The Green Shortcut

Side by side, the road and the Glomma river flow effortlessly, and crystal clear sun rays flicker through an endless range of high pine tree trunks. But this journey is all but monotone.

Look to your right about 110 kilometres north of the city of Elverum and see the region’s much talked about giant sculpture Storelgen – a ten metres high metal moose by artist Linda Bakke. The colossus is standing steadily on its four feet at the new Bjørloa rest area, more or less midway between Oslo and Trondheim.

Along The Green Shortcut are 60 other pieces of art shaped as moose antlers in vibrant colours, meant to entertain drivers sot that they don’t fall asleep behind the steering wheel.

“The best about this area is that there are plenty of cool things to do and visit, and you are always close to untouched nature”, says Vigdis Leren. Together with Marijke van der Wiel she runs Kjøkkenveien 3, a new place to eat in an old, wooden house that is just one example of eateries here that put forward local, fresh food on the menu.

“Stop the car and explore the forests, which are full of vestiges of the hunter culture of ancient times. The region along The Green Shortcut also has strong and long traditions for local food of most kinds”, Vigdis promises.

“Our signature lunch dish, A taste of mountain and forest, consists of variations of cured meat, local cheese, and green salad with sour cranberry cream”, tells Marijke, who harvests the ingredients from the nearby nature and their own garden.

The Green Shortcut hints to the fact that the stretch through the Østerdalen valley is 45 minutes shorter than the main road E6 through the Gudbrandsdalen valley. The forests of this region are often referred to as “the green gold” and is part of the national plan of the green shift towards an eco-friendly industry – and tourism.

Some of the time gained can be spent on activities you’ll only find here. Savalen ski resort is only minutes from the road. The Norwegian Forest Museum is one of Norway’s most popular museums with more than 100,000 visitors annually, and Glomdalsmuseet is one of the country’s oldest open air folk museums with over 90 historic buildings.

The annual Nordic Hunting and Fishing days in late summer attracts more than 30,000 enthusiasts to the region, and you can also visit a distillery, a vehicle museum, and a full developed golf course. And the wildlife? Well, wild animals include species like grouse, bear, wolf, wolverine, lynx – and of course moose. You have entered the third most moose dense area of Norway.

Most of the hotels, camping sites, and other places to stay come with local flair and charm, with playful decorations mirroring the nature and wildlife found on your doorstep.

Returning travellers will always discover new colours –although the giant metallic moose will stay silver.