Final stop: 5 hiking trails in the Oslo metro

Final stop: 5 hiking trails in the Oslo metro

An extensive network of Oslo walking trails is accessible from the city's subway system. All offer great access to nature and are easily accessible from the city center

The hiking trails around Oslo are similar to the rest of the country: clearly signposted, well-maintained and often fully booked with cozy huts serving hot drinks and hearty food.

Hiking trails in Norway are maintained by the excellent Norway Trekking Association (DNT). Their crowdsourced route planning sister site UT.no is also a great online resource full of hiking ideas, tips and maps.

Norwegians know how to hike, that's one of the reasons I keep coming back. Here are five of the best hiking trails in Oslo, all accessible from the city's T-Bane subway system.

Østmarka

Distance: 12-15km (7.5-9.5mi)Time: 3-4 hoursTransportation: Metro line 2 to Ellingsrudåsen

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Nøklevann Lake in the northwest corner of Østmarka (Image: Dreamstime)

This metro line takes you to the northwest corner of the Østmarka forest. Only a small part of Østmarka lies in the municipality of Oslo, but you can reach much more of it by hiking south from Ellingsrudåsen station towards Mariholtet Sportsstue. The 6km route follows the beginnings of Lake Nord Elvåga to the sports lodge and café, where you can enjoy a pastry and a hot drink before deciding how to continue.

You can return the same way to Ellingsrudåsen, take line 3 to turn west for 6 km towards Bøler, or take line 2 to loop west and then north to another line 2 station. Trosterud, for example, is 7.5 km (4.7 miles) from Mariholtet Sportsstue. Both routes take you along the pretty lake Nøklevann.

Further information: visitoslo.com or ut.no

Nordmarka: Skjennungstua

Distance: 9 km (5.5 miles) Time: 2-3 hours Transport: Metro line 1 to Frognerseteren

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Approaching the welcoming Skjennungstua hut and café in the Nordmarka

North of Oslo lies the forested region of Nordmarka. During our last trip to Oslo we took a long afternoon to complete a circular hike from Frognerseteren to Skjennungstua. There are many different route options available – all well signposted.

We added a few extra kilometers by taking a longer route on the way past a small lake called Tryvann. At Skjennungstua there is a small log cabin with toilets, a cafe, outdoor seating and a great viewpoint over the forest.

Further information: skjennungstua.no

Kolsåstoppen

Distance: 13 km (8 miles) Time: 3 hours Transport: Metro line 3 to Kolsås

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Kolsåstoppen has hundreds of climbing routes (Image: Chell Hill, CC BY 2.5)

A hike to the summit of the 387 m high Kolsåstoppen (Kolsås Ridge) offers excellent views over Oslo. It takes about an hour and a half to hike the 5 km (3 miles) to the top of the ridge. You can go back the way you came or take a different route to a different subway line. A good option is to continue east to Østerås at the end of line 2.

Kolsåstoppen Nature Reserve (nature reserve) is not as forested as many of Oslo's other regions, as pine forests are not well suited to the hard volcanic bedrock in the area. However, it is great for rock climbing. The Øvre Sydstup wall on the south face of Kolsåstoppen alone has more than 200 climbing routes.

More information: wandermap.net

Lillomarka

Distance: 15-22 km (9.3-13.7 miles) Time: 4.5-6 hours Transport: Metro line 5 to Grorud or Vestli

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Lake Steinbruvannet in the Lillomarka (Image: Mathias Stang, CC BY 2.5)

You don't necessarily have to go to the end of the line to access the excellent Lillomarka forests. Any of the last seven or eight stops on the line is a good starting point for a hike to the Lillomarka recreation area. A good route leads north via Lake Steinbruvannet and the Slattumsrøa Nature Reserve to the Lilloseter Sportsstue ski lodge and café. If you start from Grorud metro station, the route is shorter and more direct.

Further information: liloseter.no

Nordmarka: Ullevålseter

Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles) Time: 3 hours Transport: Metro line 5 to Sognsvann

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Lake Sognsvann in the Nordmarka north of Oslo (Image: Dreamstime)

Another excellent hike through the Nordmarka is the route from Sognsvann to Ullevålseter. The forest is a bit more open here, especially because of Lake Sognsvann. It has a quiet environment, surrounded by pine forests on all sides. The lake is well used all year round as it is (just) warm enough for swimming in summer, while in winter when it is frozen over it can be skated on. There are several routes around the lake to the popular and cozy cabin at Ullevålseter.

Further information: ullevalseter.no

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Oslo hiking trails: the most important thing

What: Exploring Oslo's hiking trails from the city's subway system.

Where: We stayed at the Scandic Vulkan Hotel, a modern and eco-friendly hotel in the vibrant Vulkan district, not far from the center of Oslo. The hotel is Norway's first energy class A hotel - meaning it generates almost all of its own energy.

The stylish rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the surrounding neighborhoods, while breakfast - complete with waffle makers and cappuccino machines - is plentiful! Next door is the Mathallen Food Hall with a range of boutique restaurants and bars, as well as the Akerselva River, perfect for post-breakfast strolls.

When: I visited Oslo in the summer and fall and, like most European cities, can be visited all year round. However, for the best weather, spring and summer (May to August) are the best times to visit. The weather in Norway is as bad as that in the UK, so you can expect cold and wet days under dark skies out of season.

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How: It's worth buying an Oslo Pass, which includes free travel on all public transport. This can be used to access any of the above Oslo walking trails with a single trip from any of the city center metro stations such as Jernbanetorget, Stortinget and Nationaltheatret and Majorstuen.

The pass is available in three denominations:

24 hours: 335 NOK (40 USD)48 hours: 490 NOK (58 USD)72 hours: 620 NOK (74 USD) – we chose this one

We flew from London to Oslo with a budget airline. Book via Skyscanner for the best prices.

Oslo is served by three airports: Gardermoen, Torp Sandefjord and Rygge. We recommend using Gardermoen if possible, as the other two are further away and require a longer and more expensive transfer. All airports are served by trains and buses. For more information, visit the Visit Oslo website.

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For more things to do in Oslo, check out the Lonely Planet Guide to Norway.
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