National Cycle Route 4: Hallingdal and Rallarvegen

National Cycle Route 4 has two parts. One runs from the Drammenselva river to Blaafarveværket and Hallingdal; the other, Rallarvegen (“Navvy Road”), runs around the mountains of Skarvheimen.

The route follows the built-up area along Drammenselva to Hokksund, and continues along the west side of Drammenselva to Skotselv and Blaafarveværket. From here it follows quiet roads to the Cobalt Mines, and through a beautiful natural landscape to Krøderen if you take a small detour. The place includes the station for the well-known heritage railway – the Krøderen Line. From the village of Krøderen, via Noresund, the route follows the cultural landscape along Lake Krøderen until it meets National Road 7 at Gulsvik.

The route is signposted on the section from Drammen via Krøderen to Nesbyen and from Gol to Geilo (this section is also part of National Cycle Route 5). The route is 236 kilometres from Drammen to Geilo.

Between Gulsvik and Nesbyen you mostly cycle on roads that run parallel to National Road 7, but there are still a number of log distances where you have to cycle on the national road.

From Nesbyen through Gol to Geilo, the cycle route follows the Hallingdalselva river on roads where there is very little car traffic. Here the route runs on the opposite side of Hallingdalselva from National Route 7.

Route 4 and Route 5 coincide between Gol and Geilo. If you continue along National Road 7 towards Haugastøl and Rallarvegen, there is a bit of traffic along the national road, and there are no other roads you can cycle. You are recommended to take the train or bus between Geilo and Haugastøl. Cycle route 5, Mjølkevegen, is signposted from Gol up the mountain of Golsfjellet.

There is a reason why Rallarvegen is Norway's best known cycle route: It is a relatively easy and family-friendly ride, and the roads are mostly without cars. You cycle through open terrain with spectacular mountain scenery, and there are several places where you can find accommodation. You can shorten the route by 30 km and make it even easier by starting from Finse, Norway’s highest situated train station, 1222 metres above sea level.

“Around Skarvheimen” is one of the most demanding routes, but probably also the most spectacular national cycling route in Norway. The landscape alternates from high mountains at altitudes of more than thirteen hundred metres along the Bergen railway to wild narrow valleys and steep mountainsides along Aurlandsfjorden down at Flåm, and open plateaus past Reineskarvet between Hemsedal and Hallingdal.

On the 80 kilometres of Rallarvegen from Haugastøl to Flåm, you mostly cycle on car-free roads above the treeline. On your way you will experience railway history, cycle past rushing streams and roaring waterfalls, with views to the Hardangerjøkulen glacier and the massive Hallingskarvet mountains, among other things. Riding down the steep hairpin bends from Myrdal station on your way down the Flåmsdalen Valley may give you butterflies.

From Aurlandsvangen you will encounter one of Norway’s toughest uphill climbs when the road rises almost thirteen hundred metres vertically in just 15 kilometres up to Nalfarhøgdi. Here, many cyclists choose to dismount and walk their bikes part of the route. In return, on the other side of the mountain, there is a 17-km-long descent, down to Lærdalsøyri.

There is a fair amount of traffic on this route. The road has significant elevation gain and is best suited for experienced adult cyclists in good shape. It helps to have an electric bike with good battery capacity.

See also:

•  Norwegian Scenic Route Aurlandsfjellet (nasjonaleturistveger.no) 

•  Visit Norway Rallarvegen (visitnorway.no) 

•  Visit Norway Kingsroad (visitnorway.no) 

•  Visit Norway Fanitullvegen (visitnorway.no)