Description
From the finish line of Vasaloppet you cycle through Mora. You pass the Zorn Museum, Zorn Park and Zorn Café. After Mora you cycle through the beautiful village of Östnor with nothing but red houses. There is a short section over a sandy and unpaved stretch, but it is very brief. The rest of the route is rolling and passes through forests and small villages. Near Våmhus there is a beautifully situated campsite by the water, Våmåbadets Camping. You arrive in Orsa with various amenities. After Orsa, a lovely path follows right along the eastern shore of Lake Orsasjön with beautiful views over the lake. Between Orsa and Mora it is completely flat and you will therefore reach Mora quickly.
The Route
- Distance: 46 kilometer
- Start/end: This description is based on Mora, at Vasaloppsmålet, the finish line of the Vasaloppet, but you can start and finish at any point along the route.
- The route is signposted with signs for Siljansleden and Mora-Orsaleden.
- You can download the GPX-track here (version 250225).
- Road surface: asphalt and gravel.
- Difficulty: easy.
- Best season: mid-May to late September.
- Type of bicycle: all bicycles except racing bikes.
- Crowds: most of the route is on roads with little traffic.
Highligts
Mora
Mora originated around the thirteenth century and is a charming town situated on Lake Orsa, Lake Siljan and the Österdalälven river. It is best known for the annual cross-country skiing race Vasaloppet and for the artist Anders Zorn. The Zorn Museum was founded by Zorn's wife. The museum displays many of his works, including sketches, watercolour and oil paintings. Close to the finish line of the Vasaloppet stands the church of Mora. This thirteenth-century church has an imposing, freestanding wooden bell tower. The town has a turbulent history, including the largest witch trial in Europe in the seventeenth century, in which dozens of alleged witches and children were sentenced to death. The cycling route follows the promenade along Lake Siljan. Here you will find a large specimen of the Dalarna horse.
Östnor
The village with the red houses, where you may encounter not only playing children and farmyard animals along your way, but also angry old women — if the signs are to be believed (photo 20).
Våmhus
Near Våmhus it can be dangerous to refuel (photos 23–28), but fortunately a bicycle doesn't need petrol.
Orsa
Orsa has a long history in the production of grindstones, made from the special Orsa sandstone. The town is also known for the street music festival Orsayran and the largest bear park in Europe at Orsa Grönklit. Here you will find not only various species of bears, but also other predators such as wolves, wolverines, leopards, tigers and lynxes. The park is not on the route, but lies 10 km north of the town.
