Summit Hikes
Kjerringhøgda
The fire tower on Kjerringhøgda is a great destination for a shorter hike, offering views over large parts of the national park. The first tower on Kjerringhøgda was likely built in the late 19th century to monitor forest fires, reflecting a time when timber production was a very important industry in Norway. The hike to Kjerringhøgda can be done as a loop passing Bysetra, an old croft now used as a scout cabin.
Hike with a View to Sankthansåsen
Sankthansåsen is centrally located in Østmarka and offers a stunning view of both Oslo and the surrounding forests. The hike is moderately challenging but rewarded with fantastic views, especially at sunrise or sunset.
Korpåsen
Korpåsen near Skullerud is a small but scenic peak, providing nice views over Østmarka and parts of Oslo. The hike is relatively short and suitable for an afternoon outing or a quick nature trip.
Tømmeråsen
The summit hike to Tømmeråsen from Krokhol offers beautiful views over Østmarka and the surrounding areas. From the top, you can see Øyeren, the Oslofjord, and, on clear days, further into Eastern Norway.
Tonekollen
This is one of the highest peaks in Østmarka and offers spectacular views. The hike up is challenging, but the reward is a breathtaking panorama, especially towards Øyeren and Lillestrøm.
Tjuvstuåsen
Tjuvstuåsen is a popular destination in eastern Østmarka, with views over Øyeren. The hill has over a thousand years of history, with remains of a Bronze Age burial cairn and traces of a fortified settlement from the Migration Period.
Cycling
In Østmarka, cycling is allowed on roads, trails, and frozen lakes. Cycling is not permitted in Zone A of the national park.
Nøklevann
This is a popular area for cycling, with nice gravel roads suitable for both families and fitness riders. A classic loop around the lake is about 8 km and offers varied nature and great viewpoints. Starting points such as Rustadsaga, Haraløkka, and Ulsrudvann provide easy access to the route. The route is mostly easy to cycle, though some sections have inclines.
Østmarka Ride
This is an annual mountain bike race that takes place across Østmarka’s hilly and varied terrain. The race starts and finishes at Skullerud, and the route includes a mix of gravel roads, trails, and technical sections. The race is organized by IF Frøy. You can read more about the race here.
Historic Hiking Route – The Refugee Route
The Refugee Route refers to a later marked trail along one of the paths used by couriers and refugee guides during World War II to transport mail, supplies, or people across the border to Sweden.
The route starts at Skullerudstua in Oslo and goes east through the municipalities of Enebakk and Eidskog to Sweden. Around 50,000 Norwegians fled to Sweden during World War II. Of these, 250–300 people were escorted along the Timian courier route, a path established by Milorg through Østmarka in Oslo. The Refugee Route was inaugurated as a marked trail on June 9, 1995, in connection with the liberation anniversary. In 2015, the trail was re-marked and launched as a Historic Hiking Route by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage, DNT Oslo and Surroundings, and the Refugee Route Association. In autumn 2020, Crown Prince Haakon walked parts of the route to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation. Along the Refugee Route, there are several cultural heritage sites, including cabins, huts, farmyards, and other buildings used as hiding places and shelters for refugees and couriers.
Read more about the Refugee Route on DNT’s website
Skiing
Østmarka offers an extensive network of ski trails suitable for both classic and skate skiing. The trails pass through beautiful and varied nature, with good starting points at Skullerud, Grønmo, Rustadsaga, Bysetermåsan, and Krokhol. Popular ski trips include:
Nøklevann Loop – A nice and easy 8 km loop, perfect for families.
Bysetermåsan to Vangen Ski Lodge – About 7 km on easy terrain with refreshments at Vangen.
Long Trip to Mariholtet and Losby – A longer tour with great viewpoints and opportunities for breaks at Mariholtet sports cabin.
The trails are regularly groomed during winter, and conditions can be checked on the Skiforeningen website.
Canoeing
Østmarka has many lakes and waterways where you can paddle by canoe or packraft. There are also several places that offer canoe rentals. Suitable waters for canoeing include:
Losby Waterway consists of four lakes in a row like pearls on a string: Mønevann, Fløyta, Geitsjøen, and Røyrivannet. The distances are short, making it perfect for canoe trips with children. Overnight stays are not necessary, but there are many established campsites around all the lakes, making it ideal for a family overnight trip.
At Børtervann, you can paddle between the many islands. When renting the unstaffed DNT cabin Øvresaga, you have access to three canoes that can be moved on a canoe trolley for 1 km to reach Børtervann. More information is available on the DNT website here.
Svartoren is also a great lake for paddling, allowing you to get close to nature along both sides of the nearly three-kilometer-long lake.
Fishing
There are many fishing lakes in Østmarka offering opportunities to catch trout and other fish species. Fishing is allowed in all lakes if you have purchased a fishing permit for the area.
There is an accessible fishing spot for people with disabilities at Tretjerna in Nordre Follo.
Buy a fishing permit at inatur.no
Places that serve food – remember to check opening hours!
Rustadsaga Sports Lodge: Food service has been offered here since the early 1920s, initially in the living room of the sawmill master who lived here. The building was long known as Saghøy. A fireplace lounge was added in 1958, after the Marka area became accessible to everyone moving into new homes in Bøler, Bogerud, and Skullerud.
Skullerudstua: A café for visitors and a venue for events and meetings, opened in 1980. Owned by Oslo Municipality and operated by the Ski Association.
Østmarkskapellet: Built in 1957. The chapel has a café open on Sundays when services are held.
Mariholtet: The site as we know it today was completed by Oslo Municipality in 1971. Originally, Mariholtet was a crofter’s farm under Ellingsrud farm, which historically had 16 plots by Elvåga.
Sandbakken Sports Lodge: Opened in 1959. In 2005, Sandbakken was included on the City Antiquarian’s yellow list as a building environment worthy of preservation.
Skjelbreia: Located just south of the lake of the same name. The Directorate for Cultural Heritage estimates that the preserved residential building dates from the late 1700s. Skjelbreia formerly played a central role as a relay station during plank transport through Østmarka.
Vangen Ski Lodge: Opened in 1961. A dining and accommodation facility west of Mosjøen in Østmarka, Enebakk municipality, Viken county. The lodge is widely used as a school camp for kindergarten and school children. Vangen was originally two farms. Both were summer farms, but early in the 1800s they became crofter’s farms under the Rausjø estate.
Cabins and Accommodation
The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) has several unattended cabins in Østmarka that provide overnight stays. Currently, there are seven unattended cabins in Østmarka: Bøvelstad, Øvresaga, Røyrivannskoia, Huldreheim, Stallen, Dølerud, and Fiskelaushytta. You can find more information about the cabins on DNT’s website.
Overnight stays are also possible at Vangen Ski Lodge.
There are also other open shelters and lean-tos listed in this map overview.