Norefjell resort overview
Hosting the Winter Olympics in 1952, Norefjell ski resort is awash with wooded slopes and family-friendly skiing, a ski retreat with seriously crisp mountain air and the largest vertical drop in Norway.
The resort is just two hours from Oslo airport by car, up in the Scandes Mountains, the closest 'real' mountains to Norway's capital. Pronounced 'Nora-fee-yell' the resort is about as quiet as it gets, if you manage to sniff out a lift queue during the week we'd be amazed. The only accommodation is halfway up the mountain with easy access to the mountain each morning and there are a couple of restaurants and cafés to choose from for your post-ski replenishing meal from burgers and pizza to tapas made from local produce.
Skiing in Norefjell
The resort is home to the largest vertical drop in Norway, the 1,010m drop means you can ski from the mountain peaks right down to the frozen lake Krøderen below at just 130m above seas level. For the adventurous, the resort is home to some of the steepest blacks in Norway (they're still not that steep) however, the advanced terrain is all about the off-piste access, it's so quiet you may even find powder covered pistes after a fresh snowfall.
The majority of the 25km of terrain is suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers, with the ski school, being run by Norway's former national ski team coach, means you know you'll be in safe hands. There's also some very kid friendly slopes as you'd expect from such a family-friendly resort and the terrain park as features suitable for novices and adrenaline unkies alike.
Après ski in Norefjell
Après is more geared towards the non-ski activities than the bars. Try a spot of ice-skating or indoor climbing rather than a round of Jager bombs. Watching the sunset from the hotel's outdoor hot pool would be our après highlight or perhaps a round of diminishing wist around the fire - we don't go anywhere without a pack of cards.
What we like
- Ski in, ski out accommodation halfway up the mountain
- A tranquil retreat of a resort, you can feel the crisp mountain air in your lungs
- Cruisy skiing through the trees right down to the frozen lake
Worth knowing
- You can only reach the resort by car, there's no train link from Oslo
- Don't be expecting wild après ski
- A very family friendly resort but would be perfect for beginners or nervous skiers
