Things to do at Skeikampen

Fresh air and the opportunity for exercise have attracted tourists to Skeikampen since the end of the 19th century, when Norway’s first tourist hotel was located there in the mountains.

Hiking in the mountains, either on foot or on skis, is still what attracts many people to Skeikampen and the varied terrain is excellent for recreational trips regardless of what fitness level you are and when in the year you are visiting.

Below we have gathered some of our absolute favourite activities at Skeikampen – suitable for both big and small mountaineers

Top trail to Skeikampen

The hike to the top of Skeikampen is a popular and easily accessible mountain hike, suitable for both big and small mountaineers. The way up is quite steep, but still relatively easy to walk and well up there, fantastic views await over the mountains and Peer Gynt Vegen, Jotunheimen and Dovrefjell. At the top is also the Steinhytta cabin, which is open so that you can go in if it is windy and inclement.

Seterrunden

A great, child-friendly trail of about four kilometres, walking on gravel roads in varied terrain and scenic surroundings. The trail starts at the Welcome Centre and takes you westwards along the Peer Gynt Vegen in ascending terrain. Turn right towards Fjellkirka and follow Myresetervegen through the alpine ski resort to Torsdalsvegen. Keep right on Torsdalsvegen and go through the gate at Skei Seter. Turn right when you get down to the driving range and follow this back to the start. The route is great either ways, but the easiest way is to go around with the sun described above.

Alpine skiing for all ages

The Skeikampen Alpine centre opens in November and has 21 slopes and 11 lifts. Whether you are skiing or snowboarding – have just started or want to challenge yourself – there’s a slope for you. The facility has its own alpine area for children, where you can teach the small ones the pleasure of skiing free of charge in safe and fun surroundings. On the slopes you will also find an exciting and fun snowpark with lots of different elements and jumps. If you would like a refresher with one of our skilled instructors, there is a ski school for children and private lessons for all ages.

Rental of a wide range of equipment is offered. You can rent complete equipment packages for alpine skiing, snowboarding, telemark skiing and cross-country skiing.

Cross-country trails in beautiful surroundings

Welcome to skiing from October to May. The network of trails is located on the divide between the mountains and the forest, which gives a great degree of variation in the terrain. All ski slopes are prepared and marked and there are many alternatives to both short and long ski trips. Below are some of our favourite trails.

Panorama trail: 8 or 11 km

Experience Skeikampen’s most beautiful fine weather trail! Here you have a view over the entire mountain area with Rondane, Jotunheimen and Langsua National Park as a backdrop. Take the lift to the top and go for a easy walk in the mountains and come home with smiling kids.

Peer Gynt trail: 13.9 km

Skeikampen’s main trail, which opens first and closes last. The trail starts from Skeikampen and goes to Fagerhøi along the Peer Gynt road – perfect as a destination for a cup of coffee and something to eat. The trail offers a good view of both Rondane and Jotunheimen with alpine scenery.

Gammelsetra – Bjørgarunden: 29 km

The tour around Gammelsetera and Bjørga is a varied and good trail in woodland and a favourite of those who exercise a lot. The trail is very hilly without the longest slopes and not very sensitive to inclement weather.

See suggestions for great ski tours at Skeikampen

Learn cross-country skiing techniques with an instructor

Although it is said that we Norwegians are born with skis on our feet, not all of us are necessarily that good on them. Whether your ambition is to do the Birken event or join your friends or family on a Sunday stroll with Quick Lunch bars and hot chocolate in your backpack, it’s never too late to start! If you want to learn cross-country skiing techniques, where it’s safe to ski and find the joy of skiing, you can join a cross-country course with Powder & Dirt. The three-hour course gives you an introduction to cross-country skiing and is suitable for all beginners.

Impress with new ski and board skills

Whether you want to get better at alpine skiing, snowboarding, telemark skiing or cross-country skiing, or perhaps want to learn how to jump on skis or get faster on the downhill slopes, Skeikampen Snowsport Academy has a course for you. Together with certified instructors, you can join both private lessons and group classes, giving you the opportunity to take your skills to the next level – whether you are a beginner or experienced. Powder & Dirt also arranges various courses, where you can get better at going off-piste.

Safe to the summit

If you’ve always dreamed of climbing a mountain top with skis, but lack experience, or just want to hike in spectacular winter landscapes safely, you can join Powder & Dirt on a guided summit hike. If you are going to be in the mountains in the winter you need both knowledge and good equipment – and on a guided tour you get both. Get ready for a magical winter adventure, feel the wind in your hair and be rewarded with a spectacular skiing trip down the mountains after hiking all the way up.

Adrenalin kick on skis

Do you think regular skiing is a bit too boring? Then kiting might be right for you! At Skeikampen, we have fantastic wind conditions and beautiful mountain areas that are ideal for snowkiting. Together with Kiteskolen, we arrange courses that are suitable for both beginners and experienced people of all ages. Guaranteed a fun and slightly different activity suitable for the family, friends and colleagues on a trip.

Be safe in the mountains

Whether you’re planning your first summit trip, or have a lot of experience in the mountains, it’s always a good idea to learn about snow and avalanche terrain or refresh your knowledge about safe travel. On an avalanche course with Powder & Dirt, you will learn practical and theoretical skills about avalanches, how to assess hazards and what to do if you or others need to be rescued. The course is aimed at you who is going to go on a summit trip randonee skiing or telemark skiing, and you must have your own summit equipment. If you are going in the mountains where there is an avalanche risk, this knowledge is vital – and can make you make the right choices that can save lives.

Skeikampen cycle paradise

Skeikampen is a dream destination for cycling enthusiasts – both for beginners and more experienced cyclists. Whether you are interested in mountain biking, cycling on pleasant country roads, cycling trips with mountain views or child-friendly cycling, Skeikampen has a cycle path that suits you. The cycle routes offer a variety of terrain and whether you’re completely new or experienced, you’ll find a wide range of routes to choose from.

You can rent bikes from Transition, Spawn and Scott at our hotel Thon Hotel Skeikampen. We are open every day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Contact us by e-mail or telephone on +47 61 22 08 72 for more information.

Full speed on two wheels

Want to try your hand at mountain biking? Skeikampen is known as one of Norway’s best places for mountain biking, with its narrow sheep tracks and beautiful mountain trails that are suitable for both beginners and those with a little more experience. Our partner Powder & Dirt offers a variety of different courses in mountain biking with both regular bikes and electric bikes. The courses will teach you good technique and allow you to test yourself on paths – aiming to be even tougher and safer down the slopes.

Need to rent a bike? Skeikampen Ski & Bike has everything you need for your bikes and equipment. However, we recommend booking in good time. Book your bike and bike equipment here.

Golf up high

Skei Golf is the Nordic region’s highest 18-hole golf course, 854 metres above sea level. The course's eminent greenkeeper, Knut Erik Hagen, ensures optimal conditions throughout the season in close cooperation with the board and general manager. The course is open generally from the first weekend in June and closes for the winter around 10 October. Skei Golfklubb is known for its informal and great environment. Guests and new members are most welcome!

Downhill at full speed

The ski slopes at Skeikampen are not necessarily just for skiers! Tobogganing is perfect for those seeking other adrenaline-filled fun and with Skeikampen Opplevelser, you can fly down the ski slopes after closing time with a specially-built toboggan to achieve the highest possible speed. Take the Aidon lift up before it’s time for another action-packed ride down again.

Happy paddling

A paddling trip is a perfect activity for the whole family or group of friends and at Skeikampen there are many lakes that are well suited as an idyllic and great way to explore the area's scenery. Canoeing and kayaking is an activity that makes it easy for you to get to exciting and new natural surroundings and without having to walk far or carry heavy loads. At Thon Austlid Fjellstue you can rent canoes all summer long.

For the water nymphs

There are many idyllic swimming spots with opportunities for barbecuing and playing at Skeikampen. Many of them are also located along the hiking and cycling routes and can therefore be combined with an active day on foot or on the bike. At Paradis, you swim in a pool in the river and the water temperature can be great. The area has benches and barbecuing areas and is very child-friendly. Veslesætervatnet is a large lake in the area with seating and campfire sites. The headland below Austlid Fjellstue is a gem and the water often gets extra warm in this part. Rausjøen is a controlled lake, with two well-known bathing spots associated with the lake. Gruva combines fine sand and tall rocks for diving and jumping and also has the morning sun, a "gapahuk" (lean-to) and campfire site. The dam offers nice, child-friendly swimming areas with both seating and campfire sites and the area is quite shallow.

Try your luck at fishing

Skeikampen offers varied mountain fishing with many good fishing lakes and rivers in the mountains. It is not unusual to catch pike over 10 kg, or trout and char over two kg. The fishing lakes are idyllic located and easily accessible from the Peer Gynt road and Veslesetervegen. Here you’ll find mountain peace and nice, child-friendly tent sites for a true fishing adventure.

Hunderfossen Adventure Park

The Hunderfossen family park is known as the Whole of Norway's Adventure Park and is one of Norway’s most popular tourist attractions. There are more than 60 attractions and sights and activities for the whole family, including the spectacular Il Tempo Extra Gigante. The amusement park is only 35 minutes by car from Skeikampen, by the E6 and the Dovre line just north of Lillehammer city centre.

The potholes in Helvete (Hell)

The potholes in Helvete are some of the wildest you can experience in Norwegian nature. Here you can see how the forces of nature have worked and shaped the bedrock itself. The potholes were formed at the end of the last ice age by water and rocks from the melting ice rotating inside the mountains and making large potholes, several over 40 metres deep and 20–30 metres wide. In Helvete Nature Park is also the Dalbakken Fjellgard mountain farm, where children and adults can visit many different animals and the area is otherwise known for its rich flora.

Horseback riding in the mountains

Dalseter have been offering riding in the mountains in Espedalen more or less since 1950. Originally, the hotel had stables with its own horses and its own riding instructor. Riding is now offered in the summer from the end of June to the middle of August – when Åsli Riding Centre is there with their horses.

Lilleputthammer Family Park

Lilleputthammer in Hafjell is the only family park in Norway specifically for children between the ages of 0 and 8. In the "small town with the big heart", children can ride trains, cars, boats, carousels, Ferris wheels, roller coasters or whizz down in Ola’s frog jumps. They can play around on climbing towers, obstacle courses, bouncy castles and trampolines.

Tobogganing and bobsledding in Lillehammer

If you’d like to try a real Olympic activity, the Lillehammer Olympic Bob and luge track are worth a visit. In the winter you can choose between bobrafting, taxibob and skeleton, and in the summer you can enjoy a speedy wheelbob ride. The bob- and luge track is located at Hunderfossen, 15 km north of Lillehammer city centre.

Full speed on two wheels

Want to try your hand at mountain biking? Skeikampen is known as one of Norway’s best places for mountain biking and with its narrow sheep tracks and beautiful mountain trails, Skeikampen is a dream destination for cycling enthusiasts – whether you are a beginner or more experienced. Our partner Powder & Dirt offers a variety of courses in mountain biking with both regular bikes and electric bikes. The courses will teach you good technique and allow you to test yourself on paths – aiming to be even tougher and safer down the slopes.

Need to rent a bike? Skeikampen Ski & Bike has everything you need for your bikes and equipment. However, we recommend booking in good time. Book your bike and bike equipment here.

Learn cross-country skiing techniques with an instructor

Although it is said that we Norwegians are born with skis on our feet, not all of us are necessarily that good on them. Whether your ambition is to do the Birken event or join your friends or family on a Sunday stroll with Quick Lunch bars and hot chocolate in your backpack, it’s never too late to start! If you want to learn cross-country skiing techniques, where it’s safe to ski and find your skiing pleasure, you can join cross-country skiing courses with Powder & Dirt. The three-hour course gives you an introduction to cross-country skiing and is suitable for all beginners.