Åmot
Municipality · Innlandet
About Åmot
Rena, start line of the Birkebeiner ski and bike races over the mountains to Lillehammer.
What to do and where to stay in Åmot
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Birkebeiner start, RenaActivity
Rena is the start of the 54 km Birkebeinerrennet ski race to Lillehammer, first run in 1932; every skier carries a pack of at least 3.5 kg, the weight of the infant king saved in 1206.
Rena, start of the Birkebeiner trail west over the mountains · 30 min to see the start; a day to ski or ride the trail · winter for skiing; summer for the bike race route
2Pilegrimskjæret and ÅmøtetViewpoint
A rock at Åmøtet, where the Rena meets the Glomma, that medieval pilgrims to Nidaros crossed; it looks over to Nesvangen, Åmot's millennium site and an old gathering place.
Rena, by the Glomma–Rena confluence · 20–30 min · all-year
3Nesvangen at ÅmøtetNature
Åmot's millennium site on the point where the Rena meets the Glomma, probably a pre-Christian gathering and cult place and still a popular meeting place.
Åmøtet, the Rena–Glomma confluence, Rena · 30 min · all year
4Dagsturhytta OsnesetViewpoint
An always-open day cabin with a wood stove and a view over Osensjøen, 500 m from the road and fine for pushchairs.
Osneset, north end of Osensjøen; park at the rest area before Osvik bru · 30–60 min · all-year
5Osneset grinding stone and Nordre Osen kirkeHistory & culture
On the shore below the churches at Osneset lies a rare Stone Age grinding stone with grooves from sharpening axes; Nordre Osen kirke above it dates from 1777.
Osneset, north end of Osensjøen · 30 min · May–October (shore under snow in winter)
6RenabakkeneSight
One of Norway's largest ski-jump complexes, with HS 139 and HS 111 hills from 2012 that host Continental Cup events; the hill looks over Rena and the river confluence.
Rena · 20–30 min · all-year (jumping in season)
7Østersjørunden bike loopActivity
An easy 23 km, almost car-free loop from Rena on forest roads through pine forest, with a swim at Østersjøen and birdlife at Løpsjøen.
Start Rena centre; southeast hills · 2 h (23.1 km, 327 m climb) · May–September
8Bjørkøyvelta graveHistory & culture
A ring of stones on a ridge marks a grave from about AD 600, older than the Viking Age, where glass and bronze beads were found; a short spur off a marked culture trail.
South of Kjøllsæterbrua, west side of the Rena river · 1–3 h · June–October
9Øvre Himmeldalen seter and Hemmeldalen nature reserveHike
Six hand-hewn log buildings at a summer farm in Hemmeldalen, Åmot's largest nature reserve; one hut is open to all year-round and marked trails lead there.
Hemmeldalen, west Åmot · Half day · June–October
10Kjølsetra iron-making siteHistory & culture
A complete iron-making site from the late Iron Age or early Middle Ages, one smelting furnace and 13 charcoal pits, on the nature-and-culture trail near Kjølsetra.
Just northwest of Kjølsetra, by the Rena river · 1 h with the trail · May–October