Gjerdrum

Gjerdrum can be explored from different perspectives: forest reserves and tours sit alongside waterfalls, swimming spots and places with a long history. When planning, you can consider whether you mainly want to spend time outdoors or are interested in traces of earlier farming and mining. The trails and destinations provide concrete points of reference, without necessarily being part of a single route.

Forest, Water and Tours

Prekestolen Nature Reserve protects 556 dekar of old spruce forest in the municipalities of Gjerdrum and Nittedal. Another forest area is Torshov Nature Reserve, with old, deadwood-rich spruce forest on marine clay. If you want to plan your trip around forests and landscapes, these two different nature reserves offer separate points of reference. At 410.6 metres above sea level, Prekestolen is also the highest point in Gjerdrum. The climb there is about 3 kilometres long and follows a gravel road for part of the way and a trail for the rest.

A circular tour starting from Harasletta runs entirely within the municipality, through forests and over marshes, and passes two places serving refreshments. A longer route option is “Langt inn i Gjerdrum”: it is 33.8 kilometres long, starts at the popular excursion destination of Tæruddalen in Skedsmo, continues into Gjerdrum and passes four places serving refreshments. The route distances help you factor the tours into your plans; on their own, they do not indicate walking time or difficulty.

Water also shapes some of the places described here. Grytfossen is a waterfall on the Gjermåa river above Lysdammen. Lysdammen itself is a swimming spot with a landscaped green area along parts of the water and accessible facilities for visitors with disabilities. Another point of reference is the 5-kilometre illuminated cross-country ski trail, or lit path, in Gjerdrum.

Cultural History and Local Traditions

Dalsgruva is located at Gruvbakken, where iron ore was mined intermittently from the early 17th century until 1820. In the early 19th century, Myrgruvefossen was developed by Hakedals verk to provide power for pumping water out of the Dalsgruva mines in Gjerdrum. The mechanical power transmission from Myrgruvefossen to Dalsgruva was called Konsta and was in operation from 1811 to 1820. These places offer insight into the connection between water, its use for industrial purposes and mining. Sixteen Iron Age burial mounds are also recorded at Torshov farm.

Other historical and landscape landmarks include Gjerdrum’s 30 old seter vangers, sites of former mountain pasture and summer settlements, and Fjælstadeika, a protected oak tree at Nedre Fjælstad. Ulvedalshula is a stone cave east of the road barrier to Ulvedalen. During the war, Norwegian resistance forces used it to store weapons, ammunition and explosives. Streiff-renna is a channel that is still partly visible, running downhill from Grytfossen towards Horka.

Local cultural life includes a range of events. The Kulturukene take place every year in autumn, last several weeks and include concerts, art exhibitions, lectures, dance classes and theatre. Gjerdrumsdagen is a celebration of local culture and a meeting place for residents of the municipality. “Jul i Gjerdrum” is a pre-Christmas event featuring a concert, Christmas market, Christmas tree lighting and activities for the whole family. If you want to plan your stay around a particular event, check its date for the relevant year separately.

Planning Your Stay

Access to the forest roads in Gjerdrum is funded through parking fees at Lysdammen, the toll station on Sagveien or online payment. If Gruvbakken is on your itinerary, the easiest access is from Allmenningssaga in Gjerdrum via a toll road through Ask. Take this information into account when choosing your destinations.

You can also visit the pages for Ask and Sørum. Other destinations to explore: Lørenskog Municipality, Eidsvoll, Vestby, Bærum and Nannestad Municipality.

For the broader travel overview: Akershus.