Hallingdal

Hallingdal is a valley and district in Norway's Buskerud county, west and northwest of Oslo. The valley is home to Norway's most popular ski resorts and is the main entrance to key hiking areas. Hallingdal stretches from the lowland lakes at Ringerike to the barren Hardangervidda and Hallingskarvet mountains.

Understand
Hallingdal is one of Norway's major valleys. It cuts through the bedrock for about 150 km from Lake Krøderen to Hardangervidda at Geilo. Hemsedal is a branch of the main valley. Road 50 runs through the Hol branch towards Flåm/Aurland at Sognefjord. The valley floor is gentle while the surrounding hills and mountains are steep and home to several ski resorts. The valley is also home to road 7 (a key east-west road) and Bergensbanen (the Bergen railway line).

In the barren mountains the reindeer is master, while the forests is home to a large number of elk/moose ("elg"). Some brown bears also thrive there, some are kept in a park (zoo) at Flå.

Hallingdal generally enjoys relatively dry continental climate (warm summers and cold winters). Winters can be bitterly cold in the interior. Nesbyen has the highest recorded temperatures in summer in Norway and usually among the warmest places in summer on average. Winters are also relatively cold. At Geilo temperatures are consistently below 0°C (frost) from December through March, most of November and April are also below 0°C during night. There is modest precipitation in Hallingdal. Wind can however be rough on the exposed mountain plateaus.

Towns and other destinations

 * Gol
 * Nesbyen
 * Gol
 * Nesbyen

By rail
Trains on Bergensbanen between Oslo and Bergen stop at Hønefoss, Gol, Ål, Geilo. Some trains stop also at Flå, Nesbyen, Ustaoset and Haugastøl. Tickets are sold by NSB

By car

 * Riksvei 7.svg Road 7 is one of the roads connecting Oslo and Bergen and runs through the entire valley, in the east it branches off at Hønefoss, in the west at Eidfjord near Voss. Access from the west is limited in winter as the road is often closed during blizzards on the mountain pass (1250 meters).
 * Stamvei 52.svg Road 52 runs from road E16 at Sognefjord area (Lærdal) to Gol village through Hemsedal mountain pass (1150 meters). Access from the west is occasionally difficult in winter (rarely closed but convoy driving is common during bad weather).
 * Road 51 through Gol mountain pass connects Hallingdal to central Valdres
 * Road 40 from Kongsberg through Numedal valley and Dagali mountain pass (1100 meters) to Geilo

Get around

 * The Bergen railway runs up and down the valley between Geilo and Hønefoss
 * Access to Hemsedal by bus or car from Gol

Hiking
Hallingdal is the main entrance to Norway's most popular hiking area, the Hardangervidda. Hallingskarvet is a distinct ridge rising above the plateau, more demanding but also a more rewarding hike. On the northern side of Hallingskarvet there are fine trails down the lovely Aurlandsdalen in Aurland area. Hallingskarvet and the area north to road E16 (Lærdal) is known as Skarvheimen. Hallingskarvet and Hardangervidda er both protected as national parks.

Cross-country skiing
Hallingdal and the surrounding mountains and plateaus offers great back country skiing. There are also networks of groomed tracks in the back country where light cross-country skis can be used.

Alpine skiing
Hallingdal is Norway's key area for alpine skiing. Resorts:
 * Norefjell (south end of Krøderen lake)
 * Nesbyen
 * Gol
 * Gol skipark
 * Storefjell
 * Golsfjellet
 * Hemsedal
 * Ål
 * Ål skisenter
 * Skarsli - also tobogging/sledging
 * Hallingskarvet
 * Geilo

Stay safe
As Norway in general Hallingdal is a safe place.


 * Outdoor. Visitors should be prepared when they go on hikes in the high plateaus and mountains - weather can be cold even in summer and navigation can be difficult in bad weather. Waterfalls are treacherous and rivers are cold even in summer. Several rivers in Hallingdal and Hemsedal are controlled by hydro electric power plants and flow may change suddenly.
 * Driving. Drivers should take it easy on the steep roads such as around Geilo and Dagali. Many roads are narrow and winding, even if speed limit is 80 km/h safe speed around corners may be 50 or 60. In the interior winter is long and frost/snow can occur spring and autumn. Drivers should consult weather forecasts and inspect road surface when on the road. Hallingdal is moose territory and the big animal may suddenly wander into the road, particularly at dusk and dawn.

Go next

 * Hardanger
 * Sognefjord
 * Voss
 * Hardangervidda
 * Ringerike
 * Valdres