Hemsedal Ski Resort Guide

Introduction

Hemsedal is among Scandinavia's largest and best ski resorts with steep, imposing mountains and a wide range of slopes. It is situated up in the mountains between Oslo and Bergen and has two ski centres.

Hemsedal Ski Centre has wide, well-prepared pistes, two terrain parks and designated areas for children and beginners. Solheisen Ski Centre is a smaller resort situated in the nearby valley of Grøndalen. Hemsedal also offers excellent off-piste and cross-country skiing conditions as well as a vast repertoire of non-skiing activities.

Mountain facts

Resort elevation: 650m (2,132ft) to 1,100m (3,642ft).
Top elevation: 1,450m (4,757ft).
Base elevation: 640m (2,100ft).
Number of lifts: 24.
Number of runs: 48.
Average annual snowfall: 3m (10ft).

Where in the world?

Hemsedal is located in the Hallingdal district in the county of Buskerud in the middle of southern Norway, almost equidistant between Oslo to the east and Bergen on the west coast.

Hit the slopes

The season runs from mid November to the first Sunday in May.

Hemsedal really offers something for everyone - from specially created areas for children and beginners to runs that are extremely fast and challenging to the vast off-piste areas. In between there are all the wide and gentle but still quite fast slopes that are perfect for intermediate skiers. Solheisen Ski Centre is great for relaxed yet fast skiing, with its wide, open slopes on the sunny side of Grøndalen. There is a mixture of chairlifts and drag lifts, all in tip-top shape.

In addition there are good terrain parks with two halfpipes, jumps, quarterpipes, corners, fun boxes and more. Snow conditions are reliable throughout the season, with snowmaking available on 18 slopes.

There are two ski schools and several ski hire outlets.

Beyond the slopes

Cross-country skiing conditions are excellent, with 130km (81 miles) of machine-prepared trails and another 80km (50 miles) of marked mountain trails. Other available activites in Hemsedal include dog sledding, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, paragliding, guided mountain tours, paintballing and ice climbing.

Family fun

Six of the slopes and seven lifts are accessible to children, and there is a snow playing area, a sledge slope and a troll park, as well as a wigwam with barbecues by the main ski centre. There are also skiing competitions for the whole family. Solheisen Ski Centre is particularly well suited for families.

Skogstad Hotel has a fitness centre. Trollia Créche, Hemsedal Ski Centre, can take care of children aged six months and older.

Retail therapy

Hemsedal village has a number of good shops for clothing and sports equipment as well as for souvenirs and decorative items. Finbeck og Fia is the local fashion shop, while Hemsedal Sport, Sport 1 and Hemsedal Sportshop have a good selection of sports gear and Skandinavisk Høyfjellsutstyr sells outdoor and mountain sport equipment. Stugu Husflid offers local handicraft items, and Kjellaren sells souvenirs, trolls and toys.

Après ski

The Elk Bar, Bar[t], Hemsedal Cafe and Garasjen Bar, Hemsedal village, offer drinks and a cosy atmosphere, as does Skistua, Stavkroa, Alpin Lodge and Experten, Hemsedal Ski Centre. Hemsen Nightclub, Hemsedal Fjellandsby, and the nightclub Fjellbekk, Skogstad Hotell, are great options if you are in a party mood.

Eating out

The restaurant at the hotel Harahorn, Grøndalen, is one of the best in Norway and serves traditional and modern Norwegian dishes based on locally sourced and produced ingredients. Other restaurants are Kjøkkenkroken, Skogstad Anden Etage, Skarsnuten Restaurant and Hemsedal Cafe. Oxen Bar & Grill, Hemsedal Fjellandsby, is a very good steak house. For less expensive fare, a Peppe's Pizza is located in Hemsedal village.

Getting around

Free shuttle buses take visitors from accommodations at Tuv, Skarsnuten area, the Hemsedal village and Ulsåk to Hemsedal Ski Centre and Solheisen Ski Centre.

Splashing out

Located at an elevation of 1,100m (3,609ft), next to Solheisen Ski Centre, the Harahorn (www.harahorn.no) offers both luxury hotel and cabin accommodation. Spend a romantic night in one of the suites or maybe one of the cabins and have a three-course meal delivered to your room from the hotel's excellent kitchen.

Accommodation

Luxury

Hemsedal Alpin Lodge
New apartment hotel at the base of Hemsedal Ski Centre

Hemsedal village
Tel: 3205 5060.
Website: www.hemsedal.com

Moderate

Skogstad Hotel
Hemsedal's oldest hotel (more than 100 years) still offers comfortable and stylish accommodation.

Hemsedal village
Tel: 3205 5000.
Website: www.skogstadhotell.no

Budget

Hemsetunet
Modern, well-equipped apartments for six to 10 people, some with saunas. Budget in Norwegian terms.

Hemsedal village
Tel: 3206 0150.
Website: www.hemsetunet.no

Getting there

Nearest airport: Fagernes (VDB); Oslo (OSL).

Distances to resort: 80km (50 miles); 243km (152 miles).

Driving times: 1 hour 10 minutes; 3 hours 10 minutes.

Nearest railway station: Gol.

Distance to resort: 30km (19 miles).

Driving time: 30 minutes.

Website


This resort is good for...

Beginners, Non-skiers, Families, Intermediates, Après ski, Snow reliability, Snowboarders, Experts

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