From the mountains to the city on skis! The trip from Nordseter through Gropmarka takes you through snow-covered spruce forest, quiet marshes and one of Lillehammer's valuable nature and outdoor areas. Here you may be lucky enough to see tracks of moose and hare, experience the silence of the forest and follow the ski slopes all the way down to Lillehammer. Finish at one of the bus stops along the way, or continue towards the city center and treat yourself to a nice café break.
Briefly about the ski trip
- Starting point: Lillehammer Mountain Lodge / Nordseter
- Hiking destinations: Skurvbrua, Birkebeineren ski stadium or Lillehammer
- Tour type: One-way trip with the possibility of a bus back
- Length: Approx. 11.4 km via Sandbakken or 13.3 km via Grøtåssetra to Stampesletta
- Elevation difference: About 650 meters down towards Lillehammer
- Level of difficulty: Demanding, especially because of the descents
- Estimate time: Approx. 2-3 hours, depending on the conditions, pace and stopping location
- Nature and terrain: Spruce forests, pine forests, marshes and long descents
- Return: Bus line 500 to Nordseter
- Suitable for: Skiers who are confident on downhill slopes
From the mountain lodge through Gropmarka
Gropmarka is located between Nordseter and Lillehammer and is a large forest area with long traditions for outdoor life. Here, the ski trails go through both dense spruce forest, open marshes and areas of old pine forest.
On this trip, you start up at Nordseter and follow the ski slopes down through the forest. As you lose altitude, the landscape changes character from mountain forest to more densely grown forest terrain.
Gropmarka is known for its silence and nature experiences. Here you can experience the feeling of being deep in the forest, even though Lillehammer city is not that far away.
You can choose between two trails, and you decide how far down towards Lillehammer you want to go.
Route description – Nordseter to Lillehammer via Gropmarka
From Nordseter to Trondsmyra
From Lillehammer Fjellstue you have a short distance to the ski slopes at the parking lot at Nordseter. Cross Nordsetervegen at the designated place and follow the trail north for about 900 meters to the trail junction at Trondsmyra.
Here you can choose between two routes through Gropmarka. The shortest goes via Sandbakken, while the longer northern route goes via Grøtåssetra.
Option 1 – via Sandbakken and Flømyra
The shortest route from Nordseter to Stampesletta is stated to be about 11.4 kilometers.
At Trondsmyra, turn left and follow the trail for about 700 meters towards Sandbakken through the cabin area. At Sandbakken, turn right and continue down through Gropmarka.
From here, the trip goes through forest terrain with several descents. After about 5.6 kilometers, you come to Flømyra, where the trail meets the northern route from Grøtåssetra.
From Flømyra, follow the trail for about 1.6 kilometers down to Skurvbrua.
Option 2 – via Grøtåssetra
If you want to experience more of the forest, you can choose the northern trail route via Grøtåssetra. This variant is about 13.3 kilometers down to Stampesletta.
From Trondsmyra, you follow the signposted trail in the direction of Grøtåsen and Grøtåssetra. The trip continues through large forest areas with marshes, old pine forest and heavy spruce forest.
This is a part of Gropmarka where the forest is experienced as particularly quiet. In winter, you can see traces of animals that have crossed the trail during the night.
Follow the main route towards Flømyra, where the trails meet. From there, the trip continues down to Skurvbrua.
The wildlife in Gropmarka – who has been here before you?
Gropmarka is not only a nice area for cross-country skiers. The forest is also a habitat for wild animals, and in winter it is often easier to spot their tracks than the animals themselves.
The moose is one of the larger animals that roam the forest areas. Traces of moose can be easy to recognize by the size and shape of the hoof prints. Sometimes you can also see where the moose has grazed on bushes and small trees.
The hare leaves characteristic tracks in the snow, often with the large hind footprints in front of the smaller front footprints. It can be fun to see if you can find such tracks along the trail.
The birds of the forest are also part of the nature experience. In the coniferous forest, you can meet small birds, and it is possible to see traces of larger forest birds in the snow.
Feel free to take a short break along the way and listen to the sounds of the forest. Keep a good distance if you encounter wild animals, and avoid disturbing them – especially when it is cold and access to food is limited.
Gropmarka – important nature that many people want to preserve
Gropmarka is a valuable nature and outdoor area for Lillehammer. There are forests, marshes and natural landscapes that provide space for both wildlife and nature experiences all year round.
The association Gropmarkas Venner works to take care of Gropmarka, Bymarka and Lillehammerfjellet as natural areas for current and future generations.
Among other things, the association wants to limit new nature interventions and works for a recognized land boundary that can help preserve the area's natural and outdoor qualities.
When you ski through Gropmarka, you are a guest in nature. Show consideration for wildlife, stick to established trails and take rubbish home.
From Skurvbrua to Birkebeineren ski stadium
At Skurvbrua, you cross Nordsetervegen at the designated place and follow the trails further towards Birkebeineren ski stadium.
Here the terrain gets steeper, and the descents require you to master braking and turning on cross-country skis. On hard roads, this can be a demanding part of the trip.
At the Birkebeineren ski stadium, which was one of the arenas during the 1994 Winter Olympics, you can end the trip or continue down towards Stampesletta if the trails are groomed.
Take the bus back to Nordseter
You don't have to walk all the way to the center of Lillehammer to get a nice ski trip. Bus line 500 runs between Lillehammer and Nordseter.
Relevant places to end the trip are Skurvbrua, Skihytta and Birkebeineren ski stadium, depending on where you come out from the trail network.
Please check the relevant stops and departure times before you start. Please note that it may be necessary to walk some distance from the ski slope to the bus stop.
At Nordseter, the bus stops at Nordseter Apartments, Nordseter Hytter and at the large parking lot close to Lillehammer Fjellstue.
All the way down to Lillehammer on skis
In winters with a lot of snow, it may be possible to follow the ski slopes all the way down to Lillehammer.
From Birkebeineren ski stadium you can continue towards Stampesletta when the slopes are groomed. From there you can continue to the city center.
In extra snowy winters, people have even been able to ski in Lillehammer's pedestrian street. It is a somewhat special contrast to come from quiet mountain forest to a winter-clad small town. However, the last stretch into the city center is not a permanently groomed ski trail.
End the ski day with a café visit in Lillehammer
If you have walked all the way down to Lillehammer, it is worth setting aside some time for the city center before taking the bus back.
In Storgata you will find cafes, bakeries and restaurants where you can have a cup of coffee, have lunch or enjoy something good after the trip.
Lillehammer has a pleasant city centre with historic wooden houses, shops and small eateries. In winter, it is nice to combine the nature experience from Gropmarka with a small city trip.
Who is the trip suitable for?
The trip from Nordseter to Lillehammer is best suited for skiers who are confident in downhill skiing and master cross-country skiing well.
Although there are many meters of altitude downhill, the long slopes can be physically demanding and provide great speed on hard roads.
If you are unsure of your skills, Skurvbrua can be a good place to end the trip before the steeper descents towards the ski stadium.
Our tips before the ski trip
- Check the trail preparation and snow conditions down towards Lillehammer before you start.
- Plan where you want to end your trip and research the bus routes in advance.
- Choose the route via Grøtåssetra if you want a longer walk through the forest.
- Look for animal tracks along the trail, but keep your distance from wild animals.
- Bring a packed lunch, hot drinks and extra clothes.
- Be especially careful on steep descents on hard or icy surfaces.
- Bring light shoes if you are planning a café visit in Lillehammer.
See hiking maps and trail information
Visit Lillehammer describes both routes through Gropmarka. Always check the trail map and grooming status before the trip.
Start your ski trip straight from Lillehammer Fjellstue
When you stay at Lillehammer Fjellstue, you have the ski slopes about 50 meters away. From here you can choose between walks in open mountain terrain, shorter forest walks and the long descent through Gropmarka towards Lillehammer.
At the mountain lodge we have a heated ski stable for storing ski equipment, as well as a waxing room where you can get your skis ready for the next trip.
Stay right by the ski slopes at Nordseter
Find accommodation for your next cross-country holiday at Lillehammer Fjellstue.