Løypekrysset og rasteplassen ligger ved innsjøen.

Those endings mark the definite form in Norwegian, similar to the in English.

• løypekrysset = the trail junction / the ski-track crossing
• rasteplassen = the rest area / picnic spot
• innsjøen = the lake

Unlike English, Norwegian usually puts the meaning at the end of the noun:

• et kryss → krysset
• en plass → plassen
• en innsjø → innsjøen

So you do not need a separate word for the here.

Because in Norwegian, the definite article is usually attached to the noun as a suffix.

Compare:

• a lake = en innsjø
• the lake = innsjøen

So in this sentence, the nouns are already definite:

• løypekrysset = the trail junction
• rasteplassen = the rest area
• innsjøen = the lake

That is why there is no extra word like English the in front of them.

It is a compound noun, which is extremely common in Norwegian.

It is made up of:

• løype = trail, track, route
• kryss = crossing, junction

Together, løypekryss means something like trail crossing or track junction.
Then the definite ending is added:

• løypekryss = a trail junction
• løypekrysset = the trail junction

A key rule with Norwegian compounds is that the definite ending goes on the last part of the whole compound.

Because the nouns have different grammatical genders.

In Bokmål, nouns can be:

• masculine
• feminine
• neuter

Here:

• løypekryss is neuter, so the definite form is løypekrysset
• rasteplass is usually treated as masculine in Bokmål, so the definite form is rasteplassen

Very roughly:

• many en-words take -en in the definite form
• many et-words take -et

So the different endings reflect noun gender, not a difference in meaning.

Norwegian often uses ligge for something that is situated / located somewhere, especially places, buildings, areas, and natural features.

So:

• ligger ved innsjøen = is located by the lake

This sounds more natural in Norwegian than simply using er.

Compare:

• Huset ligger ved elva. = The house is by the river.
• Byen ligger i nord. = The city is in the north.

English often uses is, but Norwegian frequently prefers ligger when talking about location.

Because Norwegian present tense verbs do not change for number the way English verbs sometimes do.

The verb is:

• jeg ligger
• du ligger
• han/hun ligger
• vi ligger
• de ligger

So ligger is the correct present-tense form whether the subject is singular or plural.

In English, we distinguish between is and are, but Norwegian does not make that kind of change in the present tense.

Ved usually means by, near, or at depending on context.

In this sentence, ved innsjøen means:

• by the lake
• near the lake

It suggests location next to or in the vicinity of the lake, not necessarily directly touching the water.

Some useful comparisons:

• ved skolen = by/near the school
• ved veien = by the road
• ved sjøen = by the sea

Innsjø specifically means lake.
Sjø more often means sea, though in some contexts it can refer to a lake as well.

So innsjøen is more precise if the meaning is definitely the lake.

• innsjø = inland lake
• sjø = sea, or sometimes lake depending on dialect/context

A learner will often see both, but innsjø removes ambiguity.

Rasteplass is another compound noun:

• raste = to rest / take a break
• plass = place

So rasteplass means a rest area, stopping place, or picnic/rest spot.

Depending on context, it could be:

• a place where hikers stop
• a roadside rest area
• a designated area for taking a break outdoors

The exact English translation depends on the setting.

Løype usually means a marked route, trail, track, or course.

The exact meaning depends on context. It is often used for:

• ski tracks
• hiking routes
• race courses
• marked outdoor paths

So løypekryss is not just any road intersection; it is specifically a crossing/junction connected with a trail or track system.

This sentence uses normal Norwegian main clause word order:

Subject + verb + place phrase

• Løypekrysset og rasteplassen = subject
• ligger = verb
• ved innsjøen = location phrase

So it follows the same basic pattern as many simple statements in English:

• The trail junction and the rest area are located by the lake.

Nothing unusual is happening with the word order here.

A few parts may feel difficult for English speakers:

• ø in løype and innsjøen is a rounded vowel that does not exist naturally in standard English
• øy in løype is a diphthong somewhat like a rounded version of the vowel in boy
• sj in innsjøen sounds like sh
• kj is often difficult in Norwegian, but it does not appear in this sentence

Very approximate help:

• løype ≈ something like LOY-peh, but with a more rounded first vowel
• innsjøen ≈ INN-shuh-en / INN-shur-en, depending on accent
• ligger ≈ LIG-er with a hard g

These are only rough approximations, but they can help you recognize the words before learning the exact sounds.

Yes, it would be understandable, but ligger ved innsjøen is generally more natural Norwegian when describing where places are located.

So:

• er ved innsjøen = understandable
• ligger ved innsjøen = more idiomatic/natural

Norwegian often chooses a verb of position or placement where English would simply use to be.