. By Brøttum, turn onto Gamle Kongevei – a slightly hilly and very idyllic flower-lined country road, with several excellent swimming spots and old restored crofts along the way. Gentle downhill sections for the last few kilometres to Lillehammer. 

Lillehammer – Gjøvik; 48 km, 562 m elevation gain, moderately challenging

From Lillehammer, the route continues south along Vingromsvegen and Biristrandvegen. Both of these run more or less parallel with the E6, but with only a fraction of the traffic. Some sections are slightly elevated, and offer beautiful views of Mjøsa.

After some 30 kilometres of mainly easy terrain, you will reach Redalen – the starting point of a long climb towards Kollsberget. After an uphill ride of approx. 5 km, you are rewarded with a spectacular panorama of Gjøvik and the villages on both sides of Mjøsa.

Gjøvik – Minnesund; 72 km, 1064 m elevation gain, challenging

This hilly leg features three challenging climbs, and the stretch from Skreia and up past Skjeppsjøen and Torseterkampen has an elevation gain of 500 metres  – predominantly on dirt roads.

After a long downhill section to Hurdal, there is a new climb up and across Minnesundåsen. Then there is a slightly challenging downhill stretch to Minnesund, with several sharp bends. This is a leg mostly suitable for experienced cyclists – or for e-bike riders. Refreshments along the way are available at Peder Balke art and cultural centre (16 km) and by Torsetra (34 km), where most of the climbs up from Skreia are behind you.



Mjøstråkk's top attractions
• The Norwegian Railway Museum, Hamar
• Mjøsparken, Brumunddal - Recreational area with various activities
• Ringsaker medieval church, Moelv
• Gamle Kongevei, Brøttum - Idyllic detour with little to no traffic
• Maihaugen open-air museum, Lillehammer – Large rural area with numerous old buildings
• The view from Kollsberget, north of Gjøvik - Perhaps the best vantage point along Mjøsa
• Peder Balke art and cultural centre at Kapp - Gallery, gardens and café

Skibladner
If you prefer to use alternative transport for some of the legs, then bring your bicycle onboard the paddle-steamer Skibladner – calling at Gjøvik, Hamar, Moelv, Kapp, Nes, Atlungstad, Brumunddal and Lillehammer. The route varies throughout the week, and Skibladner is in operation from around mid-June to mid-August.

Detours / alternative routes
More and more cyclists are discovering the beautiful Neshalvøya and Helgøya island, south of Rudshøgda. The picturesque country lanes, rural cafés, and activities such as Helgøya Climbing Park, treetop cabins, and Hovelsrud historical gardens are ideal to explore by bicycle. Just as at Stange, there are spectacular views of Mjøsa to enjoy along the way.

If panoramas are what you are looking for, take the steep hill at Vea, north of Moelv, and continue across Syljuåsen and Biskopåsen in direction Brøttum. The elevation gain is almost 450 m. By Tisjøen, east of Hurdal, there is a detour to the vantage point at Mistberget (629 m a.s.l.). The distance is approx. three kilometres one way, with a 200 m elevation gain.

For a shorter version of Mjøstråkk, cross over to the western side via the Mjøsbrua bridge, just south of Moelv. This will reduce the distance by 50 km.



Accommodation
In addition to hotels in the town centres, there is a number of campsites along the route. The Gjøvik to Minnesund leg, however, offers very few options in way of accommodation.

Equipment
Gravel bikes or hybrid bikes with small-studded, easy-rolling tyres tend to work well along the Mjøstråkk route. Shock absorber is not necessary. Due to the elevation profile, which features several medium-length climbs, an e-bike can also be a good choice. 

Øyvind Wold is passionate about cycling and the outdoors, and writes features for several Norwegian magazines and periodicals. He has written eight cycling-related books, owns a cabin by Lillehammer, and has explored the area around lake Mjøsa as well as Innlandet's mountains by bike.