Lemonsjø Fjellstue to Ruten Fjellstue Cycling

The third and final stage of the connecting route between Tour de Dovre and Mjølkevegen cycle routes takes you southwards from Lemonsjø to Ruten Fjellstue in Espedalen Valley. The route travels through a varied landscape, passing serene lakes, rushing rivers, and lush forests. You will see many mountain farms and meadows with grazing animals along the way.

With no significant elevation changes, this final leg is relatively easy-going, alternating between paved and graveled roads that are well-suited for cycling. 

Lemonsjøen is a 4-hour drive north of Oslo. follow road E6 to Sjoa and then take road 257 to Lemonsjøen. The drive from Bergen takes 6 hours.

Public transportation

Starting from Lemonsjø Fjellstue, you can follow a gravel path that runs along the main road 51. When facing the main entrance, look for an information board and some garbage containers on your left-hand side. Just between the garbage containers and the information board, you will find the gravel path going down to the cabins.

Take this gravel path and then continue down the road when you get to the cabins. The road leads you down towards the main road. When you reach yet another set of garbage containers, take the gravel road on your left-hand side traveling into the forest.

Follow this gravel road for 3.2 kilometers before taking a left turn down a partially overgrown gravel road. Although this road descends fast, it is still ok to bike down. Follow this road until it meets up with the paved road 257.

Follow road 257, going past Jotunheimen Feriesenter and then take a right towards Murudalen. The road continues through a pine tree forest before it eventually crosses the Sjoa River. After crossing the river, continue on Nysetervegen for 32 kilometers. Nysetervegen runs partially through forests and meadows with mountain farms.

When you reach the southern end of the Slangen Lake, you will meet Jotunheimvegen coming down from Bygdin Lake. You are now following Mjølkevegen. After 500 meters take a right onto the road that runs along Olstappen Lake. The road crosses a river before it follows the shoreline of the lake.

Follow this road to the southeastern side of the lake before continuing along the lake to the northern side. On the northern side of the lake, you get to road 255. Take a right onto this road and follow it for 5 kilometers to get to Ruten Fjellstue. 

• Lemonsjø Fjellstue is a family-run mountain lodge offering hotel, apartment or cabin accommodation. Their restaurant serves local, home-made specialties such as mountain trout, moose, and sour cream porridge.

• Jotunheimen Feriesenter offers cabin accommodation and camping facilities.

• Ruten Fjellstue is a mountain lodge offering facilities such as communal areas for socialization and relaxation, hot tubs, and a sauna. Their restaurant serves breakfast and lunch buffets, and three-course dinners. The lodge also houses a small brewery.