Stage 2 - Askim to Töcksfors Main road
**From Askim to Töcksfors you can choose two alternative routes
**The main road that runs much parallel to the current E18. Here you pass Morenen shopping center, hotel, Momarken, Mysen center etc.
**The northern route is a more quiet and calm alternative. Along cornfields and farms.
On both routes you will enjoy rolling cultural landscapes, with beautiful lakes and forest terrain. You will pass sheltered villages and beautiful farmlands. Don't forget to stop and take in the cultural monuments and sights. This stretch is relatively flat. The surface is asphalt and some gravel on the main route and only asphalt on the northern route.
**Askim - A cozy small town with urban offerings in a rural setting
Askim was granted town status in 1996 and is one of two towns in Indre Østfold. Mysen is the other. Askim was the site of the last major battle between Norwegian and Swedish forces in 1814 - The Battle of Langnes Skanse The battle marked the beginning of the Union era.
Askimbyen has everything a big city has to offer - sidewalk cafés, shops and people. Take a little detour to Askim's great pride; Askim frukt og bærpresseri. Take in the old nickel mines from 1866 - Romsåsen gruver, the first industrial business in Askim. The kids will love it if you stop at Sprett bowling and trampoline park or Østfoldbadet.
Indre Østfold - Norway's largest agricultural municipality
Askim is also home to Askim Museum, Indre Østfold Golf Center and Askim Presbytery if you'd like to make more of your stay in Askim. Maybe you'd like to spend the night at the presbytery too? On your way out of the city center, both trails go the same way. You will soon discover the peculiarities of the area you are now in - beautiful, large, open lands with cultivated fields. You ride on a paved bike path, which eventually turns into a road shoulder. The road can be somewhat busy at times.
**The main route and the northern route are separated here.
Once you have made your way out of Askim center, at a crossroads, by the cornfield and farmhouse, the trails separate. The main route that goes towards Slitu and Scandic Brennemoen hotel. And the northern route that goes towards Tosebygda, Skjønhaug and Trøgstad. The northern route allows you to ride rural. You cycle to Haldenkanalen, then you cycle parallel to the canal south until you meet the main road again about 5 km before Ørje. This route is described in more detail in Stage 2 - Askim - Töcksfors - northern route.
Monaryggen - The largest formation of its kind in all of Northern Europe
From the junction where the trails separate, the next stop is Slitu - A small trading center. Here you will find Morenen shopping center, Mc Donalds, Biltema Scandic Hotel etc. But even more exciting are the dunes. It's almost like you're looking at a moonscape. By the E18 you will see that there are rich sand deposits, this is Monaryggen- a sand moraine - 3-4 km long - 208 m above sea level.
Mysen - Has retained its character as a small cozy town
From Slitu, take the bike path towards Mysen. Remember to look to the right, then you will see that you have a good view down Glomma and beyond Norway's land. You can see as far as Gaustadtoppen on good weather days. At the end of the plains you come to Momarken Travbane. It's easy to see, because the roundabout you come to has a big horseshoe in the middle. This is where the famous Momarkedet took place in its time. The Red Cross's big TV show, with famous artists from all over the world. On the hill behind Momarken and above Mysen town sits Høytorp Fort, with lovely outdoor areas, and good views of Mysen town etc. We recommend that you take a small detour up around the fort. Keep right up on the fort area and cycle out to the flagpole. Then you get a good overview of the fort and the tower guns. The fort area is a popular recreational area for Mysen's population. And you are guaranteed to meet someone out for a walk. On the other side of town, a short detour, is Folkenborg Museum. This is where King Håkon Håkonsson's son was born. Inga from Varteig who fled with the Baglers in Helene to the Birkebeinerne, when the king died. An exciting story. Mysen was granted city status in 1997, and is a pleasant small town, with cozy specialty shops and eateries. There is a lot of construction activity in the town now. Both buildings and streets are being renovated and rebuilt. So we apologize for the inconvenience this causes for you who cycle. We hope you will make the trip to the city center, and not just choose to cycle through on the outside of the city.
**On the way to the lock town Ørje
Out of the center you pass Bamsrudlåven, we are very proud of these, they produce fantastic ice cream that you can buy in the farm shop which has received many awards. You continue towards the E18 - cross over this, and take a road to the right a little further away. Here you cycle through the countryside and through farmyards. You cross the E18 again, and get Hærland church right opposite. You continue the cycle path to the left and turn right towards Hærland primary school, and the Norfersk factory. At the factory you take a gravel road to the left. There will be a gravel road all the way to Ørjeveien. Here you can choose to take a detour to the left, towards Lundebyvannet bathing place. A popular bathing place with a sandy beach, WC and open kiosk on nice days. If you don't want a dip or ice cream, then take the road to the right. This is the old E18, and you cycle all the way to Ørje. At the first roundabout you meet - with the municipal boundary stone - Marker / Eidsberg, you can take a small detour of approx. 50m towards the E18, where there is a rest area Trollbergtjern, with toilets. Here it is nice to take a break. At the place there are benches and a beautiful pond, which is also set up benches around. Return to the roundabout and continue towards Ørje. The stretch towards Ørje alternates between forest and cultivated land before beautiful Haldenkanalen comes up on your side.
Halden Canal - Locks and Norway's oldest canal
In idyllic lock village Ørje it is especially nice to be in the summer. Lots of hustle and bustle, many visitors, and lots to see and do. Here you will find Norway's largest steamboat community. If you are lucky, you can join a boat trip with Dampskipet Turisten or the steamship DS Engebret Soot. DS Hans is also a possibility Ørje is one of three places with locks in the Halden Canal. If there is a boat in the locks, there are always many skiers. On the quay you will find the tourist information office of Visit Indre Østfold, Matfatet local food outlet and Båtcafeen. The boat café is practically in the canal, so it's a great place to enjoy a meal or perhaps something good by the glass. You can spend the night in the city center at Deilig er jorden or out at Gjestehuset Mosebyødegård, a stroll from the city center. Here you can also cycle on the water as the tourist information rents out pedal bikes and pedal boards In Tangen there is also a nice sandy beach, and swimming opportunities. If you want to learn more about the Halden Canal, take a trip to the fine museum Haldenvassdragets kanalmuseum. In the center of the cozy little village you will find several eateries - Butt's Tandori and Bakergaarden, as well as sports shop and specialty shops. On the hill above Ørje and the canal are the remains of Ørje Fort. The fort was completed in 1903 - but had to be demolished due to agreements with Sweden 1905, quite quickly afterwards. A nice stroll, if you want to stretch your legs a bit. You can also cycle up there.
**Border crossing - Norway - Sweden
On the other side of the city center you cycle over Porten til Norge - a great bridge, now you are not far from the Swedish border. Now the road continues uphill towards the Swedish border. You cycle along the old E18 all the way up to the border. At the border, the cycle path goes behind the customs station and a souvenir shop. From here it is downhill towards Töcksfors - where you will find accommodation, Töcksfors shoppingcenter and Töcksfors handelspark.
