About

This tour follows groomed tracks. Please check the latest grooming status at http://skisporet.no

Drive to Beitostølen and park at the designated parking lot along Beitostølsvegen (towards Beito, exit to the left the intersection in the town centre), approx. 200 m down the road on the right-hand side. Use the ski tracks alongside the road back up to the centre and take the chair lift Olaekspressen to the top station (or ascend on skis along the inner edge of the ski slope straight up).  

The trip starts on a 500 m connection track that leads to track Blue 1, right underneath the hill ridge of Knausehøgdene. Follow Blue 1 to the left and keep straight ahead onto Red 1 after another 800 m, where Blue 1 turns to the right. After 900 m, keep straight ahead (slightly to the right fairly steep downhill) in the junction where Blue 3 exits to the left. On the other side of the downhill run you need to climb again to the saddle at Gravolstjednet. Now you’re high up and during the slight downhill run to Lake Vinstre you can enjoy a fabulous view towards Jotunheimen! Now, a long ascend takes you to the highest point of the route: the saddle between Svoloberget and Olefjellet. Brace yourself for a steep and long downhill run to the eastern end of Lake Olevatnet. Under good conditions this is great fun (watch out for skiers in the opposite direction, though), but under difficult and icy conditions you might want to take off your skis and walk down here.

The trip continues flat around Lake Olevatnet. At Melbystølen, you can choose between Blue 1, leading higher up along the hillside and offering a beautiful, long downhill run in the end, or Red 1, which leads on a lower track through the birch forest, back to the centre of Beitostølen. Both alternatives are about equally long. Personally, we prefer the Blue 1 version because of the awesome downhill run (if you still have the legs to stand it).

This scenic 17.2 km loop is suitable for advanced and well trained cross country skiers.