Day Rides by Bike in Valdres — 12 Routes You Can Do in One Day | SykkelValdres

What day rides can you do by bike in Valdres?

Valdres has day rides for all levels: Fagernes town loop (8 km, flat), Slidrefjorden loop (25 km, easy), Beitostølen gravel loop (35 km, intermediate), Panoramavegen (32 km, challenging) and Valdresflya from the east (49 km, hard). Pick a base and head out — most rides start and end at the same place.

You don't need a week to experience Valdres by bike. One day is enough to feel gravel under your tyres, see mountains above the treeline and stop at a mountain dairy farm for brown cheese and waffles. Here are 12 day rides — from relaxed family loops to routes that demand everything you've got.

How to choose the right day ride

Three things determine which ride you should choose:

Fitness — Be honest. 30 km of gravel with 500 m elevation gain is tougher than it sounds.
Bike type — Road bike for tarmac, gravel or MTB for dirt roads. Check the route.
Time — Allow 2–3 hours for routes under 30 km, 4–6 hours for longer ones.

All rides below are loops or out-and-back with the same start and finish. No logistics needed — just park and ride.

Short day rides (under 20 km)

Fagernes town loop — 8 km

The easiest ride in Valdres. Flat tarmac around Fagernes town centre, along Strandefjorden and back. Perfect for families, beginners and anyone wanting an easy spin after a long drive. You pass Valdres Folkemuseum and can stop for coffee by the water.

Type: Family / road
Time: 30–45 min
Suitable for: Everyone

Lomen–Ulnes gravel road — 18 km

Quiet gravel road along the west side of Slidrefjorden. Little traffic, birch forest and views across the water. Relaxed pace, nearly flat. Start from Lomen and turn around at Ulnes — or keep going if you have the energy.

Type: Gravel
Time: 1–1.5 hrs
Suitable for: Beginners, families with older children

Beitostølen–Kringla loop — 34 km

Gravel road loop from Beitostølen via Kringla. Varied terrain with some hills, but no brutal climbs. You ride through open mountain terrain with views towards Jotunheimen. Stop at one of the dairy farms along the way for goat cheese.

Type: Gravel
Time: 2–3 hrs
Suitable for: Moderate fitness

Medium day rides (20–35 km)

Slidrefjorden loop — 25 km

A classic. Around Slidrefjorden on a mix of tarmac and gravel. Start from Fagernes, ride north on the east side, cross over at Lomen and return on the west side. Moderate climbing, great views.

Type: Gravel / road
Time: 2–3 hrs
Suitable for: Most people with some experience

Vaset–Raudalen — 28 km (easier variant)

Start from Vaset and follow the gravel road towards Raudalen. High mountain terrain at 900–1000 m elevation with wide views. Turn around after 14 km and ride back. Quieter than the full 45 km loop, but equally fine views.

Type: Gravel
Time: 2–3 hrs
Suitable for: Moderate fitness, gravel or mountain bike

Panoramavegen — 32 km

One of Valdres' finest road routes. From Vaset over Panoramavegen with views of Jotunheimen, Valdresflya and the valleys below. 670 m elevation gain makes this a proper workout. Tarmac all the way.

Type: Road
Time: 2.5–4 hrs
Suitable for: Good fitness, road bike

Beitostølen gravel loop — 35 km

The most popular gravel loop in Valdres. From Beitostølen town centre, through mountain dairy areas and back via forest roads. Varied surface from packed gravel to slightly looser sections. 400 m elevation gain spread evenly.

Type: Gravel
Time: 2.5–3.5 hrs
Suitable for: Moderate to good fitness

Long day rides (35–50 km)

Golsfjellet–Kamben viewpoint — 35 km

Start from Golsfjellet and ride towards Kamben. Alternating gravel and tarmac, with views that open up gradually. 450 m elevation gain. A good route for those who want a full-day ride without running completely empty.

Type: Gravel
Time: 3–4 hrs
Suitable for: Good fitness

Fagernes–Tisleidalen road ride — 42 km

Long road loop from Fagernes northwards through Tisleidalen. Quiet tarmac with moderate climbs. You follow the Tisleiaelva river for a good stretch — beautiful river scenery. Turn around at Tisleidalseter or continue to Golsfjellet if you want more.

Type: Road
Time: 3–5 hrs
Suitable for: Good fitness

Fagernes to Beitostølen — 47 km

The grand classic. Fagernes to Beitostølen along Rv51 with 800 m total elevation gain. The first 20 km along Slidrefjorden are flat and pleasant. After Lomen the climbing begins. Can be ridden as a one-way trip with the bus back, or out-and-back for the fittest.

Type: Road
Time: 3–5 hrs (one way)
Suitable for: Good to very good fitness

Valdresflya from the east — 49 km

The big challenge. From Beitostølen up Valdresflya to 1389 m elevation and back. Over 1000 m elevation gain. You ride across Europe's only National Tourist Route at that altitude. Wind and weather can change quickly — bring extra layers.

Type: Road
Time: 4–6 hrs
Suitable for: Strong fitness, experience with mountain cycling

Practical tips for day rides

Food and drink

Bring enough. Mountain lodges and dairy farms along the routes often have limited opening hours (typically June–September), and shops are few. See the food and cafés guide for an overview of places to eat along the cycling routes.

Weather

Valdres lies between 400 and 1400 m elevation. The temperature can vary 10–15 degrees between valley and mountain. Check yr.no before you go, and always carry a wind jacket in your pack.

Parking

All routes start from places with free parking. Fagernes town centre, Beitostølen town centre and Vaset all have large car parks.

E-bike

Most day rides work excellently with an e-bike. A range of 60–80 km covers all the routes here. Rent an e-bike in Beitostølen or Fagernes.

Choose the right base

Not sure where to stay? Read choose your cycling base in Valdres for a comparison of all the areas.

Combine cycling + activity — ride for half a day

A bike ride doesn't have to fill the whole day. Combine a shorter route with another activity — you'll get more out of Valdres without wearing yourself out completely.

Rule of thumb: Cycle in the morning (cooler, fresher), activity after lunch. That way you avoid the hottest part of the day in the saddle.

Weather and wind direction — choose your ride based on the forecast

Valdres stretches from 360 m (Fagernes) to 1389 m elevation (Valdresflya). That means the weather can be completely different depending on where you ride. Use the forecast actively to choose the right day ride.

How to read yr.no for your bike ride:

Check wind speed and direction — above 8 m/s in the mountains makes the ride unpleasant
Look at precipitation probability — under 30% is fine, above 50% means a valley route
Compare Fagernes (valley) with Beitostølen (mountain) — often a 5–8°C difference
Check the timing of precipitation — rain arriving after 3 pm gives you a fine morning in the mountains

Valdres generally has more stable conditions than the west coast — but the mountains are the mountains. Respect the forecast, and choose an easy ride in the valley rather than pushing up onto the plateau in bad weather.

Seasonal day rides — choose by time of year

Not all day rides work throughout the season. High mountain routes open late and close early, while valley routes can be ridden from April to October. Here's what works when.

Rule of thumb for season start by elevation:

Below 500 m: snow-free from mid-April
500–800 m: rideable from mid-May
800–1000 m: opens early June
Above 1000 m: from the beginning of June (check yr.no and Statens vegvesen for mountain road status)

Provisions and water sources — plan your food stops

On shorter day rides you'll manage with what you have in your pockets. On longer ones you need a plan. Valdres has fewer shops than you might think — and mountain lodges aren't always open.

Practical food plan by ride length:

Under 20 km / 1–2 hours: water bottle + 1 energy bar is enough
20–35 km / 2–4 hours: 0.75L water, 2 bars, 1 sandwich — eat after 45–60 min
Over 35 km / 4+ hours: 1.5L water (refill on the way), proper packed lunch, 2–3 bars as backup, maybe a banana
Mountain routes above 1000 m: +50% extra food and drink compared to valley routes of the same distance — your body works harder at altitude and in the cold

Day Rides by Bike in Valdres — 12 Routes You Can Do in One Day