The landscape of the Gjern Hills, visible burial mounds in Gjern, and the conditions on individual routes provide practical points of reference when choosing Gjern Municipality. It is worth considering the trails individually: sections of the Gjern å trail are suitable for strollers, buggies, or wheelchairs, while the section along the shore can be difficult.

Gjern Hills: Ice Age landscape and viewpoints

The 33.5-hectare section of the Gjern Hills owned by the Danish Nature Agency is managed mainly for nature and outdoor recreation. The hilly landscape formed as a terminal moraine in front of a glacier; meltwater then carved a distinctive tunnel valley. This gives the area context not only through individual destinations, but also through its geological origins.

At 104 metres above sea level, Åshøj is the highest point in the Gjern Hills. A hike to Store Troldhøj offers panoramic views of the Gjern Å, the Gjern Ådal valley, and the surrounding particularly valuable oak scrub. The “Gjern Hills, Oak Scrub” route offers a different viewpoint: it leads to oak scrub with a view of Lake Sminge. The main difference between the two descriptions is therefore the landscape featured in each panorama.

Protected burial mounds in Gjern

Bjerghøje is a visible, protected burial mound in northern Gjern. Lodnehøje lies west of Gjern and is also a visible, protected burial mound. Their locations clearly distinguish the two archaeological sites: one is in the north, the other in the west. Those interested in the area’s cultural heritage can consider these names as landmarks in their own right, alongside the landscape destinations.

Choose routes based on surface and trail conditions

The trail conditions on the “Gjern å trail” route are not the same throughout. Some sections run along gravel paths and gravel roads and are suitable for strollers, buggies, or wheelchairs. By the shore, however, the trail is a footpath and can be difficult. The suitability of the gravel sections should therefore not be assumed to apply to the section along the shore.

The “Gjern Hills, Gjern Å and Gjern Town” route starts at a holiday centre and leads through a side valley to the Gjern Ådal valley. Gjern comes into view at the end of the railway trail. Another marked route, “Connecting route between public forests and natural areas,” crosses the Gjern Ådal valley. These trail descriptions focus on different things: one gives a starting point and route, while the other describes crossing the valley.

For cyclists, Gjern Tur/Natur is a marked figure-eight route with two loops that meet at the Erik Rådal statue in Gjern. The full route is 60 kilometres long. This figure refers to the entire ride, so it needs to be planned differently from a walk to a single viewpoint.

Trail conditions in Egedalsmosen

In 2013, a marked trail was created through part of the Egedalsmosen bog. It starts at the car park between Sørkelvej 67 and 69. Sections of the yellow-and-black route may be flooded or wet at times; rubber boots or hiking boots are recommended. The area is privately owned. Take this into account when planning and check before visiting whether access is possible for you.

You can tailor your choice to your interests and the specific trail conditions: landscapes, archaeological sites, a cycling route, and sections with different surfaces each offer a different focus.

Discover more destinations: Svejbæk, Lemming, Guldforhoved, Ry, Svostrup, Ans, Skygge, Vrads

For the broader travel overview: Silkeborg Municipality.