Korketrekkeren

The Corkscrew was built as a bobsleigh track for the 1952 Winter Olympics and used for that purpose only briefly; since then it has been a public toboggan run, two kilometres long with a drop of about 255 metres in a series of banked bends through the forest between Frognerseteren and Midtstuen. It is free, open whenever there is enough snow, and lit in the evenings. The arrangement that makes it work is the metro: sledgers ride line 1 from Midtstuen back up to Frognerseteren in a few minutes and go again, so a session can mean a dozen runs. Sledges are rented at Frognerseteren, and a restaurant at the top serves those recovering.

The main sights

• The banked run - two kilometres of former Olympic bobsleigh course.
• The metro loop - riding back up to the start between runs.
• The forest setting - the descent through Nordmarka woodland.
• The evening lighting - floodlit runs after dark in winter.

When to go

December to March, whenever there is enough snow; the season depends entirely on conditions and can be short in a mild winter. Weekends and school holidays are crowded, and evenings are popular with adults.

Practical notes

It is genuinely fast and injuries happen, particularly to people who have not sledged before; helmets are advisable and the run is not suitable for small children. Queues for sledge rental are long at weekends. Warm and waterproof clothing is essential.

Nearby

Frognerseteren and Holmenkollen are at the top; Nordmarka's ski trails run from the same station.