Hemsedal

Hemsedal has around fifty runs served by twenty lifts on three linked mountains, with a vertical drop of about 830 metres and a reputation for the steepest lift-served skiing in Norway, including off-piste terrain and a long season that usually runs from November into May at the higher levels. The Scandinavian Alps tag is marketing but reflects a genuinely more alpine feel than most Norwegian resorts. It draws a large Danish and Swedish clientele, and the après-ski scene is more developed than elsewhere in the country. In summer the valley offers hiking on the surrounding peaks, including the Skogshorn and Hydnefossen waterfall, along with cycling, climbing and the Rjukandefossen waterfall nearby.

History

The Hemsedal stave church, thought to have been built between 1207 and 1224, was replaced in 1882 by a wooden church designed by Johannes Henrik Nissen, and in 1897 Hemsedal was separated from Gol to become a municipality of its own. The first hotel, Skogstad, was completed in 1905; the first ski lift, the 350-metre Tottenheisen, came in 1959, and Hemsedal Skisenter opened at Holdeskaret in 1961 (Wikipedia, Hemsedal).

What to look for

• The steep terrain - the most demanding lift-served skiing in Norway.
• The three linked mountains - a connected area with 830 metres of vertical.
• The summer peaks - hiking on Skogshorn and the surrounding ridges.
• Hydnefossen - a waterfall reached from the valley in summer.

When to go

December to April for skiing, with the higher slopes often open into May; June to September for hiking and cycling. The valley is quiet between seasons.

Good to know

The resort is busy with Danish and Swedish visitors in the February and Easter holidays, when accommodation prices peak. The village is spread out and a car or shuttle helps. Weather can close the higher lifts for days at a time.

Nearby

Rjukandefossen is a short drive; Hallingskarvet, Geilo and the Hallingdal valley lie west and south.

Key facts