Mountain fun right out our back door

We groom our own cross country ski tracks that take you over a frozen lake and into a snow-covered forest where calmness awaits. You can choose a gentle, scenic loop around the lake, or go for an adventure with an ascent towards the base of Skogshorn. Both tracks promise breathtaking panoramic views. And the best part? It is all right on our doorstep.

We lend out cross country skis (assorted adult sizes only).

We also lend out alpine skis, so you can make the most of nearby ski parks like Vaset, ten minutes away, and Hemsedal, just a half-hour drive away.

Nøsen is located in beautiful, scenic mountain surroundings, about 35 minutes' drive from Fagernes in the Valdres region, and about 1 hour's drive from Hemsedal. Both Valdres and Hemsedal are known for the beauty of their mountains and landscapes, and for the terrific opportunities they offer to enjoy the outdoors, all year round.

Should you wish to plan a longer stay in our spectacular region, you can find a lot of information about the nearby areas on valdres.no and hemsedal.com. Depending on the season, the area offers tremendous opportunities to go on mountain hikes and bike tours, kayak in the fjord, fish and, of course, hit the winter ski slopes.

For cross-country fans, skisporet.no offers an overview of the ski tracks around Vaset.

Fishing fans can find information about fishing licences and permits at inatur.no.

Here are some of our suggestions for tours nearby.

Ideal for: anyone in good physical shape.

Skogshorn is one of the best known mountains in the Hemsedal region and, on sunny days, its top can be admired in all its beauty from our dining hall's windows.

To get started on the tour, drive to Lykkja, about 15 minutes from our retreat centre, and follow the sign to Skogshorn and its parking lot, which is on the right side of the road. From the parking lot the trek is well marked, starting steep before turning left towards the top.

Ideal for: experienced climbers.

There are up to 12 climbing routes up Skogshorn. Check out ut.no for information on directions and routes. The most popular ones are "Demonstranten" and "Overraskelsen". The wall varies in height from 200 m to 400 m, and the grade of difficulty goes from 3 to 6.

Ideal for: the whole family.

This is an excellent tour for the whole family, with a wonderful view at the top, from which you can see Gaustadtoppen, one of Norway's highest peaks and the highest in the county of Telemark. The tour starts at a pasture in Lykkja. Keeping to the west side of the falls, you naturally follow the valley upward until the peak appears in front of you. Being such a popular tour, it tends to be well marked. At the top you can enjoy the view to the rear of the mountain, and the sight of Skogshorn towards the north.

The hike is steep and steady, covering 700 m in altitude, which makes the descent playful. The snow tends to stay on the ground for most of the year, and should be expected in spring. For more experienced hikers seeking a greater challenge, alternative descent routes are available. We recommend that only the most experienced mountaineers consider those, and that they gather sufficient information on weather and mountain conditions ahead of the trip. For more info, check out ut.no.

Ideal for: the whole family, and especially families with young children.

The top of Grønsennknippa is an easily accessible hike, and a children's favourite. Children as young as three have hiked this trail on their own (or been carried by their family for a little while towards the end of the trip). Starting at Grønsennstølane (8 km there and back), you get a comfortable ascent, but the top can also be reached by a trail from Bjødnhøvd, or from Nøsen via Nøseknippa (1234 m).

Coming from Nørdre Trollhovd, the tour starts on the small hill just before Grønsennstølane, where the parking lot is. The start of the trail is well signposted, and the hike is very easy to follow all the way to the top. At the top there are beautiful views in all directions.

If you want to extend your trip, you can carry on to Nøseknippa.

Nøsen lies at approximately 900 metres above sea level. In Norway, this is close to the tree line, the edge of the area where trees are able to grow.

The weather here is typical for the Norwegian mountains. In winter, the temperature can reach -20 ºC, both in the daytime and at night. Nøsen is covered in snow throughout most of the spring, and even in summer we recommend bringing and wearing wool, both inside and when going out on tour, as the temperature can change fast. Summer nights are quite chilly.

To best enjoy the surrounding areas, we recommend bringing proper mountain gear, including ankle-high boots, wool base layers, and a water- and windproof jacket. This is recommended in summer too.

We also recommend bringing at least one pair of warm slippers. For hygiene reasons, we do not allow shoes indoors.

Do check the temperature ahead of your visit on yr.no, and see the average temperatures by month: Weather statistics for Nøsen Fjellhotell in Vestre Slidre, Oppland.