Hovden in Setesdal: Mountains, Ski Trails and Culture

Hovden in Setesdal combines high mountain scenery with a wide range of opportunities for active days and cultural discovery. You can choose between alpine skiing, cross-country skiing on trails of varying lengths and gradients, and marked hikes. The Viking Walk adds insights into local history, culture and wildlife. When planning your holiday apartment stay, a good starting point is therefore to consider which of these aspects of Hovden you would like to shape your trip.

Alpine skiing and first turns on skis

The Hovden Alpine Ski Centre has 33 runs across three areas. The facilities include two chairlifts, five drag lifts and a conveyor belt. The total run length is 42.5 km, with a maximum vertical drop of 420 m. If alpine skiing is your main focus, these figures give you a clear idea of the scale of the offering. The lifts take you to the mountain peaks of Hovdenuten and Storenos; Storenos is over 1,200 m above sea level.

Tusseland is the children’s area at the Hovden Alpine Ski Centre. It has two drag lifts and a conveyor belt for people trying skiing for the first time. This lets you distinguish between the ski resort’s alpine offering and an area specifically designed for first-time skiers when choosing your activities.

Cross-country skiing between the town centre and the high mountains

The Hovden Cross-Country Arena is close to the town centre. It offers both short and long trails, as well as steep and gently rising routes. They are designed for both classic and skate skiing. The stadium and large parts of the trail network are lit every evening until 11 pm. These differences can help you tailor your cross-country skiing to your preferred trail length and terrain.

The cross-country trail network in Hovden and Bykle totals 160 km through forest and mountain terrain, and is also designed for both classic and skate skiing. The network thus connects two types of landscape: forest and mountain terrain. If you would like to include longer outings in your plans, this regional trail length is a useful guide; the arena near the centre also offers trails with clearly varying lengths and gradients.

Hiking trails and the Viking Walk

Hovden is surrounded by mountains and varied high mountain scenery. Marked hikes are available for both short and longer outings. When choosing a route, you can first consider whether you would prefer a shorter walk or a longer excursion. The mountain landscape offers a different focus from the town’s ski trails and slopes.

The approximately 3 km-long Viking Walk starts at the pier in the Hegni outdoor area. From there, it heads north along the Otra, passing through the centre of Hovden to Hovden Høyfjellsenter. Along the way, you can learn about local history, culture and wildlife. Visible remains of iron production and charcoal kilns make the historic traces along the route tangible.

Culture and choosing where to stay

Hovden Chapel is also part of the area’s history: it was renamed Fjellgardane Church in 2002. Together with the preserved traces along the Viking Walk, it offers a cultural perspective on Hovden alongside the opportunities in its mountain landscape.

When searching for a holiday apartment, you can use your personal priorities as a guide. If cross-country skiing is important, the arena is close to the town centre; for alpine ski days, the ski centre offers a dedicated range of runs with clearly stated figures. Hiking and the Viking Walk offer yet other ways to explore the area. You can also discover Bykle as another destination.

Go to the main travel overview: Bykle.