Cycling with toddlers in Valdres — bike trailer and the safest routes
Guide to cycling with children under 5 in Valdres. Bike trailer, child seat, the flattest routes and practical tips for parents of young children.
Cycling with toddlers in Valdres — bike trailer and child seat
Can you cycle with toddlers in Valdres?
Yes. Valdres has several car-free cycle paths and flat gravel roads that work well with a bike trailer or child seat. Valdresbanen (15 km, flat tarmac) and the Fagernes Storholmen loop (8 km, 20 hm) are the safest options. Children from around 1 year old can sit in a bike trailer, from 9–12 months in an approved child seat.
Bike trailer vs child seat — what works best?
A bike trailer is the first choice in Valdres. The gravel on mountain farm roads can be uneven, and a trailer with suspension gives the child a far better experience than a rigid child seat. The child can also sleep along the way — and they will.
A child seat works well on tarmac stretches like Valdresbanen and town loops, but on longer gravel roads it quickly becomes uncomfortable for small bodies.
Rental: Check with local bike hire shops in Fagernes and Beitostølen about bike trailers. Availability varies — book ahead in July.
The 7 safest routes with a bike trailer
1. Valdresbanen Cycle Path — Fagernes to Leira
15 km · 50 hm · Flat tarmac · Car-free
By far the best route for a bike trailer in all of Valdres. An old railway line converted into a wide, flat cycle path between Fagernes and Leira. No cars, smooth surface, benches and rest stops along the way. You can turn back whenever you like — 5 km out and back is a great start.
2. Fagernes Storholmen family loop
8 km · 20 hm · Tarmac and path · Minimal traffic
Flat loop along Strandefjorden right next to Fagernes town centre. Playground at Storholmen, public toilets, and cafés in the centre at the start/finish. Perfect for the first bike ride with young children.
3. Beitostølen town family loop
6 km · 40 hm · Tarmac and gravel · Light traffic
Short loop through Beitostølen town centre with views towards Bitihorn. Slightly more climbing than the Fagernes routes, but manageable with a bike trailer. Close to shops and cafés for breaks.
4. Lauvssjø circuit — Golsfjellet
5.3 km · 30 hm · Gravel · Car-free
The shortest family route in Valdres. Flat loop around Lauvssjøen on Golsfjellet — peaceful, scenic and completely free of traffic. Good surface for a bike trailer. Combine with a picnic by the lake.
5. Aurdalsfjorden cycle path
10 km · 30 hm · Tarmac and gravel · Light traffic
Along Aurdalsfjorden with a steady, gentle incline. Quiet stretch with no through-traffic. Several points to turn back — you don't need to ride the whole distance.
6. Leira–Strandefjorden family loop
10 km · 50 hm · Gravel and tarmac
From Leira along Strandefjorden with an even surface. More variety than Valdresbanen, but still flat enough for a bike trailer. Swimming spot by the lake in summer.
7. Stølsvidda mountain farm trail family loop
7 km · 60 hm · Gravel
Short ride through an active mountain farm landscape on Stølsvidda. A little more climbing than the others, but the reward is cattle grazing and a genuine mountain farm experience. Best for children who enjoy seeing cows and goats.
Practical tips for cycling with young children
Planning
- Start early, finish early. Children are happiest in the morning. Aim for 1–2 hours of actual cycling.
- Plan breaks every 20–30 minutes. Stop by a stream, a cow, a meadow — children need variety.
- Have a plan B. Can you turn back halfway? Is there a café along the route? Rain and grumbling are guaranteed at least once.
Packing list for the bike trailer
- Extra layers of clothing (mountain weather changes fast — even in Valdres)
- Sun cream and sun hat (strong sun in the mountains)
- Snacks and drinks (more than you think)
- Rain cover for the trailer
- Favourite toy or book
- Nappies and wet wipes if needed
Safety
- Helmet always — even in the bike trailer. Tipping happens.
- A high-visibility vest on the trailer or a flag is a good idea on shared paths.
- Check tyres and the hitch on the trailer before each ride. Gravel is harder on equipment than tarmac.
Which base to choose?
For families with young children, Fagernes is the clear best choice. You have Valdresbanen right outside the door, several short routes, shops, a pharmacy and a playground in the town centre. Beitostølen is lovely but has fewer completely flat routes.
Read more in choosing a cycling base in Valdres for a full comparison.
Age guide — what works at which age?
0–9 months: Wait a little
Neck muscles are not yet ready for cycling. Neither a child seat nor a bike trailer is recommended before the child can sit steadily with good head control. Use a carrier and walk instead — Valdres has wonderful hiking trails for the first summer.
9–18 months: Bike trailer with infant insert
Most bike trailers have an infant insert that provides extra support. Keep rides short (30–45 minutes) and choose the flattest routes: Valdresbanen and Lauvssjø circuit. Avoid gravel with large stones — it shakes.
18 months–3 years: The golden age for a bike trailer
The child sits steadily, points at cows, shouts "MOO!" and falls asleep mid-bend. This is the perfect age for a bike trailer in Valdres. You can comfortably ride 10–15 km with breaks. Stølsvidda mountain farm trail is a hit — the animals along the way keep children entertained.
3–5 years: The transition phase
Some children start finding the trailer boring. Try a tag-along bike where the child "pedals along". Alternatively, let the child ride on the shortest routes — Beitostølen town loop is flat enough for first attempts. Keep the trailer as backup.
5+ years: Own bike
From age 5–6, many children can manage 5–10 km on their own bike, depending on terrain and motivation. Start with Fagernes Storholmen and build from there. Read more in cycling holiday with children for itineraries suited to slightly older children.
When in the summer?
The season for cycling with young children in Valdres is short. The second half of June to mid-August offers the best conditions — warm enough, long days, and the mountain farms are open. Earlier in spring many gravel roads are wet and soft. Late August can bring cool nights.
Read more about the cycling season in Valdres for details on when different routes open.
Rainy days with young children — plan B when it pours
Valdres weather is unpredictable, especially in the mountains. With young children the threshold for cancelling is lower — but rain doesn't have to mean a day indoors.
Tarmac over gravel in wet weather. Gravel roads become soft and heavy after rain — the bike trailer digs in. Valdresbanen and the town loops in Fagernes are always rideable because they have a solid surface.
Rule of thumb: Check yr.no the evening before. If you see continuous rain before noon, plan another activity. If you see "clear from 10am" — pack the trailer and head out the moment it brightens. The best cycling moments with young children are right after showers — crisp air, nobody else around, and children love the puddles.
Plan B in wet weather:
- Fagernes Cultural Centre — exhibitions and activities
- Valdres Folk Museum — indoors and partly under cover
- Swimming in the pool (check local opening times)
- Mountain farm visit by car — many farms have a shelter and warmth inside
Meal breaks and toilets — practical for parents with babies
With young children, a bike ride is as much about the stops as the cycling. Here is what you will find along the main routes.
Breastfeeding along the way: The bike trailer with rain cover is actually an excellent place to breastfeed — sheltered from wind and curious eyes. Park in the shade, recline the backrest, and take 15 minutes. Most Valdres routes have benches at viewpoints that work well.
Nappy situation: There are no changing facilities along the cycle routes. Use a clean fleece as a changing mat on a bench or in the grass — the right to roam applies. Bring a bag roll for used nappies.
Food tips for parents of young children:
- Pack more than you think — children eat unpredictably, and you burn extra energy with a bike trailer
- Brunost and crispbread keep better in the heat than sandwiches
- Frozen fruit purée in a squeeze pouch thaws along the way and is ice-cold by lunch
- A drinks bottle with a nozzle is easier in the bike trailer than a cup
E-bike with bike trailer — how to go further
A bike trailer with a child and luggage quickly adds 20–30 kg. You feel it on the hills — especially on gravel roads in Valdres where rolling resistance is higher than on tarmac. An e-bike solves this completely.
Practical tips for e-bike + bike trailer:
- Start with a full charge and plan the route to 60% of the stated range — the trailer draws more than you expect
- Eco mode on flat gravel gives almost the same speed as without the motor, but saves your legs for the hills
- Valdresbanen and Fagernes Storholmen barely need the motor — save the battery for the return
- Charging: Fagernes town centre, Beitostølen and the mountain lodges along Mjølkevegen have sockets — just ask nicely
- The centre of gravity shifts with a trailer — slow down on descents and brake smoothly, never sharply
Hiring an e-bike: Check rental operators in Fagernes and Beitostølen for e-bikes with trailer attachments. Not all e-bikes have a trailer hitch — confirm when booking. Read more in e-bike in Valdres.
Ready-made weekend plan — Saturday and Sunday with young children in Valdres
A concrete plan you can follow straight out of the box, with Fagernes as your base. Suited to children aged 1–4 in a bike trailer.
Saturday schedule:
- 09:00 — Breakfast, pack the trailer (extra clothes, snacks, nappies)
- 10:00 — Start Valdresbanen from Fagernes, ride 5 km towards Leira
- 10:45 — Stop at rest area, snack, let the child out of the trailer
- 11:15 — Turn back and ride to Fagernes
- 12:00 — Lunch in Fagernes town centre (grocery shop or café)
- 14:00 — Strandefjorden for swimming or play (weather permitting)
Sunday schedule:
- 09:30 — Start Storholmen loop from the town centre
- 10:30 — Stop at Storholmen, let the child explore
- 11:00 — Complete the loop back to the centre
- 12:00 — Early lunch, pack the car
- 13:30 — Drive to Vaset for a mountain farm visit (optional)
Tip: Check yr.no the evening before both days. If it rains on Saturday, swap the order — Valdres Folk Museum on Saturday, cycling on Sunday. Flexibility is the key with young children.