Geilo: Cross-country skiing, nature trails and culture

In winter, the ten-kilometre circular trail around Ustedalsfjorden is groomed as a cross-country ski trail. The car-free route is also suitable for hiking and walks with a pushchair; in summer, it is also a cycling route. This makes the loop a useful point of reference when planning a stay in Geilo, combining outdoor activity with a visit to Fekjo Cultural Heritage Park.

Circular trail around Ustedalsfjorden

Allow at least two to three hours to walk the loop. By bicycle or skis, it takes about an hour. These times are estimates: your pace and conditions can affect how long it actually takes. The different estimates help with planning your day, while also showing that your chosen mode of transport matters. In winter, the route is groomed as a cross-country ski trail; grooming depends on snow and seasonal conditions.

Signs along the nature and culture trail around Ustedalsfjorden provide information about local plant and animal life, culture and early settlement. This gives the route a cultural and historical focus as well as a nature experience. Fekjo Cultural Heritage Park is home to cultural monuments from prehistoric and historical times, as well as landscape art by Gunnveig Nerol and Terje Isungset.

Cultural sites in Geilo

The archaeological remains at Fekjo Cultural Heritage Park include burial mounds from the Viking Age. A survey in 1923 uncovered finds from the 10th century in ten of approximately twenty burial mounds. These figures refer to the mounds and finds surveyed at the time; they do not describe all the burial mounds in the park.

Geilojordet, in the centre of Geilo, offers a different experience: it has historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries that came from several farms in the municipality of Hol. In summer, Geilojordet is open daily from mid-June to mid-September. There are exhibitions in the barn, and all the houses are open to visitors. Storytelling theatre is also held there in summer. An outdoor café serves rømmegrøt, coffee and lapper. Opening hours and seasonal programming are therefore particularly important if you want these offerings to be part of your stay.

Activities for different seasons

Other activities also vary in type and format. Husky Glimmer runs sled-dog camps within walking distance of the centre of Geilo, as well as a dog-sledding trip at Ustedalsfjorden. Availability depends on the season and weather. Before setting off, guests receive instructions from experienced mushers. Two guests share a team and can switch places halfway through.

Geilo Aktiv offers guided snowshoeing and fatbike tours; seasonal availability may vary. The provider also rents out two canoes at Ustedalsfjorden in the centre of Geilo. Cyclists can visit the Bike Park in Vestlia, below Vestlia Resort: it includes the largest asphalt pump track in Hallingdal, five jump lines, bike features and the Røyskatten Skill Trail. The pump track in Geilo is suitable for skateboarders, inline skaters, scooter riders and cyclists. As the Bike Park’s facilities may change, it is advisable to check the current conditions before visiting.

Getting here and planning

Geilo station is in the centre of the village and is its transport hub. The Bergen Railway stops there several times a day. As train frequency and timetables vary over time, check the connection for your travel date. When planning accommodation in Geilo, you can also match your travel dates to the activities that matter to you: Geilojordet is open seasonally, the cross-country ski trail depends on snow, and dog-sledding trips depend on the season and weather.

Discover more destinations: Hol, Hovet, Dagali.

Back to the main travel overview: Hol municipality.