Cross-country skiing and winter hiking
The trail network in Hovden and Bykle stretches over 160 km, covering both forest and mountain terrain. The trails are regularly groomed, often daily, as long as weather and snow conditions permit. There are trails suitable for both adults and children, for beginners who are skiing for the first time, and for experienced skiers who have mastered the technique. The trails are designed for both classic and freestyle skiing. In addition, there are two nice winter hiking trails which can also be used for those who perfer walking on foot or with snowshoes. These may be combined with existing pedestrian lanes and small local roads.
- Respect other skiers
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Show consideration and be nice to other skiers.
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Show special consideration to children, and to elderly and disabled skiers.
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Keep to the right on the ski trail.
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Going uphill, you have to yield to skiers going downhill. for those who go downhill. Pay attention and give room.
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If necessary, skiers going downhill must give a warning – by shouting – to get attention. However, you are still responsible for being able to stop when required. If you fall, try to get to the side of the trail to avoid being hit by other skiers.
- Skiers coming from behind do not have right of way. When overtaking someone, you must step out of the tracks and pass them.
- Step out of the tracks when you stop to talk to other people or take a break.Det er høyrekjøring i skiløypa.
- Dog owners must show special considerations and have full control of their dogs. Remove dog droppings from the trail – and do not leave dog droppings bags behind!
- Active skiers on a training session have no privileges.
- Do not walk on foot in the cross-country trails. For this purpose, we recommend our winter hiking trails or pedestrian lanes.
- Learn how to respect the wild reindeer (see separate set of rules).
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- Respect the wild reindeer
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- Do not disturb wild reindeer, if possible visit an area without wild reindeer.
- Do not visit areas with wild reindeer during the calving season in May. In some places, access is prohibited (ref. hiking map of Hovden and Bykle).
- Follow marked trails.
- Keep your dog on a leash and acquaint yourself with the local leash law regulations.
- If you spot wild reindeer, do not approach them.
- Use binoculars and keep your distance.
- Løypevettregler
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1. Vis hensyn og vær vennlig mot andre skiløpere.
2. Vær spesielt hensynsfull og oppmerksom mot barn, eldre og bevegelseshemmede.
3. Det er høyrekjøring i skiløypa.
4. I bakker har de som går oppover «vikeplikt» for de som kommer nedover. Følg med og gi plass.
5. Den som kommer ned en bakke må om nødvendig varsle – rop «løype». Du har likevel ansvar for å kunne bremse opp og stoppe når det trengs. Om du faller, prøv å komme ut til siden for å unngå påkjørsel.
6. Den som kommer bakfra, har ikke forkjørsrett. Skal du forbi noen, må du ut av ev. spor og gå rundt dem.
7. Trekk ut av løypa når dere slår av en prat eller tar en pause.
8. Hundeeiere må vise ekstra hensyn og ha full kontroll over hunden. Fjern hundelort fra løypa – og ikke la hundeposer ligge igjen!
9. Aktive skiløpere på treningstur, har ingen særrettigheter.
10. Ikke gå på beina i skiløypene, oppsøk vintervandrevegene våre eller gangveier.
11. Lær deg villreinvettreglene.
- Villreinvettregler
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1. Ikke forstyrr villreinen, velg et annet område dersom det er kjent at det er villrein i området du hadde tenkt å besøke.
2. Unngå å ferdes i villreinområder under kalvinga i mai, noen steder er det ferdselsforbud (se turkart Hovden).
3. Følg merkede løyper.
4. Ha kontroll på hunden og sett deg inn i lokale båndtvangsregler.
6. Hold deg i ro hvis du ser villrein, slik at den kan trekke unna uforstyrret.
7. Bruk kikkert og hold avstand..
Cross-country trails - Easy -------------------------Winter hiking trails
Cross-country trails - Intermediate ---------------Articles
Cross-country trails - Advanced -------------------Mobile network coverage
Cross-country trails - Easy
Cross-country ski trails - Normal
Cross-country ski trails - Advanced
Cross-country trails - Intermediate
Cross-country trails - Advanced
Winter hiking trails
Cross-country skiing at the top of Storenos
Take the lift up to Storenos, and beautiful high mountain trails await you there. Be prepared for some challenging descents.
With cross-country skis in the chairlift, there are some rules you need to follow:
- You must have a keycard loaded for use in the chairlift. If you do not already have a day pass or season/year pass, you can load the keycard with points.
- Keycards can be purchased over the counter at the welcome center.
- A trip up with the chairlift costs 4 points per person.
- Sleds can be taken on the lift, but a ticket must be purchased at the welcome center. The ticket should be given to the lift staff.
During Easter, the following also applies:
- On Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Saturday, the last opportunity to take a sled on the lift is at 11:00 AM. This also applies to season and year pass holders. (This measure is to reduce delays in the queue)
Hovden Cross-country Arena
Hovden Cross-country Arena has trails approved for major national ski races, but the area is equally suitable for beginners and for children or others who are learning to ski. There is a very varied trail offering with short, long, steep, and gentle trails in various loops.
The trails are groomed for both styles; classic and freestyle. There is also floodlighting at the stadium and in large parts of the trail network until eleven o'clock every evening.
The perfect tracks
Hovden Løypekøyring (Hovden Trail Administration) is a municipal company responsible for grooming and maintaining the local trail network.
160 kilometres of cross-country trails are groomed below and above the treeline, in various types of terrain. The constant aim is to maintain a complete, first-class trail network. However, the decisive factor for the final result is the weather and snow conditions.
At the start of the season the snow has to be compressed/packed with belts to make a foundation for further grooming. The grooming machines have a weight of 5 to 7 tons, so in places with uneven or rocky surfaces, this job is very challenging before the snow has reached a stable level for grooming. It is easier on existing roads and paths, like in the Hovden Cross-country Arena, but large parts of our trail network is located in the mountains, in far more challenging surroundings. A number of ski resorts have small local roads and winter-closed roads that can be used for ski trails, but this is not the case for Hovden.
Otherwise, safety is a main concern. If the weather conditions in a cross-country trail are considered hazardous, this trail will not be groomed. All the trails are marked with coloured markings posts, and in the crossings there are maps and direction signs.