Øyer: Walking Trails, Views and Culture

Øyer offers easy walks, challenging hiking trails, viewpoints, a toboggan run and cultural heritage attractions. For planning your stay, the routes can be compared by length, duration and difficulty: the estimated times range from about 45 minutes for easy walks to around an hour and a half for a circular route.

Walks from the town centre

The easy walk at Aronsvestranda is about 3.1 kilometres long and takes approximately 45 minutes from the centre of Øyer. The walk to Storkjølla is also easy and starts in the centre of Øyer; it is about 3.9 kilometres long and also takes approximately 45 minutes. This means two routes of different lengths have similar estimated times. The route to Storkjølla passes through the forest by Storkjølla, which is considered a large water source.

One section of the Aronsvestranda route is designed according to the principles of Universal Design and ends at a place where you can take a break. Conditions on municipal trails may vary seasonally; check the municipality’s current trail information before setting out.

Challenging trails and views

The Brånån hiking trail starts in Øyer at Haugalykkja on the west bank of the Lågen River. It is challenging, five kilometres long, marked in blue and signposted according to the national standard. The challenging Haugakampen hiking trail also starts at Haugalykkja in Øyer. At about 2.8 kilometres, it is shorter. The two trails can therefore be compared by length, without being part of the same route.

The Brånån viewpoint is at an elevation of 668 metres and offers a view of Øyerfjellet. Haugakampen is at 498 metres and offers views of Hafjell and Sørbygden. If you would like to plan a longer loop, try the circular route around Haugen: it is about four kilometres long, passes through varied terrain and takes approximately an hour and a half. Its starting point is above the Nermo hotell. This estimated time sets the loop apart from the two walks from the town centre, which each take about 45 minutes.

Korsbakken adds another option: a two-kilometre toboggan run in Øyer. It starts at Korsbakkenkrysset and ends at Midtbygdsvegen. Its designated start and end points distinguish it from the hiking trails described above.

Local history and the church

Øyer kirke is a wooden church built in 1725. It was consecrated on 2 July 1725 and given the name “Den Hellige Treenighets Tempel” (Temple of the Holy Trinity). According to tradition, Bjørn Olstad was the master woodcarver responsible for the carvings inside the church.

The name Lilletorvet also reflects local history: it has long referred to an old meeting place in the settlement; a sawmill now stands on the site. So, alongside its hiking trails, Øyer offers traditional place names and a historic church building.

More things to do in the wider Øyer destination

The wider Øyer destination offers additional highlights. Hafjell Alpinsenter has skiing options for all ability levels, from beginners to experts. Hafjell Bike Park has 19 lift-served trails totalling 25 kilometres, with difficulty levels ranging from green to black. When comparing them, both the range of trails and their stated difficulty levels are relevant.

Hiking and cultural history are also part of the wider Øyer destination: Pilgrimsleden runs through the southern, central and northern parts of Øyer. The marked trail to Vardkampen leads to a hillfort and offers views of Tretten, Øyer and Musdal. Gamle Tretten offers a cultural heritage walk through 300 years of history along scenic hiking trails. The Trettenstryka bird sanctuary protects birdlife and its habitats in Gudbrandsdalslågen near Tretten in the municipality of Øyer.

Discover more destinations: Tretten.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Øyer.