Rustad by Lake Hurdal: Cycling Routes and Swimming Area

In Rustad, cycling and spending time by Lake Hurdal come together as different holiday ideas. Cycling routes lead to the village, and the Rustad swimming area is beside the lake. Its natural shoreline, the opportunity to fish, and its accessibility on foot from the residential area offer practical points to consider when planning. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Rustad, you can decide whether cycling and days by the water should be the main focus.

Two cycling routes with different landmarks

The Hurdal Church–Rustad cycling route follows County Road 120 southwards, west of Lake Hurdal. It ends at the junction by a shop in Rustad. The Sundby–Rustad cycling route reaches a shop in Rustad after crossing the Hegga River and entering Hurdal Municipality.

The routes can be distinguished by their described landmarks: for Hurdal Church–Rustad, the road and the southerly direction are characteristic. On Sundby–Rustad, crossing the Hegga and entering Hurdal Municipality are part of the route. This route offers a lovely view of Lake Hurdal, which is almost two mil long. This gives you a choice between a route described by its road and direction, and one featuring a river crossing and lake views when planning your cycling.

Swimming area and shoreline in Rustad

The Rustad swimming area by Lake Hurdal has a natural shoreline. It is in the southern part of the municipality and can be reached on foot from the residential area in Rustad. As a quieter swimming spot, it may offer a different holiday atmosphere from the cycling routes: here, the shoreline and the lake take centre stage. You can also fish at the swimming area.

This gives you several specific interests to consider when planning your days, without having to follow a set programme: take a cycling route, enjoy the view of Lake Hurdal, or set aside time for the swimming area. If you are travelling with different ideas for how to spend each day, this choice can help you find the right mix of activity and quieter time by the water.

Hurdal as a wider setting for your trip

The wider destination of Hurdal has more than 40 lakes and bodies of water where you can swim, fish and paddle. A longer cycling tour is also described: Hurdalsjøen rundt is about 54 kilometres long, starts at Hurdalsjøen Hotel and loops around Hurdal’s largest body of water. This tour and the cycling routes ending in Rustad are different options for planning your time in the Hurdal destination.

Hurdal also offers various options for snowy days. SkiHurdal has 11 downhill runs served by three lifts, dedicated children’s slopes and a toboggan run; the facilities also include family slopes, a race course, a black run, ski cross, a small terrain park and numerous forest trails. Ski offerings are seasonal and may change. Hurdal also has a well-developed network of cross-country ski trails. Minneåsen and Skrukkelia are especially known for good skiing opportunities, including floodlit trails groomed for both skating and classic skiing.

The trails at Fjellsjøkampen also offer different options for choosing a hike. In the Hurdal destination, two marked routes lead to the summit of Fjellsjøkampen: a steeper 2.3-kilometre route and a gentler 5.7-kilometre route. In Hurdal, the summit of Fjellsjøkampen is within the Fjellsjøkampen Nature Reserve; at 812 metres, it is the highest point in the former Akershus. Eight of Akershus’s ten highest peaks are also in Hurdal.

Those interested in culture and history will also find notable points of reference in Hurdal. Hurdal Church was completed in 1681 and has the protection status “Automatically listed (1650–1850).” It stands at the end of Lake Hurdal, in a cultural landscape with several Iron Age burial sites. According to a product list from 1783, the historic Hurdal Verk glassworks produced at least 30 drinking-glass designs by Nøstetangen.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Rustad, you can first consider whether cycling and experiences by the water should be the main focus. If you would also like to include skiing, cross-country trails, summit routes or culture in your travel plans, the wider destination of Hurdal offers other themes to help you plan around your interests.

Go to the main travel overview: Hurdal.