Find your way
Gribskov is located in North Zealand between Hillerød, Fredensborg, Helsinge and Græsted.
Train
The suburban railway 940R and 960R
The Gribskov- and Hornbæk railway run through Gribskov, between Hillerød and Helsingør via Gilleleje and between Hillerød and Tisvildeleje, respectively. Bikes may be taken for free.
Bus
303, 307, 362, 363, 390R
These five bus lines traverse Gribskov.
Plan your trip on rejseplanen.dk (in Danish)
Practical information and activities
There are six marked hiking trails around Gribskov, both short ones and long ones.
They are all included in the four leaflets published by the Nature Agency, in which Gribskov is divided into the areas of Mårum, Esrum Sø, Gribsø and Nødebo.
In the leaflets, you can read about the sights of the area, the types of landscape you can experience as well as facilities such as lookout towers, sites with barbecues and outdoor accommodation, car parks and public transport.
You can find the hiking guides in the stands around the entrances to the forest, or you may download them.
Read the hiking guides for Mårum , Esrum Sø , Gribsø and Nødebo (in Danish)
There is also a marked route with an accompanying folder called "Høenge i Gribskov" (“Hay meadows in Gribskov”), which is a guide to select meadows, in which either hay is cut or livestock graze.
See the folder Høenge i Gribskov (in Danish)
Parforce cykelrute 105 (“Par Force Cycle Route 105”)
This cycle route starts at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød and guides you through the city and via the eight-way crossroads to Stjernen in Gribskov. At the same time, you may learn about par force hunting and why the landscape has been designated UNESCO World Heritage.
Find the folder on: Parforce-cykelrute (in Danish)
The regional cycle route No 32 consists of two trails, Tisvildestien and Pøleåstien, and starts at Hillerød traversing Gribskov's western part to the end at Tisvildeleje, a total of 28 km.
Gillelejestien - or Route No 33 - is a 27-km-long marked cycle route from Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød to Gilleleje Station.
Almost half of the route is paved. Only 4 km follow public roads, 11 km take you on a separate path or private road, the rest of the route is on forest road.
There are 40 km of bridle paths in Gribskov, marked with red pictograms at the entrances to the forest, white horseshoes on the trees and four pens where the horses may rest.
Leaflets on bridle paths are available for the northern and the southern part of Gribskov, respectively, with maps of marked bridle paths (in Danish):
Horseback riding in southern Gribskov , Horseback riding in northern Gribskov
Moreover, you are permitted to ride on paved trails, on gravel roads – however, not at a gallop and not in the ruts. Ride on the grass verge or the central grass verge. You are permitted to ride on the forest floor provided that the vegetation is not harmed.
Read also Where am I permitted to ride? (in Danish)
In principle, dogs must always be on their leash while in the woods and you will be reported to the police if you let your dog run loose.
However, in the special dog play areas, you may let your dog run freely - assuming you have control of your dog and can call it to heel. There is a dog play area in Esrumlund, in the north of Gribskov, in Selskov just southwest of Gribskov and in Tyvekrogen between Isterøsvejen and the halt at Slotspavillonen.
Also read "With your dog in nature" (in Danish)
There are also many facilities in Gribskov for the disabled.
There are trails that are suitable for the use of wheelchairs and suitable for people with mobility issues, there are primitive accommodations and bonfire sites, lookout towers and toilets.
Starting and ending at the carpark at Esrum Abbey and Møllegård there is a 1.5-km-long path for the disabled with informative signs and mobile phone guides, which may also be used by the visually impaired. In addition, from the car park at the Forest and Landscape College in Nødebo you may travel along the shore of the lake to the barbecue area at Dronningens Bøge.
All routes marked with purple in the four hiking folders are covered in tarmac, others are gravelled and wheelchair accessible. The barbecue areas at Gillelejevej/Storkevadsvej and Frederiksværkvej/Tinghussøen are close to car parks, and the barbecue area at Dronningens Bøge may be reached by a wheelchair-accessible path from the car park at the Forest and Landscape College in Nødebo.
The primitive accommodation at Ornevej in Tipperupholme is accessible for wheelchair users with assistance on the slightly steep passages. It is possible to camp in tent.
There is a wheelchair-accessible viewing platform at the Gillelejevej/Ostrupvej car park, which is easily accessible. From here there is a view of the edge of the forest, where deer often graze in the morning and evening.
You are free to fish in Gantekrogssø, Store Gribsø, Kildemosesø, Lille Fønstrup Dam, Store Hjortedam and Tinghus Sø and also in Esrum Sø, provided you have an angling license.
Read more at fisketegn.dk (in Danish)
Eghjorten Skovlegeplads (“Stag beetle Forest Playground”) on Jespersvej south of Nødebo is a large playground, which is open to everyone all year round.
Here, children may challenge themselves and their motor skills on exciting equipment made from natural materials, primarily wood and soil. There are hills with tunnels and caves, climbing frames and balancing beams and much more.
You cannot make a reservation, but there is ample space.
Firewood is provided and there is a large bonfire hut where you may barbeque any food, which you have brought with you and keep dry if it is raining.
If you want to stay overnight, you can book either the Viking House or the large shelter behind the playground. There is room for 25.
Book accommodation (in Danish)
Read more about Økobasen Eghjorten (in Danish)
Birdwatching towers and viewing platforms have been strategically placed where you have the best opportunities for studying birds and wildlife.
There is a birdwatching tower at the southernmost end of Esrum Sø near the car park at Stenholt Mølleeng - or Stenholtreservatet - and one on the western shore of Strødam Engsø.
At Gillelejevej/Hvideportevej and Gillelejevej/Ostrupvej there are two viewing platforms close to the car parks. From here, you may look over to the woods where the game often comes to graze in the morning and the evening.
Use nature as your fitness centre with physical challenges at all levels throughout the year.
You are able to do this on more than 50 health tracks that have been established around the country in a collaboration between the Danish Nature Agency and the municipalities.
Two of these are located in Gribskov at the Forest and Landscape College in Nødebo and in Tyske Plantage.
The track in Tyske Plantage is 1,350 metres long, includes a small hill and may be covered by an untrained runner in 9 minutes while it takes 14 minutes to briskly walk it.
The track starts and ends at the car park at Frydendalsvej where you may find a map and directions on how to, amongst others, measure your fitness rating in a small cabin.
There is also equipment to help you stretch.
The route is clearly marked, and you will pass, amongst others, a group of fleet oaks.
Read the folder "Træning mellem træerne" (in Danish)
"Navigate Gribskov" is an offer to those who want nature experiences and exercise at the same time.
It was developed in collaboration between FIF Hillerød Orientering (“FIF Hillerød Orienteering”), Hillerød Municipality and the Nature Agency, which has erected 130 permanent posts in the southern part of the forest.
You locate the posts, which are 60-cm-tall red poles with reflective bands and cutters, by using GPS and a map.
A leaflet containing descriptions of 28 of the post locations of particular natural or culture-historical interest is available. The leaflet is part of a package comprising an orienteering map, topographical descriptions, practical information, tour cards, etc., which costs DKK 60.
The package may be purchased from Visit Nordsjælland, the Tourist Information of Fredensborg Municipality, a number of local bookshops and the Nature Agency of North Zealand.
There are an additional two leaflets covering Gribskov: one on Finding your way at the Forest and Landscape College and one on Finding your way at Eghjorten.
Read more at fif-orientering.dk (in Danish)
Gribskov is the area in North Zealand most certain to have snowfalls and has a beautiful hilly terrain; for this reason, the Nature Agency together with Københavns Skiklub (“the Copenhagen Skiing Club”) have designated 480-hectare area where ski tracks are created when there is enough snow.
The tracks are all close to car parks and the halts of Gribskovbanen: Kagerup and Store Gribsø.
The skiing club's snowmobile is equipped with GPS, so you will always be able to keep up with the location of the newest tracks.
General information on the tracks
The tracks are created when conditions are right. The track area is approximately 480 hectares of Gribskov, which is just under 10% of the forest area.
During snowy periods, ski tracks are created to connect with more of the car parks and major roads outside the track area. You are permitted to walk here etc; notwithstanding this fact, please pay attention to the skiers and do not walk in the ski tracks.
See the map of ski tracks on påudinaturen.dk (in Danish)
See Track map for printing (in Danish)
The track area is a permanent area that the Nature Agency is ready to close off in the event of snowfall during the period 15 November to 31 March.
Once the area is closed, it will remain closed as long as there is just the least amount of snow.
If you are planning activities in the forest during the period 15 November to 31 March, you are advised to think of alternatives in case the track area closes.
The area being closed means that operational traffic is not permitted on the roads nor do we allow any other motorised traffic nor permit any activities which may interfere with the skiing.
See what types of activities require permission
See how to apply for permission to organise activities (in Danish)
Traffic and behaviour on the tracks
We ask the users of the forest to show consideration and avoid traffic in the slopes (this includes dogs!).
The tracks are created on the forest roads, so please use the rest of Gribskov during periods of snowfall. Dogs on their leash are welcome here. When there is a lot of snow in Gribskov, we also create tracks outside the "closed-off area" and, in these areas, it is important that the skiers show particular consideration to other users of the forest, especially people on horseback as the horses may be afraid of skiers.
Many people use nature - and for widely different purposes. Therefore, a number of rules have been laid down for the use of nature.
The purpose of the rules is that the outing will be a good experience for as many people as possible.
You will find many areas with bonfire sites with tables and benches in Gribskov, and the firewood is right at your fingertips in the form of fallen branches. Also, firewood is available from boxes in several areas.
Four of the bonfire sites and outdoor accommodations have pens where the horses may rest, and these are indicated in the leaflets on bridle tracks (in Danish):
Horseback riding in southern Gribskov (Ornevej)
Horseback riding in northern Gribskov (Tumlingehus, Vildedamsvej og Grønnekilde)
There are three primitive outdoor accommodations, which are indicated in the hiking guides:
Nødebo (by lake Esrum in Nødeboholt)
Gribsø (south of Hvidekilde at Overdrevsvej and south of Kagerup at Ornevej/Sankt Hans Vej).
These accommodations do not require booking and may be used for one or two nights’ accommodation.
Find camp sites available for booking (in Danish)