Bjørkelangen is the main village of Aurskog-Høland, east of Oslo, on the shore of a long lake of the same name, in a landscape of forests, lakes and farmland stretching towards the Swedish border. It is a quiet, unpretentious place, with shops, a church and a few cafés, and it makes a practical start for rides into the forests and lakes of the region.
The area was once known for its timber and its farms, and the forests still cover much of the land. The narrow-gauge Urskog–Hølandsbanen, a museum railway nicknamed Tertitten, runs on summer Sundays from Sørumsand, with old steam trains puffing through the countryside. It is a charming relic of a time when small railways linked the farming villages with the towns.
As a start and fuel stop, Bjørkelangen has service stations, shops and cafés. From here, the roads lead north and east through forests and along lakes, with gentle curves and very little traffic. The landscape is quiet and peaceful, with the smell of pine and the sound of birds. In summer, the long evenings and the soft light make riding a pleasure.
Surfaces are generally good, though frost heave can make some roads bumpy, and gravel roads are common in the forests. Speed limits are low and enforced. Watch for elk, especially at dawn and dusk, as collisions can be serious. Take on fuel here before heading into the forests, where services are sparse.