Winter in Rjukan

Alpine, cross-country and snowboarding

The Rjukan area has facilities for both traditional skiing and the more modern winter sports. So whether you want to go snowboarding or prefer slalom or Telemark skiing, or perhaps go for long cross-country skiing trips in the high mountains, you will find something to suit you here. Why not take a wind chute and allow the wind to blow you up the hills and on to the mountain plateau?

For more experienced skiers, there's a whole range of exciting things to do ranging from ski orienteering to moguls and off piste skiing. Its 1,600 metres from the top of Gaustatoppen Mountain to the bottom of the valley. 

Gaustablikk Ski Centre

Gaustablikk Ski Centre offers skiing lessons in alpine skiing, snowboard, telemark and cross-country. There are well prepared cross-country ski trails, traversing open mountain terrain and also running through sheltered forests.

• Lifts: 8
• Downhill runs: 21
• Longest downhill run: 2,200 metres
• Vertical drop: 350 metres
• Cross-country skiing tracks: 80 kilometres
• Ski school
• Ski hire

Møsvatn Ski Park

Møsvatn Ski Park is in the north of Telemark, 20 kilometres west of Rjukan. Møsvatn is one of the gateways to the mountain plateau of Hardangervidda. Hardangervidda has superb terrain for cross-country skiing, there are many prepared cross-country skiing tracks there. Møsvatn Lake is known as one of the best in Norway for ice fishing.

This is an excellent ski centre for families with children, offering alpine pistes and a 900-metre toboggan run. The children’s slope has facilities for ski jumping, mogul skiing and slalom.

Only open on weekends, during the Norwegian winter holiday and at Easter.

• Lifts: 2
• Downhill runs: 5
• Longest downhill run: 800 metres
• Vertical drop: 150 metres
• Cross-country skiing tracks: 52 kilometres
• Toboggan run: 900 metres
• Ski hire

Ice climbing

In recent years Rjukan has become Northern Europe's number one place for ice climbers from all over the world. Over 170 icy waterfalls in an especially long and stable winter season provide excellent conditions for climbers. 

There is climbable ice in the Rjukan area from the end of October through to early April. However, the best and most reliable time to visit is mid-January to mid-March. At this time, there are more daylight hours and ice will be in abundance. There is an annual ice climbing festival in Rjukan in February.

Ski sailing/snowkiting

If you fancy trying ski sailing/snowkiting, Rjukan is the place for you. Reach speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour on Hardangervidda. Hardangervidda is rated as one of the top snowkiting places in the world. Courses are being arranged here almost every weekend during the winter season.

Sledge rides

Snuggle deep down under warm sheepskin rugs and allow the horse to draw you through the forest winter wonderland. Sledge rides in horse-drawn sledges are available in the mountain villages and districts.