FLYTSTIDALEN: 42 km of flow trail opens in 2021

Hallingdal Rides
May 5, 2021
3 min reading

- There's a lot to look forward to for cyclists planning a trip to Hallingdal this year. New trails for cyclists are being built all over the valley, and for 2021 there are four major floating trail projects in particular that stand out. At Høgevarde in Flå, Nesbyen, Geilo and in Hemsedal, they are working hard to complete new bicycle lighthouses that will offer endless flow with minimal pedaling and braking.

In other words, whether you're an enthusiast or new to trail biking, you're guaranteed to have a great time!

Hallingdal is one of the most ambitious mountain biking regions in Europe, and development has proceeded apace in recent years. In 2021, the development will be crowned with the planned opening of 4 new, blue-graded flow trails, which together will provide a total of 42 dosed and undulating kilometers of trail. "This is a first on a global scale," says Lars Wraae Jensen, CEO of Tråkk 'n' Roll SA, who is responsible for coordinating the Hallingdal destinations' cycling initiatives.

"The number alone is astronomical, and something we wouldn't have dared to dream of even in our wildest imagination a couple of years ago. Carrying out four projects like this says a lot about the professionalism and seriousness of our destinations and municipalities. You just have to take off your cycling helmet for the effort that lies behind it."

Photo caption: The construction of new flow trails is in full swing in Hallingdal, as here in Hemsedal ski center where construction has been underway since summer 2020. Photo: Lars Storheim

What can cyclists expect from the new trails? All the new flow trails are blue-graded, i.e. they have an even gradient and can be used by a large number of cyclists. Here you can have fun whether you ride at high speed and like air under your tires, or slow down and enjoy the surroundings on the road. The flow trail concept comes from the American term "flow trail", which refers to trails that are optimized for cycling fun, without much braking or pedaling.

Different trail building companies are behind the construction projects, and there will be four trails with different characteristics and cycling experiences. What they all have in common, however, is that they are based on internationally recognized guidelines for sustainable trail building, which will help to minimize wear and maintenance costs, and protect the nature around the trails.

The number alone is astronomical, and something we wouldn't have dared to dream of even in our wildest imagination a couple of years ago.

The trails are scheduled to open throughout 2021. Geilo is the first to open a 4 km long flow trail at the end of June. In early July, the first 6 km of a total of 10 km long flow trail will open in Hemsedal. In Nesbyen, the first 1.1 km of the 15 km long flow trail from Nesfjellet to the town center opened last year. The entire trail, which has been named "Hallingspranget", is expected to be ready for opening in the fall. A new 13 km long flow trail is also planned to open in Høgevarde this fall.

Caption: The new flow trail at Geilo has already been move-tested and will be ready from top to bottom in June 2021. Photo: Lars Storheim

And if you think the 42 km of new flow trail is all the new openings Hallingdal is planning for 2021, think again. "New family-friendly trail projects are underway in both Gol and Ål town centers, as well as at Trytetjern in Nesbyen. I expect that a lot will already be ready before the summer holidays. In total, we estimate trail investments of around NOK 150-200 million over the next 4-5 years in Halingdal, so this is still just the start of the development," concludes Wraae Jensen.