David Norris (USA) – FIS world cup cross-country, skiathlon men, Lillehammer (NOR). www.nordicfocus.com. © Modica/NordicFocus. Every downloaded picture is fee-liable.
With its mountainous and forested terrain and sweeping snowy landscapes, Norway offers some of the best skiing experiences in the world. If you get the chance to ski in the Scandinavian white wilderness, here are four top Norwegian ski resorts that you should check out.
Hemsedal Ski Center
With fifty-three slopes, twenty-one lifts, and a very long season, Hemsedal Ski Center has ranked highly as one of Norway’s top skiing destinations for years. The resort has several snow parks and a children’s area, and it provides some unique off-piste opportunities. There are 250 km of cross-country trails, including several illuminated trails. There are also lots of cafés and several restaurants dotted along the tracks, so you can take a break from skiing whenever you like to enjoy a hot drink and some tasty food, accompanied by breathtaking alpine views.
Kvitfjell Ski Resort
Built for the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, the Kvitfjell Ski Resort features thirty-three slopes and fourteen lifts. The steep world-cup piste has a difference in height of more than 800 meters. The resort’s network of cross-country trails covers both the western and the eastern sides of Kvitfjell’s mountains. And with a number of fantastic roundtrips, you can enjoy both the mountain and forest terrain, above the tree line. If weather conditions permit, you can even ski from Lillehammer town center. Furthermore, Kvitfjell Ski Resort provides some of the best alpine food in all of Norway, so you will not be disappointed when you stop skiing to have lunch. You can dine while taking in the magnificent views of the area, or if you find yourself worrying about your morning’s skiing performance, you could play online games like the sweet bonanza slot on your phone while you eat your lunch to clear your mind and be ready for the afternoon.
Hafjell Alpine Resort
Hafjell Alpine Resort is of an Olympic standard. It features fifty km of slopes and the season lasts long into April. Quite simply, Hafjell has some of the best skiing terrains in the world. Nordic skiing is available down the slopes or on the glorious white Øyer mountain plateaus. The best cross-country skiing tracks, that take in the majestic views of the mountainous plateaus, are the ones that lead to Lillehammer, Sjusjøen, and Nordseter. Most trails are above the tree line. The hilliest trail is the Nysetra-Listra, which has an 80-meter vertical drop. For the most scenic trail, check out Rognhaugen-Kneiken. There are 350 km of prepared cross-country trails. In addition to running all the way to places like Lillehammer, they also connect with the Olympic trails at the Birkebeineren Ski Stadium. For a beautiful forest and mountain setting with world-class skiing opportunities, the Hafjell Alpine Resort is undoubtedly one of Norway’s best.
Trysil
The largest and arguably the best ski resort in Norway is Trysil. With sixty-eight well-groomed slopes in three directions around three sides of the stunning Mount Trysilfjellet, spreading out over 500 km, the Trysil resort offers both incredible views and outstanding skiing terrain. The cross-country trails can be found both on top of the mountain and below the tree line. There are about 100 km of cross-country trails in total. If it is your first time at the resort, the Fageråsen and Skihytta are good starting points for broad grooves. It is a family-friendly resort, too. You will find children’s areas at Høyfjellssenteret and Turistsenteret. Ski schools and rentals are available on each side of the mountain. And if you want to relax after a day of skiing, you can stay in one of the luxurious hotels in the center of the slopes.