The Winter Guide for NMBU:

How to survive winter in Ås

We have finally started the new semester, along with cold days and dark afternoons. It’s easy to end up staying indoors, either in the reading rooms or in student housing. Luckily, there are plenty of good opportunities to take a break from studying at this time of year.

With winter activities right outside campus, it’s easy to get out, get some fresh air, and do something completely different from reading the syllabus. But where should you go? Here’s a guide to where you can go sledding, skating, and skiing in Ås.

Journalist: Silje Pedersen
Photographer: Jørgen Berg Yndestad

SKIING

The snow has settled like a blanket over the fields and forest areas around Ås, with prepared ski tracks just minutes from campus. Through this link, you you can find a map of eight different trails near NMBU, with varying lengths and levels of difficulty—let’s take a look.

Vestbyrunden
Vestbyrunden is just over 10 kilometers long and starts at Åsgård School before heading south toward Vestby and looping back north again. Along the way, the trail alternates between open fields and small wooded areas. Although the terrain is gently rolling in some sections, it is mostly flat, making it suitable both for relaxed Sunday trips and for those who want to pick up the pace.

Revlingrunden og Kromjordetrunden
For those who want a longer trip, it’s easy to extend the route. Revlingrunden and Kromjordetrunden wind through forests and across fields, with several enjoyable downhill sections toward Vestby. The trails run almost all the way into the town center, making it possible to combine a ski trip with a quick stop at the store before continuing.

Trampen
If you’re looking for a proper long-distance tour, the Trampen trail is a perfect choice. The route passes through forests and across large, open fields, where the quiet makes it easy to disconnect from both everyday student life and screen time. On Sundays, the Trampen scout cabin is often open and serves coffee and waffles—a great stop before continuing north toward Ås Upper Secondary School.

Floodlit trails
If you prefer to stay close to campus, the floodlit trails at NMBU are a great option. The trail network crosses forests and cultivated landscapes, offering a varied skiing experience right outside the university. If you want gentler terrain, you can turn toward Askjumskogen and continue out onto the open fields at Rustadjordet, where the views stretch far in all directions.

NEED TO GET EQUIPMENT?

Are you a student missing winter gear? Don’t worry, there are plenty of good solutions. Through Eika, students can borrow and rent equipment such as skis, ski boots, and other outdoor gear for free or at a very low cost. In addition, Skiboden on campus offers ski equipment rentals during the winter season. A final option is to head to Ski and borrow equipment for free from BUA, which offers a wide selection of sports and outdoor gear.

ICE-SKATING

Several places around campus in Ås now offer smooth, frozen surfaces ready for activity—as long as you have your skates on. As early as January 10th, Eika began promoting winter fun on the ice by informing students about the option to rent skating equipment.

This offer comes as no surprise to anyone who has recently visited the gym and seen how many people are skating just outside. The ice rink at Lillebrand has quickly become a popular gathering place for students. With lighting on the rink, it’s possible to skate both early and late in the day, which has led to good attendance and, at times, a bit of competition for space. For many, this is exactly what makes the offer attractive: low threshold, affordable, and social.

If you’d like to go skating but don’t want to be seen by half of campus, there are also other secured ice rinks around the municipality. Below is a list of possible locations, with Åsgård and Ås Upper Secondary School being the closest to campus:

Brønnerud
Sjøskogen
Solberg
Dysterlia
Danskerud
Åsgård
Ås Upper Secondary School

SLEDDING

When snow settles on the hills around campus and the town center, sleds and plastic toboggans reappear among many children in the municipality. Sledding may not be the first activity associated with student life—you might think you were supposed to grow out of it—but sledding is incredibly fun. Unlike skiing and skating, sledding requires no skills at all. At the same time, you can get just as much speed and excitement as you would from exhausting yourself trying not to fall on ice or ski trails. Work smarter, not harder!

Finding sledding hills in Ås can feel like searching for hidden treasure—not everything is listed on Google. One sledding hill with information available online is located between Furuveien and Askeveien, and for locals it’s a true luxury in an otherwise densely built-up area. About a year ago, the municipality’s development plans sparked debate among nearby residents, but the hill is still there, waiting for eager sledders.

If you want to find sledding hills closer to campus, it’s simply a matter of going on a small “treasure hunt” in the surrounding area. Many students quickly discover that there are several hidden gems that locals have used for years, and with a bit of exploration, it’s easy to find your own favorite hill for speed, laughter, and a break from the syllabus. favorittbakke for fart, latter og pause fra pensum.

No matter which winter activity you choose, winter in Ås is worth experiencing. The syllabus can wait a little—the snow won’t, so get outside!