Biking in Östersund

Here are about 8 km of slightly messy and technical paths that bring out the playfulness in you. The view of Storsjön and the mountains is incomparably beautiful and constantly with you during the trip. If you choose to cycle the trail counterclockwise, it slopes slightly downhill.
Along the path there are places to rest and sit for a while on one of the beaches is nice on a summer evening.

Bynäset was previously a military training area and has for many years been closed to the public Three years ago, the path leading around the peninsula was opened to the public and Östersund municipality has upgraded it. Bynäset has since quickly become one of the city’s finest recreational areas for cycling, hiking and running. Since you share the path with others, cheer happily and feel free to give preference!

To reach Bynäset, follow the signs to Frösö Park then west towards Rödön. You then turn left onto Bynäsetvägen after a few hundred meters and follow that gravel road until you reach a large car park. Here, the trail around Bynäset starts by passing the red portals.

Spikbodarna and Lillsjön are a nice area for runners, strollers and the town’s cyclists to get along with. This is not so strange because the area has some of Östersund’s finest paths. The finest paths can be found above the road E14 and south of road 87 to Stugun. Those that run between, above and below the ski tracks and are also suitable for those who are not so used to cyclists.
You are offered some beautiful magical greenery on the mossy paths that wind around old pines and on old mountain pasture paths from the time the town’s inhabitants had their animals there.

Sometimes the paths are technically tricky and sometimes smooth and fine and often with sharp turns. It creates a playful trail cycling where you get both fun downhill skiing and a little tougher climbing that is broken off with a little easier smooth trails.
The further up you get in the forest along the ski tracks, it can be very wet in summer. There is more swampland higher up.

Below Spikbodarna and E45 and the outskirts of Odensala is Lillsjön. A nature area with a small lake that is nice to swim in and around it runs a gravel and paved loop. In the forest and up towards the residential area in Odensala, there is a network of messy and somewhat technical paths. Some of them go in the old ski track that ran down from Spikbodarna. Here you will find both climbs and downhill trails with a lot of flow and tight turns. Occasionally it may be wet in the area.

Unfortunately, the paths are not marked in Lillsjön or Spikbodarna, but with a little desire to discover, you just take one path and follow it until the next one comes.

Via the Strava and Trailforks apps, you can find paths to cycle on for many hours.

You can reach Lillsjön either via western Odensala or via the industrial area Odenskog. The most suitable if you take the car is to start from the parking lot at Jemtbil just below Ica Kvantum. You can reach the nail sheds either by bike and then the easiest way to start from Lillsjön. From the gravel loop that passes the lake and the rest area, it is a little further ahead signposted Spikbodarna. If you drive, take off against Stugun at the large roundabout at Lillänge shopping center and then turn right after a couple of hundred meters. It is signposted Spikbodarna. The ski trails and paths start from the car park.

In Fugelsta, one of the many small villages along Lake Storsjön, the farm owners together with enthusiastic friends have been building forest bike trails for nearly 12 years. Interest in the trails has grown rapidly, and today cyclists from all over Sweden visit Fursteli.

The trails are open to everyone and riding is free of charge, although donations via Swish are greatly appreciated to help with maintenance and the development of new trails. Contributions can easily be made via Swish to Fursteli Gård: 123 616 19 13.

The trails vary in difficulty, so be sure to choose routes that match your skill level. For those looking for a longer ride, there is a cross-country loop of approximately 14 km that takes you up towards Svartsjöarna and finishes with a fast, flowy descent back to the starting point. Parts of the route are technical, featuring roots and wooden boardwalks to navigate, but the riding is always fun and set in beautiful surroundings.

At the trailhead you’ll find several more gravity-oriented trails with different difficulty levels, such as “Brunflow.” As the name suggests, the focus here is on flow, with plenty of opportunities to get some airtime. The area also includes a pump track and a jump line with table-top jumps.

In recent years, an advanced freeride line has been added, along with a large wooden jump featuring a mulch landing and a starting platform located high among the trees. Many of the trails has signage to make navigation easier. The main 14 km loop is marked with red markings on the trees and starts next to the pump track. The other trails can be accessed either via climbing trails or gravel roads.

Fugelsta’s trails are available in the Trailforks app. More information can also be found on Facebook under Furstelis cykelstigar. An up-to-date trail map showing all routes is available on the Fursteli Gård website.

To reach the Fugelsta and Fursteli bike trails, cross the Vallsunds Bridge and turn left towards Brunflo. Just before Marieby Church, follow the signs for parking at Fursteli Gård. From there, continue along Svartsjövägen up to the trailhead of Fursteli Bike Trails.

The tour around Brunfloviken is incredibly beautiful on a summer day and the trip is nice and pleasant and suits most people.

If you start from Badhusparken and go round clockwise, you get the nicest part at the end. You have to get to Brunflo via cycle paths towards Ope and then along the road  E45 through Brunflo to turn down at the railway crossing and follow the road down to the intersection. There you turn right and then follow the rolling country road through many of  nice villages before you reach Vallsundsbron that take you over to Frösön and further back to Badhusparken.

If you start in Badhusparken and follow the walkway towards Lugnvik and then follow the signs to Kännåsen.

When you reach Kännåsen, turn left at the village’s only intersection and follow the road to the next intersection. There you turn right and then left towards Dille and Landsom. Here you pass many nice farms and have the mountains in the background. When you cross the E14, turn left and follow the country road through Ösa and Ås back to Lugnvik and the same road back to Badhusparken.

The Krokom-Ytterån tour follows the same route as the round over Kännåsen, but instead you turn towards Dille.
From Dille you continue and then take the road towards Kattstrupeforsen and Aspåsnäset and then turn down towards Krokom.

Continue to cycle a couple of kilometers on the E14 towards Åre before you take off and follow the signs to Nälden and then Vaplan and Ytterån.
Once in Ytterån, you then follow the signs to Rödön and Frösön here you will get beautiful views towards Bydalsfjällen and you pass many farms.

This round offers some climbs but also some nice downhill slopes.

Best suited for mountain biking
and the XC course takes about 50-60 minutes to cycle and the climb is about 180 meters in altitude with the highest part after 5 km.

There may be wet/muddy sections along the course, mostly in spring and during rainfall. Start and finish are at the bike wash at the Media Center.

Download trail map here.

Here at Östberget on Frösön, there are six trails of varying character and difficulty.

Trails:
The GB Trail is a blue-rated flow trail featuring rollable jumps and wide, sweeping berms. It’s perfect for finding your flow and practicing cornering skills.
The Ladängen Trail is also a blue-rated trail with fantastic flow, ideal for riders who want something a little less groomed than the GB Trail. Here, flow is combined with rocks and roots.

In addition to the blue trails, there are three red trails and one black trail. These are intended for more advanced riders seeking a greater challenge. What the red trails — Skrå, DH, and AM — have in common is natural, rough terrain with plenty of rocks and a good overall flow.

Görans, the mountain’s black-rated trail, offers steep and demanding sections. It has not received the same level of maintenance as the other trails, making it rough, exposed, and physically and technically demanding for the rider.

All trails are marked with cycling signs and color-coded markings. Red and black indicate difficult and advanced trails, while blue-marked trails are classified as intermediate. Please be aware that hikers and other trail users may also be present on the bike trails. Always ride within your ability and take time to inspect the trails before riding so you know what to expect.

More information, including up-to-date lift operating hours, trail descriptions, and lift pass prices, can be found at Östersunds muncipality.

To reach the lift assisted cycling, follow the signs to Gustavsbergsbacken out on Frösön. You park at the lift facility. On days when the lift is not open, it is easiest to cycle up to the lookout tower on the mountain. When you cross the footbridge over to Frösön, you cycle up Trädgårdsvägen, turn left onto Byvägen and follow it towards Tanne. Then turn right onto Toppvägen which leads up to the lookout tower.

The park has two jumping trails, a larger one that is about 400 m long and consists of 9 jumps and a smaller and lighter one with 4 smaller jumps and rollers. In the forest there are also 6-7 trails in different combinations of jumps, curves, wallride and bridges. If the jump feels a little too challenging, there is always an easier way past.
A balance track in wood is also available. It is recommended to use a mountain bike or BMX bike and of course ALWAYS a helmet.

As the area is always open to everyone, all cycling also takes place at your own risk. Brunflo Bike Park can be found beautifully located by the electric light track in the center of Brunflo. There are barbecue facilities in the area. At the start there is bicycle washing. Brunflo Bike Park has a Facebook page with current information.

In recent years, an advanced freeride line has been built at the trailhead of the Fursteli Bike Trails. The latest addition is a large wooden jump with a mulch landing, accompanied by a starting platform set high among the trees.

To reach Fugelsta and the Fursteli Bike Trails, cross the Vallsunds Bridge and turn left towards Brunflo. Just before Marieby Church, follow the signs for parking at Fursteli Gård. From there, continue along Svartsjövägen up to the trailhead of the Fursteli Bike Trails.

At Fritidsbanken you can borrow sports and outdoor equipment for free for 14 days.

On Andersön there are many nice barbecue areas and opportunities for swimming on a hot summer day. From Badhusparken in central Östersund, it is about 19 km of easy road and you follow cycle paths out to the bridge Vallsundsbron and further towards Orrviken and follow the signs to Andersön. In the forest there are also two shorter trails with jumps, curves and bridges.

If the jump feels a little too challenging, there is always an easier way past. It is recommended to use a mountain bike or BMX bike and of course to wear a helmet. As the area is always open to everyone, all cycling also takes place at your own risk.

To Frösö Strand you can easily cycle from Badhusparken in Östersund along the cycle path that is marked over the walking bridge and then turn left towards the bridge Vallsundsbron.
Then you can cycle along the cycle path towards Mjällestigen on Öneberget with its ancient castle. In this area there are many nice places to stop for a picnic, either on a meadow or down by lake Storsjön, where there are also fireplaces to use.

Minnesgärdet is not far from the city center of Östersund.
From Badhusparken you cycle along the harbor on the road Storsjöstråket and after approx. 2 km you´ll arrive at Minnesgärdet where there is a fireplace and seating. You can also continue cycling along a gravel road towards Odensala or choose the trail cycling route that goes closer to the beach.
Along this road there is also a scene for orchids and later you will come to nice camps and very nice views of the mountains Oviksfjällen.

Bynäset is located on Frösön a bit beyond Frösö Park Hotel you can either start your tour from Badhusparken, it is about: 12 km country road. You can also start the bike ride from Bynäset if you have a car with a bike rack. Once at Bynäset, you can choose to cycle around Bynäset, or choose to walk around a 7 km long path. The path can be cycled on – you should keep in mind that there are a lot of roots, so you may be required to lead the bike at certain sections.
It is well worth walking around Bynäset, where a wonderful view spreads out over lake Storsjön and the mountain chains of Oviksfjällen.
There are plenty of places for picnic, barbecues and cooling baths.

There are several nice tours in and around the city – including around Storsjön, to Frösön, Andersön, Lillsjön, or further towards Krokom and mountainous environments.

Östersund cycling map

This bike tour starts in central Östersund and you cycle mostly on asphalt.

You cycle along the eastern shore of the lake over Frösön and further towards Norderön, here you have to take two car ferries to continue towards Myrviken and to Hara Ångbåtsbrygga which is idyllically located down by Storsjön. Here you can stop for a coffee or have lunch at the cozy summer café on the shore.

Then cycle on to Orrviken, where you can stop for a guided moose safari with experienced guides. There is also a café open in the summer with Swedish home cooking and coffee.

From Orrviken you then cycle back to Östersund. A distance of approx. 78 km

Map & information: South of Storsjön

The bike ride starts in Badhusparken and takes you further out on Frösön’s heights along cozy bays and further out on Rödön and to Ås.

On the way you will meet runes from the Viking Age, cafes with mountain views, blooming farm shops and nice bathing places.

This bike tour takes you from central Östersund out onto the winding roads of Frösön, through beautiful nature and exciting cultural environments.

Starting in Badhusparken on the shore of Storsjön, the tour goes over the footbridge to Frösön and continues through historical sites, art experiences, viewpoints and charming cafes.

On Andersön there are many nice barbecue areas and opportunities for swimming on a warm summer day.

From Badhusparken in central Östersund it is about 19 km one way and you follow cycle paths out to Vallsundsbron and further towards Orrviken and follow the signs to Andersön.

In the forest there are also two shorter trails with jumps, curves and bridges. If the jumps feel a little too challenging there is always an easier route past. It is recommended to use a mountain bike or BMX bike.

The small course consists of a straight stretch with humps – easy and good for beginners who want to practice balance.

The larger course requires you to be able to keep an eye on the obstacles ahead of you and your “fellow road users”.

Brunflo Bikepark, 15 km from the city center, offers mountain biking with jumps, drops, curves and bridges that are fun for the whole family. If the jumps feel too challenging, there is always an easier way around.

It is recommended to use a mountain bike or BMX bike and of course ALWAYS wear a helmet. Since the area is always open to everyone, all cycling is done at your own risk.

Brunflo Bike Park is beautifully located by the electric light track in the center of Brunflo. There are barbecue facilities in the area.

Here is also a wider extra loop for wheelchair users.

Brunflo Pumptrack is an arena that welcomes spontaneous sports where everyone is welcome.

The pumptrack is located at the IP in Brunflo.
Åkrevägen 2B, Brunflo

Brunflo Bike Parks FB-page

The courses are built on gravel roads, forest roads and wide paths. Part of the route is adapted for smaller skiers and is called the children’s loop, it is a total of 400 m.

Here is the link to find your way around.

Brunflo has a 30-meter-high castle, a defensive tower from the 12th century, which was dedicated to St. Olav.
The name Brunflo means the well by the marsh and at Lövberget is St. Olav’s spring.

Odensalakärret is rich in orchids and is located next to the St. Olavsleden trail, three kilometers from Östersund. Due to the calcareous water, purple knotweed thrives with dark purple and vanilla-scented flowers. Marked paths and bridges lead between fly flowers, larkspurs and two-leaved.

Östersund is the only city in Jämtland County, and was founded in 1786 by Gustav III.

Visit Jamtli, which is a living history land where in the summer you will meet people dressed in period clothing in the houses who tell about life in the past.

More info on the way

Start your bike ride in Badhusparken, from there you follow the red trail markings, they will take you over to Frösön.

Continue cycling along Storsjön. On Frösön, there are the Runestone and the Trefaldighetskällan as historical sights to see.

When you have reached Trefaldighetskällan, continue cycling towards Ändsjöns nature reserve and further up towards Frösö Church.

When you have reached the Church, take the opportunity and enjoy the fantastic view over Storsjön and the mountains.

More info on the way

From Frösö Church to Rödökyrka it is a cycling of approx. 10 km.

Frösö Church from the 13th century was built with St. Olav as its patron saint.
In the summer, the drama Arnljot is performed next door. It is about the Viking from Gällö who fought with St. Olav in Stiklestad.

Cross the bridge to Rödön with the castle hill Tibrandsholm from the 14th century.

Listen to the waves and look for the Storsjö Monster which is said to live in the deep caves of the lake.
Rödön Church is from the Middle Ages and was lavishly decorated after a fire in the 1920s. The walk feels cozy next to strawberry and potato farms.

More info on the way