Go to content Go to navigation
Hafjell and the Olympic pictograph, Norway - Photo: Esben Haakenstad
  |  
Hafjell and the Olympic pictograph, Norway Photo: Esben Haakenstad

Winter at Hafjell

Hafjell is a large and complete alpine ski centre with a varied selection of runs. The centre is located 15 kilometres from Lillehammer.

Alpine skiing and snowboarding

At Hafjell, skiers can have a blast skiing down more than 41 kilometres of slopes at varying levels of difficulty. There are a total of 31 different slopes, ranging from green to black. The overall drop on the mountain is 835 metres. So whether you are a beginner or an expert, a great skiing experience awaits at Hafjell.

The slopes are easy to get to, and the comfortable and efficient Hafjell Gondola transports visitors to the top of the mountain in a flash. Two express chairlifts help make any ski holiday at Hafjell filled with as much ski fun as possible. And an additional 15 lifts allow visiting skiers to experience a wide range of varying terrain during their stay.

Hafjell was built for the Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, and there are slopes suitable for professional skiers, as well as families with children and pensioners.

Hafjell Park is the meeting place for ski jibbers, twin-tippers and snowboarders. Hafjell Park was designed by some of the world’s foremost experts in the field, and offers everything a park enthusiast could want. There is also a separate ski-cross course located in connection with the park.

Hafjell offers night-skiing every weekday with a total of seven kilometres of floodlit slopes. 

Reliable snow conditions

The stable inland climate at Hafjell provides excellent skiing conditions all winter long, with a ski season stretching from November to the end of April. The slopes are well-protected against the wind and snow-making equipment covers more than 80 per cent of the resort.

Children at Hafjell

Hafjell is extremely popular among families with children. The entire region around Lillehammer has plenty to offer kids. A specially designed children's area is located right next to the start of the Hafjell Gondola, where the family’s youngest members can start their ski careers in fun and safe surroundings. A conveyor belt and two T-bar lifts allow kids to choose the skiing challenge appropriate to their skill level.

Barneland is Hafjell's customized arena for children between the ages of four and six years who want to try skiing for the first time. The ski school at Barneland is based on having fun and taking on challenges at the right level of difficulty in order to develop skiing abilities.

Barnepassen (child care) is located next to Barneland and is a place where kids can play in light and cosy rooms featuring a wide selection of toys and games. Barnepassen is for kids between the ages of two and seven.

One ski pass – five resorts

Hafjell is part of Lillehammer Ski Resorts, which means that you can use your Hafjell ski pass at Kvitfjell, Skeikampen, Gålå and Sjusjøen. In all, the region offers 43 lifts and 113 kilometres of ski terrain on a total of 88 slopes. In addition to the wide range of downhill skiing possibilities, there are approximately 1,500 kilometres of cross-country skiing tracks.

Ski pass prices for the 2012-2013 season 

Ski rental

Ski rental is available from Skitorget, which is located centrally and rents out all the equipment you need for slalom, telemark, snowboard and cross-country skiing. Snowblades, pulks and helmets are also available for hire.

Ski school

The ski school at Hafjell can introduce you to everything from the most basic ski techniques to the most advanced and modern ski styles. The ski school offers courses in all disciplines and at all levels. Choose between a personal trainer, skiing in groups or take part in one of the ski school's Snow Camps. Active downhill skiers can also register for the Kjus race school, which was established in collaboration with the former top alpine skier Lasse Kjus.

Cross-country skiing

With 300 kilometres of prepared cross-country ski tracks, Hafjell area offers excellent opportunities for cross-country skiers as well. The Hafjell Gondola lifts you quickly up to a spectacular cross-country skiing terrain with reliable snow conditions, and you can choose from trails in mountain terrain or varied forest terrain. To the south, the local cross-country trails are linked together with Lillehammer's extensive network of cross-country trails. To the north, you can ski from Hafjell all the way to the Rondane mountain range. So here you can ski as far, wide and high as you like.

Winter without skis

With its unique location next to the Olympic town of Lillehammer, Hafjell can offer a wide range of winter activities besides skiing as well. It would be impossible to mention everything, so here we just highlight a few. Norway's only winter-open family park, Hunderfossen Winter Park, is just a few minutes' drive from Hafjell. Here you can spend the night in Scandinavia's southernmost ice hotel and visit a spectacular ice cathedral. Sledging and driving snowmobiles and ATVs are just a few of the other winter activities offered at the family park.

Where to stay

Due to the close proximity to Lillehammer, Hafjell can offer accommodation alternatives ranging from quiet forest huts to downtown luxury suites. There is also a large range of ski in/ski out accommodation in huts, apartments and hotels (approximately 4,000 beds). 

Dining and nightlife

Dining possibilities range from a quiet dinner prepared in your own kitchen to a wide range of restaurants and nightclubs. With eight restaurants, four cafes and three nightclubs on or close to the slopes, Hafjell has plenty to offer. Lillehammer is just a 15-minute drive away and offers an extensive range of accommodation, dining and nightlife options as well.

Getting to Hafjell

Hafjell is easily accessible whether you are travelling via Oslo Gardermoen Airport, by boat to Oslo or by car. The car trip from Oslo takes about two and a half hours (two hours from Oslo Gardermoen Airport).

Oslo: 195 kilometres
Trondheim: 355 kilometres
Lillehammer: 15 kilometres

Last updated:  2013-01-18
Ski resort facts
10
10
7
4
  • Slopes

  • Slopes in total (km)
    41
  • Floodlit slopes
    7
  • Terrain parks
    2
  • Nursery slopes
    5
  • Off-piste
  • Cross-country trails (km)
    300
  • Lifts

  • Surface lifts
    12
  • Chair lifts
    3
  • Gondola lifts
    1
  • Children’s lifts
    2
  • Vertical drop

  • Vertical drop (m)
    835
  • Ski school and ski rental

  • Guided trips
  • Alpine ski school
  • Snowboard school
  • Ski rental
  • Accommodation

  • Hotel
  • Cabins/chalets
  • Apartments
  • Rooms to let
  • Mountain lodge
  • For the children

  • Children’s ski school
  • Children’s ski rental
  • Ski kindergarten
  • Free ski pass
  • Places to eat

  • Piste cafés/restaurants

Interest:  Skiing

Close
Embed this article

Copy and paste this code into your blog/website

Preview

Hafjell and the Olympic pictograph, Norway - Photo: Esben Haakenstad

Winter at Hafjell

Hafjell is a large and complete alpine ski centre with a varied selection of runs. The centre is located 15 kilometres from Lillehammer.

Winter at Hafjell

Source: Visitnorway

Related

Winter in the Lillehammer region

Lillehammer is one of the oldest winter sport destinations in Norway and offers excellent opportunities for alpine and cross-country skiing.

Top 10 snowboard parks in Norway

The Norwegian Snowboard Association recommends the top 10 snowboard parks in Norway. Tryvann Winter Park in Oslo is among their favourites.

About Øyer

Key facts about Gudbrandsdalen

The Gudbandsdalen area consists of a main valley, with the smaller valleys of Gausdal, Espedalen, Vinstradalen, Heidal and Ottadalen.

Key facts about the Lillehammer Region

The Lillehammer Region, situated around two hours north of Oslo, offer everything from urban areas to valleys and mountain plateaus.

Tourist information in the Lillehammer Region

Tourist offices are open all year round, and provide tips and information on Lillehammer and Gudbrandsdalen.

ADS

Related videos

Related

Øyer

Skiing

ADS

TEXT ADS