Sør-Odal: Experiences along the Glomma and in Skarnes

Between the Glomma, Storsjøen and the attractions in Skarnes, Sør-Odal offers several ways to enjoy a stay: time by the water and in nature, cultural destinations and leisure activities. Skarnes lies on both sides of the Glomma; Skarnes bru connects the north and south sides. The river is therefore also a prominent landmark for finding your way around the town.

Nature and outdoor activities

Storsjøen offers opportunities for boating in Sør-Odal. There are opportunities for hiking in the forests, along the Glomma and by the lakes. This means you can take different landscapes and activities into account when planning: water, riverbanks, forests or lakes. For cross-country skiing, there is the Speismark–Galterud–Finholt–Sander ski trail network. Boating, hiking and cross-country skiing are distinct options that you can prioritize differently depending on the focus of your trip.

If you want to focus your stay on outdoor activities, there is more than one option here: an activity on the lake, hikes in various natural settings and a named ski trail network. Each place and landscape gives these options a specific point of reference, without requiring you to commit to just one way of enjoying the outdoors.

Culture and history in Skarnes and Sør-Odal

Galleri Lyshuset in Skarnes houses a collection of 128 works in various techniques. The collection's size and artistic variety make it a cultural attraction in its own right. The gallery is open during the summer season, from June to August, and on some additional weekends; outside the season, visits are possible by appointment.

Odalstunet in Skarnes offers a different perspective. The open-air museum comprises a farm and a crofter's holding; the buildings are open on Sundays in July. The two parts offer visitors different points of interest within the museum. Odalstunet thus complements the art collection with another cultural destination in Skarnes.

The churches can also be easily distinguished by their architecture and history. Oppstad kirke is a wooden church built in 1728, with a cruciform floor plan and 200 seats. It is automatically listed as a protected building for the period 1650–1850. Ullern kirke was built in 1868 as a masonry church with a longitudinal floor plan and has 250 seats; it is also listed as a protected building. Timber construction and masonry, cruciform and longitudinal floor plans, and the different seating capacities provide specific points of comparison for anyone interested in church architecture.

Leisure and practical information

Glommasvingen skate park in Skarnes is open to everyone and can be used for skateboarding, kick scooters and roller skating. Sør-Odal swimming pool in Skarnes has a 25-metre pool. It is open to everyone from September 1 to May 31, on Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. If you plan to visit the swimming pool, you can take these days and times into account directly.

For rail travel, Skarnes station is a specific point of reference: it is on the Kongsvinger Line. Trains from there run towards Oslo S, Asker and Kongsvinger. The station opened in 1862, when the Kongsvinger Line to Kongsvinger was completed. This places the history of the railway alongside the current destinations listed above. If train connections are important for your trip, check the timetable for your travel date.

Then compare the location of a hotel you are considering with the places and activities that matter for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Skarnes, Elverum, Hamar, Åsnes, Engerdal, Os, Trysil, Åmot.

For the broader travel overview: Hedmark.