Kulevannet

A woodland lake in the Fjella forest

Kulevannet lies in Fjella, the name given to the broad, hilly belt of pine and spruce forest that stretches between Trømborg in Eidsberg and the Haldenvassdraget waterway to the east. Despite the name, which translates as "the mountains," there are no dramatic peaks here—just a rolling, stone-strewn woodland studded with hundreds of small lakes and tarns. Kulevannet is one of them: a compact forest lake whose water drains out through the stream Tjerua and eventually feeds the Rakkestadelva river.↗↗

The charm of the place is precisely its simplicity. There are no grand façades or manicured promenades—just trees, open water, and the soft sound of a bird over a still pond. It rewards visitors who come expecting nature and quiet rather than a built-up attraction.↗

Swimming, fishing and forest walks

The water here is used for swimming and fishing, and a lakeside stay advertises both bathing and fishing opportunities right at the shore. Kulevannet sits inside the Fjella fishing zone, where the forest lakes east of Mysen are dominated by perch and trout, with pike and roach in some of the larger waters. Anglers should expect a small, peaceful perch-and-trout lake rather than a trophy fishery—and a catch-and-cook evening on the bank.↗↗

Fishing in this part of Fjella generally falls under a licensed zone run by the local landowners' and hunters'/fishers' associations (the Trømborg and Herland areas, among others). Licences are personal and must be carried with you; they can be bought at sports shops in Mysen and Ørje, at self-service boxes by the toll forest roads, or online. A printed Fjella map is worth picking up before you go, as the woodland is well signed but easy to wander through without one.↗↗

When you want to stretch your legs, the surrounding Trømborgfjella is a popular year-round hiking area with marked trails and gentle, scenic terrain; traditional forest cafés such as Einarbu and Arnbjørnrud have historically opened on Sundays during the season. Those looking for a fuller day out can pair the lake with the town of Mysen, home to the open-air Folkenborg museum, the medieval stone Eidsberg church, and Høytorp Fort, Norway's largest inland fortress.

Staying the night at Kulevannssaga

For visitors who want to make an evening of it, the cabin rental at Kulevannssaga sits directly on the lake in the Trømborgfjella woods. It offers simple, old-school forest accommodation—the kind with a car road running right up to the door, sleeping space for a small family or group, and bathing and fishing on the doorstep, but no plumbed-in power or water. It is a good fit for travellers after authentic, low-comfort wilderness nights rather than a polished hotel experience, and booking runs through a private contact.↗

Getting there and practical advice

Kulevannet is reached by road through the forest east of Mysen, with a car road running up to the lakeside cabin at Kulevannssaga; the area is best explored with your own vehicle, as the woodland lakes are spread out and public transport stops at the town edge. Treat the approach roads as shared forest lanes—drive slowly, and expect a few gravel and toll-road sections once you leave the tarmac.↗↗

As with any small Norwegian woodland lake, come prepared: bring your own towels, water, food and a rubbish bag, since there are no staffed facilities at the shore, and swim where you can see the bottom. Municipal health guidance for the area's bathing waters advises waiting about a day after heavy rain before swimming and avoiding any visible algal discolouration on the surface—an easy precaution that applies to Kulevannet as to other forest tarns in Fjella. Summer is the prime season for swimming and cabin nights; autumn is best for colour and quiet forest walks along the marked trails.↗↗