Klemetsrud - Siggerud

Directions: Klemetsrud idrettspark - Stensrudtjern - Siggerud - Stallerud - Kloppa - Assurdalen - Myrertjern - Maurtu - Klemetsrud kirke - Klemetsrud idrettspark

This route is located in the north of Sørmarka and combines cycling on pavement with forest trails. The level of difficulty may be between easy and intermediate, considering length and height. Although the overall elevation gain is not that much, there is a quite challenging slope just after Siggerud.

Starting at Klemetsrud sports park, take Enebakkveien in direction to Enebakk. There is a wide sidewalk by the road that allows you to cycle at a moderate speed without disturbing the traffic. You will shortly pass by the lake called Stensrudtjern, a popular recreational area for grilling and bathing in summer. Not far from Lille Stensrud, and just before Sværsvann bridge, at the border of Oslo, you will turn to the right in direction to Siggerud.

Siggerudveien goes southwards to the west of Sværsvann, Bråtetjern and Grønslettjern. These lakes, together with Setertjern, Brokkenhustjern and Svartkulp to the north, and Tangentjern, Langen, Høltjern and Våg to the southeast, create an (almost) uninterrupted body of water extending nearly 20 km from Oslo to Ytre Enebakk, highly appreciated for paddling (but this is another story...). Halfway to Siggerud from Enebakkveien, there is a popular bathing place at Bråtetjern, that is worth visiting in warm days.

Soon after leaving Enebakkveien you will come into the Nordre Follo municipality, and after cycling for a while, the black walls of Siggerud church will welcome you to the village. Right after passing the church, you should take Vevelstadveien to the right to cycle across Siggerud. At the end of the village, the cycle route will turn to the left, and you will abandon the pavement for a forest trail. There is a steep slope here that may be difficult to climb. Fortunately, it is not that long (although you may think the opposite on your way up), and from the top the way is mostly downhill until the crossroads at Stallerud.

After crossing Vevelstadveien, north from the farm Stallerud, the way starts to elevate and goes down again until arriving to Kloppa. This was once the location of a tenant house under the administration of Vevelstad farm, abandoned and demolished in the '80s. Nowadays, it is a popular stop and recreational area all around the year. The Norwegian Association for the Promotion of Skiing (Skiforeningen) has recently established a kiosk, mainly open during wintertime. There are several benches, a fire place, a lean-on shelter, and a swimming dock in the water of the Assuren lake, which lays to the south. It is therefore a highly recommended place to take a break and contemplate the surrounding landscape.

Back to the trial, we head northwards through Assurdalen. It is time now to slow down the pace, and enjoy the nature of this wonderful valley. Also, not to drive over the young toads running all over the way, or a basking slow worm in the summertime. If you keep a keen eye around you, you may spot grazing roe deer among the bushes, the silhouette of a goshawk over the trees, and the swirling streams, hidden waterfalls, stony cliffs and abandoned hunting traps by the road. Not surprisingly, we can find stories about huldras around here.

The forest trail across Assurdalen will end shortly after the Myrertjern lake, and we will continue cycling northwards in direction to Maurtu farm. After an ascension, the road will go down and take us quickly to the Klemetsrud church through a rural landscape. From there, we will take Enebakkveien again to come back to our starting point.