Gausdal: Nature, Culture and Active Holidays

Gausdal brings together a wide variety of discoveries: In the part of Langsua National Park located in Gausdal, birch forests, old coniferous forests, rolling high plateaus and diverse wetlands alternate. The area also has places with their own cultural and historical character, as well as the attractions around Skeikampen. When planning your trip, you can therefore first consider whether you would prefer to focus on landscapes, culture or activities.

Landscapes in Langsua National Park

Langsua National Park extends into Gausdal. The landscape there is not limited to a single type of nature: alongside birch and old coniferous forests, rolling high plateaus and diverse wetlands are part of this section of the park. Those who enjoy taking in different kinds of scenery will find a varied natural backdrop here. These habitats offer contrasting features, from forests to open, rolling high ground and wetlands. This makes the national park a distinct outing option alongside the region’s cultural sites and activity-focused attractions.

Potholes and other experiences in Helvete

The Helvete Nature Park is located in Upper Gausdal. Its attractions include the largest potholes in Northern Europe, a family park, an archery trail, a café and a souvenir shop. This combination offers several possible ways to enjoy your visit: you can take an interest in the geological formations or include the park’s other attractions in your plans. The route to the potholes does not start right at the car park: first, you walk a few hundred metres, after which the descent begins. So plan for both the walk from the car park and the descent that follows.

Skeikampen: Activities throughout the year

Skeikampen at Skei in Gausdal is a year-round destination. The immediate area has cycling routes, mountain hikes, and waters for swimming and fishing. The alpine centre has 11 lifts and 17 runs; there are also 200 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails at Skeikampen. This offers a range of activities: cycling and mountain hiking, swimming and fishing, or the alpine centre and cross-country ski trails. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Gausdal, this focus on activities can be a helpful starting point for your search. Skeikampen is worth considering both as a place in its own right and as a year-round destination.

Culture and history in Gausdal

Aulestad is the historic home of the writer and Nobel laureate Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and his wife, Karoline. Guided tours, exhibitions, authentic interiors and a beautiful garden offer insights into their lives and work. Those interested in literary and cultural history will find a different theme here than at the natural areas and activity venues. Østre Gausdal Church also offers a historical perspective: the medieval stone church has a rectangular ground plan; the chancel and nave are the same width and height. This clearly described architectural form also makes the church interesting to visitors who pay attention to architectural features.

The Kittilbu Utmarksmuseum in Gausdal Vestfjell tells the story of the region over a period of 8,000 years and is an accredited visitor centre for Langsua National Park. Its own mountain farm, dating from the mid-19th century, also showcases mountain-farm culture. The museum offers several tours and courses on flora and fauna. History, nature and mountain-farm culture are thus all represented here, without limiting your visit to just one of these perspectives.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Gausdal, you can start with the focus of your trip: the landscapes in Langsua National Park, cultural sites or activities at Skeikampen. The attractions described here differ considerably and can help you narrow down the topics that interest you for your trip.

Places to help you explore the area

For more information about places in the area, visit the pages for Gausdal, Østre Gausdal, Svingvoll, Svatsum, Espedalen, Vestre Gausdal and Follebu.

For the broader travel overview: Oppland.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Lunner.