Gjerstad, a place for good experiences

When you visit the Treehouses in Gjerstad, we recommend exploring the area around the cabins! Here, you can connect with nature and explore what it has to offer!

Elvevassdrag med en robåt på standa. Trehyttene Gjestad

Swimming in the summer

All the cabins are built along the river that flows down Digerdalen. There are many small, hidden swimming spots along the river, and occasionally you’ll find small beaches. Below “Flåklypa” and “Gjøkeredet,” there’s a small waterfall and a pound in the river where you can take a swim. This swimming spot is exclusive to the guests of the cabins, so you’ll have it all to yourself.

At “Kråkeslottet” there’s a lovely beach right next to the cabin. It’s a great spot for both children and adults to swim and enjoy the beach. Water temperatures are often pleasant here in the summer.

“Vannspeilet” is designed for swimming right from the cabin. You can take a morning swim just a meter from the kitchen while your coffee is brewing or dive off the roof terrace into the water. There’s also a spa on the rooftop, seating six people, where the water always is between 38-40 degrees.

There are also several great swimming spots a short drive from the cabins. Contact the hosts if you want tips on where to discover a new swimming spot.

Isbading Vannspeilet, Trehyttene Gjerstad.

Ice-swimming in Winter

At “Vannspeilet,” the water is always open from the swimming ladder on the terrace, so feel free to challenge yourself with an ice bath! On the terrace, the spa awaits with 40-degree water to warm you up again! If you’re staying at “Kråkeslottet” and want to ice swim there, just inform the hosts a few days in advance, and they’ll prepare a hole in the ice for you!

Remember, never ice swim alone! And if you’re not an experienced ice swimmer, don’t stay in the water for too long! Try it out and see if you experience some of the positive effects of ice swimming. Highly recommended!

Dame i robåt. Trehyttene Gjerstad.

Boat and SUP

At “Vannspeilet,” you’ll find a rowboat and two SUP boards at your disposal! There are two life jackets in the cabin, so if more people are joining, bring your own vest! It’s fantastic to explore the river and visit the beaver lodge just beyond “Vannspeilet.”

On the beach by “Kråkeslottet,” there’s a rowboat you can use to explore the water or fish from.

Illustrasjonsbilde Trehyttene Gjerstad

Skiing and Ice Skating

In winter beautiful ski tracks are prepared at Kleivann/Vestøl. There are trails for both beginners and those looking for a longer trail.

At “Kråkeslottet” and “Vannspeilet,” the ice can be perfect for skating if the winter is cold and snow-free. There’s an ice drill in the cabins so you can check if the ice is safe. Always ask the hosts in advance if you wish to skate, so you can get advice on where to skate safely and where to avoid.

Barn som leker ved trehyttene. Trehyttene Gjerstad.

Activities just outside the cabin

We’ve built Tarzan courses both by “Kråkeslottet” and between “Gjøkeredet” and “Flåklypa!”

At “Kråkeslottet,” the course is built just below the cabin. At “Gjøkeredet” and “Flåklypa,” you’ll find the Tarzan course in the hillside between the cabins. The courses aren’t built too high off the ground, so no safety gear is needed. The ground is soft forest. The courses are designed to challenge balance, strength, speed, and endurance.

“Kråkeslottet,” “Flåklypa,” and “Gjøkeredet” all have firepits near the cabins. “Kråkeslottet” and “Gjøkeredet” have firepits both on the ground and on the terrace. “Flåklypa” has a firepit on the ground. There’s a grill grate on the firepits, making them perfect for cooking. Firewood for the pit is always included and can be found at the cabin.

Illustrasjonsbilde Trehyttene Gjerstad

Animal and Bird Life

At “Kråkeslottet,” “Flåklypa,” and “Gjøkeredet,” we feed the birds sunflower seeds year-round. There’s abundant birdlife right outside the windows. Friendly squirrels also visit to help themselves to sunflower seeds. Birds of prey such as eagles and hawks live in the area, and it’s common to see eagles soaring high above the cabins.

In and around the waterway where the cabins are built, beavers thrive! They’ve built many dams and lodges in the area over the years. Their location can vary, so if you’re keen to explore and see a real beaver lodge or dam, ask the hosts for the latest updates on where to go.

Up by “Flåklypa” and “Gjøkeredet,” you often catch a glimpse of deer! A “wildlife field” has been planted below the cabins, where they like to gather.

Elvevandring og fikse. Trehyttene Gjerstad.

River Walking and Fishing

A river that floats past the cabins is perfect for river walking! Bring your fishing pole and try your luck in the pounds and small lakes along the river.

The river flows into Lundvann, where “Kråkeslottet” and “Vannspeilet” are located. There’s free fishing, and there are plenty of fish, though mostly small ones. At “Kråkeslottet” and “Vannspeilet,” you can fish from the terrace or take the boat out to fish. You might also encounter a beaver if you fish at dusk. Bring your own fishing pole, or contact us before your stay if you’d like to borrow one.

Illustrasjonsbilde Trehyttene Gjerstad.

Hiking

Just outside the cabin door, several short and longer hikes begin in beautiful forest terrain or on gravel/tractor roads. You’ll find information, maps, and descriptions of these hikes in the cabins. In late summer and autumn, feel free to bring berry pickers and mushroom baskets—there are plenty of blueberries and chanterelles along the trails. If you prefer a longer mountain hike, we recommend these top tours, which start about a 15-minute drive from the cabins: See the hike to Risfjell and Havrefjell.

Not far from the cabins, we recommend visiting “The Little Zoo,” which features Norway’s largest rainforest, full of exotic species. If you visit the Treehouses Gjerstad on a Friday, we recommend a stop at Grethe’s bakery.

Illustrasjonsbilde Trehyttene Gjerstad

The little zoo

The Little Zoo is located at Brokelandsheia in Gjerstad, just a 15-minute drive from our cabins. There, you can see monkeys, lemurs, meerkats, crocodiles, snakes, birds, fish, kangaroos, and farm animals. You can walk around the 1200 square meters of rainforest and experience animals and over 170 different plant species. Outside, there are slides, climbing frames, and seating areas. A visit to the Little Zoo is highly recommended!

Illustrasjonsbilde Trehyttene Gjerstad

The Gjerstad bakery

If you’re lucky enough to visit the Treehouses on a Friday, we recommend stopping by Grethe at the Gjerstad Bakery. Here, you can enjoy delicious buns, bread, cakes, doughnuts and more. You can call ahead to place an order or just drop by. It’s cozy and welcoming in the little bakery that we locals in Gjerstad have grown so fond of. The opening hours are every Friday from 11 AM to 5 PM.