Discover Åmot: pilgrimage routes, school history and nature

The destinations described here are in the wider Åmot destination area: the railway station and school museum are in Rena, while Osmundsand beach is in Nordre Osen. If you are looking for a hotel in Åmot, you can narrow your options based on the places and experiences that matter to your trip.

Railway and school history in Rena

Rena railway station in Åmot municipality is on the Røros Line. If you plan to travel by train, check the current services for your trip.

Rena is also home to Skolemuseet i Åmot. It is housed in a historic wooden building near the university college, which has been in continuous use for school purposes since 1905. The building was designed by architect Henrik Bull. At the museum, you can experience a historic classroom with learning materials, lunch boxes and school satchels. You can try out the old-fashioned blackboard and chalk, and see exercise books from earlier times. The museum offers insights into the history and role of schools at both national and local level. Visits are possible during opening hours or by arrangement; check visitor information in advance.

Pilgrimage routes and tours in the Åmot destination area

Østerdalsleden is one of Norway’s officially recognised pilgrimage routes. In Åmot municipality, it has an eastern and a western branch. The western branch starts at Pilegrimskjæret and Nesvangen in Rena, where the Glomma and Renaelva rivers meet. This makes Rena a specific starting point for finding your way along this route.

The Birkebeinerstien between Rena and Lillehammer is a different undertaking: it is just over 68 kilometres long, planned as a three-day hike, and has a total elevation gain of 1,563 metres. The route passes through forest, open areas and higher terrain with good views. By comparison, Glommastien loops around Rena and follows the Glomma for about three kilometres. There are several opportunities to swim and take a break along Glommastien; Åmot municipality maintains the path throughout the year.

In Åmot, the Natur- og kulturleden follows trails and old roads through areas of natural and cultural-historical interest. The route is best suited to hiking or horse riding; much of it can also be cycled. The various routes therefore offer different scales for planning, from the path along the Glomma to a tour planned over several days between Rena and Lillehammer.

Skiing and water

Rena is home to Rena Alpin og Skisenter. It has two lifts and six runs for different age groups and ability levels. The longest run is 1,700 metres; Bamsebakken is 300 metres long. The ski centre also serves as a starting point for cross-country skiing tours. From the top station of Fjellheisen, tours continue into the mountains, including towards Skramstadsætra and Engulsfjellet. Check seasonal operating information before your trip.

At Osmundsand in Nordre Osen, on Lake Osensjøen, there is a one-kilometre-long white sandy beach with a gentle slope. The lake covers 43.64 square kilometres. At Osmundsand, you can also fish and canoe; check local conditions before your trip. This makes it easy to distinguish the waterside activities from the trails around Rena when deciding what to focus on during your stay.

Historic routes

The region’s history can also be traced through specific places. A short section of the escape route taken by the Vemork heavy water saboteurs on their way to Sweden passed through Åmot. After the operation on 4 March 1943, the participants reached Bjørnåsen on 15 March. Early the following day, they crossed Djupdalen, passed Skramstadsætra on the southern edge of the mountain pasture and continued on towards the Glomma. This sequence places the locations mentioned within a historical route without equating it with the hiking or pilgrimage routes.

Discover more destinations: Blikberget, Nordre Osen, Rena

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