Photo: Esben Haakenstad

Cross-country skiing from Hafjell to Sjusjøen

Welcome to 600 kilometres of trails

There are people who drive four hours in order to ski for two. From Nermo, you just have to ride the gondola up. Ten minutes later, you are standing on Mosetertoppen with 600 kilometres of groomed trails in front of you, in a network that stretches to Sjusjøen, Nordseter and Lillehammer. If you want to go further, the trails are connected all the way to Rondane.

Øyerfjellet is not the most famous cross-country skiing area in Norway. Maybe that's why it's so good. Quiet plateaus, gentle formations, wide views and well-groomed trails without queues. Combined with a hotel in the valley where breakfast is made from scratch and a hot tub is ready when you return.

Mosetertoppen as a starting point

The gondola in Hafjell makes Mosetertoppen one of the country's most accessible starting points for cross-country skiing. You can park in the valley, take the lift up 586 metres, and strap on your skis right at Mosetertoppen Ski Stadium. No long car ride up narrow mountain roads. No searching for parking.

If you want a quick session without embarking on a long trip, the Moseter trail is perfect. 3.7 kilometres through the cabin area at the top, with lights from six o'clock in the morning to eleven in the evening all winter. A round before breakfast takes just over half an hour. If you want to ski a little longer, the Hafjellrunden is about 7 kilometres via Pellestova and Ilsetra, with nice views of the entire village.

If you prefer to go even higher, the Hafjell 360 lift takes you all the way to the top. From there, you head straight out onto the mountain, with the plains in front of you and the valley far below.

Photo: Kenneth Nordahl Pedersen/Visit Lillehammer

Photo: Photographer Anni Martikainen, Art director Tina Rustadstuen/Visit Lillehammer

Photo: Kenneth Nordahl Pedersen/Visit Lillehammer

Cross-country skiing in the mountains

Øyer Turskillænper prepares 220 kilometres of trails with two machines, and the job starts as soon as the snow arrives. The terrain is typical Norwegian mountain plateau: gentle formations, open marsh and birch forests. Most of the trails are above the tree line, which means wide views in all directions.

From here, you can ski as far as you want. A popular intermediate circuit is Mosetertoppen to Pellestova and back via Nysetra, a total of 15.7 kilometres in easier terrain. For those who want a real day out, the Hafjell Ski Marathon circuit is 42 kilometres through varied terrain, with gentle climbs, forest trails and open mountains. And if you really want to stretch your legs, you can ski from Mosetertoppen to Lillehammer, just over 32 kilometres through the mountains with the city as your destination.

All trails are marked with place names and distance signs at intersections. Bring a ski map or download the Skisporet app, which shows where you are and when the slopes were last groomed.

Sjusjøen and Birkebeinerløypa

The trail network from Øyerfjellet connects directly to Sjusjøen, which is considered one of Europe's foremost cross-country skiing destinations. Sjusjøen alone has over 350 kilometres of well-groomed trails, of which just over 300 are also adapted for skating.

The Birkebeiner trail runs like a red thread through the entire network. For those who dream of completing the Birken race, you can train on the route itself straight from Mosetertoppen. It's not bad preparation.

In total, Hafjell, Sjusjøen, Nordseter, Lillehammer and the areas further north make up a trail network of over 2,500 kilometres. It is virtually impossible to run out of new routes.

Convenient for cross-country skiers

Getting up the mountain:

The gondola is the easiest way to reach Mosetertoppen. Alternatively, you can drive to Gaiastova or Mosetertoppen. The Hafjell 360 lift takes you all the way to the top if you want to go straight out onto the plains.

Grooming:

Øyer Turskiløyper has two snow groomers in action all season. Check the updated status on skisporet.no or in the Skisporet app, which shows real-time data for when the trails were last groomed.

Equipment:

Cross-country ski rental is available in Hafjell. Nermo has a ski room for storage.

Season:

The trails are groomed as soon as the snow allows and until spring arrives. The floodlit trail at Mosetertoppen is lit all winter.

Trip suggestions from Mosetertoppen:

  • Moseter trail (floodlit trail): 3.7 km

  • Hafjellrunden via Pellestova and Ilsetra: approx. 7 km

  • Mosetertoppen–Pellestova–Nysetra and back: 15.7 km

  • Mosetertoppen–Nordseter: 18.8 km

  • Mosetertoppen–Lillehammer: 32.3 km

  • Hafjell Ski Marathon round: 42 km

Back to Nermo

There is something special about coming down from the mountains after a long day of skiing. One's body is tired in a good way, and one's head is empty of anything but fresh air and stunning views. At Nermo, the hot tubs are hot, dinner is made with local ingredients, and there is no nagging about check-out by 10 am.

For conference guests who want to combine meetings with skiing: The Moss trail takes half an hour. The gondola brings you up and back down. You can make it to a session before the first item on the agenda.

More winter activities

When you stay with us, you don’t have to choose between alpine skiing and cross-country skiing, between speed and culture, or between an active holiday and slow, relaxing days. Here, you can do exactly what suits you, and there are plenty of options to choose from.

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