Hemsedal

Hemsedal is in Norway's Hallingdal valley, 220 km northwest of Oslo. You can ski at Hemsedal Skisenter, Norway's second-largest resort with 44 km of slopes. Hike to Mount Skogshorn, fly-fish in the Hemsila river, or see the Rjukandefossen waterfall. The village has Hemsedal Church from 1882.

Skiing and Winter Activities

Hemsedal Skisenter has 44 km of slopes on peaks such as Totten, Tinden, and Roni. Twenty-two lifts serve these slopes, including the Olaheisen chairlift. You ski from 1,450 meters down to 620 meters, with a vertical drop of 830 meters. You will find areas for beginners, intermediate runs, and challenging black runs. There is off-piste terrain where you need a guide for safety. Cross-country skiers use 140 km of trails, including 10 km of lighted paths starting at Gravset. Night skiing continues until 9 pm on specific slopes during the season. Stavkroa has music and drinks for après-ski evenings.

Summer Adventures

Hike marked trails like the Top 20 mountain routes, including the trek up Mount Skogshorn. Fish for trout in the Hemsila river with a single license covering 18 mountain lakes and four rivers. Try guided river snorkeling to see the clear waters. Mountain bike on trails such as Tottelia Rides with berms for different abilities. The climbing park Høyt & Lavt has a river zipline. Mountain carting down ski slopes gives fast rides after snow melts.

Historical Sites and Culture

Hemsedal Church was built in 1882 to replace a medieval stave church. It is a wooden building with 500 seats and an organ from 1888. The original stave church, constructed between 1207 and 1224, was dismantled in 1882. Hemsedal Bygdetun museum at Øvre Løkji has 18th-century farm buildings and artifacts. You reach it by mountain trails. Farming here centered on livestock and dairy using summer mountain pastures called shielings. Skogstad Hotell opened as the village's first hotel in 1905.

Accommodation and Dining

Choose from high-end hotels, cabins, or mountain farm stays. Skistar Lodge and Fyrí Resort have ski-in/ski-out access and wellness facilities. Restaurants have local dishes such as Småmat and Hallingkost. These include cheeses from Himmelspannet dairy. Cafés like Elmas Handel and Lodgen Spiseri sell coffee, cinnamon buns, and hot chocolate. Taste traditional flatbread at Ulsåkstølen or Hemsedal Flatbrødbakeri.

Getting to Hemsedal

Hemsedal is on Norwegian National Road 52. Take Bergensbanen train between Oslo and Bergen, exiting at Gol station. From Gol, a shuttle bus or taxi takes 30 minutes to Hemsedal. Express bus VY170 travels daily from Oslo Central Station to Hemsedal, passing Oslo Airport Gardermoen. A winter transfer bus runs Sundays from Oslo Airport directly to Hemsedal; book this in advance. Drive from Oslo or Bergen Airport easily, using winter tires and snow chains.