Mjølkevegen

Experience the Milk Road

The Milk Road is one of Norway's most beautiful cycling routes, taking you through stunning mountain landscapes, summer farms, and picturesque villages. Along the route, you'll find great viewpoints, local food experiences, and plenty of nice stops along the way. The whole route is about 250km, but you can break it down into stages that suit your skill level and desired amount of time.

Tips along the Milk Road:

Take breaks at the summer farms and try locally produced food.
Enjoy the views of mountains, lakes, and open plains.
Visit small villages with local history and culture.
Bring swimwear. There are many great swimming spots along the route.

For more information: Click here

Bjørkestølen is a perfect stop for those cycling the Milk Road. Here you can relax, recharge, and enjoy nature before the next stage.

Places to take a bath

1. Tisleia

The Tisleia River flows right past Bjørkestølen and offers several nice spots where you can cool off on hot days. The water is fresh and clear, and the combination of swimming, fishing, and playing by the water makes the area popular with families.

2. Ølsjøen

Ølsjøen is a great choice if you want to combine swimming with fishing, paddling, or a picnic in the mountains. The area has beautiful nature and peaceful surroundings.

3. Vasetvatnet

Vasetvatnet is a popular swimming spot in the summer with easy access and beautiful surroundings. Here, kids can play by the water while the adults enjoy the view of the mountains.

4. Strandefjorden

Strandefjorden near Fagernes / Leira has several nice swimming areas. Here you'll find both sandy beaches and grassy spots that are perfect for a summer day by the water.

5. Aurdalsfjorden

Aurdalsfjorden offers several sheltered swimming coves and is a good choice if you want slightly warmer water than in the higher mountain lakes.

Ski Resort

Valdres Alpine Center in Aurdal

Valdres Alpine Center is one of the largest ski resorts in the region, offering varied slopes, modern lifts, and good conditions throughout the winter season. The resort is known for being family-friendly, while also having challenging runs for more experienced skiers.

Storefjell Ski Resort

On Golsfjellet, you'll find Storefjell Ski Resort, a well-organized and family-friendly area that's great for kids and beginners.

Bualie Alpine Center

Also on Golsfjellet is Bualie. Here you'll find a large kids' area with a slalom course, wave track, gates, and more. We have slopes for beginners as well as more challenging runs for those who want them. Plenty of untouched powder and a park with jumps and rails.

Playground

Playland in Valdres

Visit Stavedalen Park in Reinli, Valdres' only playland. Here, kids will find slides, a zipline, obstacle courses, mazes, and plenty of fun activities for both little ones and adults. There’s also a café and several family-friendly options, making this a perfect day trip on rainy days or when the family wants a break from outdoor activities.

Distance from Bjørkestølen: About a 45-minute drive.

Shopping

Shopping in Valdres / Hallingdal

Valdres offers pleasant shopping opportunities, ranging from shopping centers and sports stores to local farm shops and interior stores.

Fagernes is the regional center in Valdres with a good selection of shops, a shopping center, cafes, and service offerings. Here you'll find both well-known chains and local specialty stores. Leira has several larger stores for sports, leisure, building materials, and groceries. Around Valdres, you'll also find many farm shops and local outlets with locally produced food, crafts, and unique products from the region.

A popular stop is Kremmartunet Shopping Center in Gol, with 16 shops including clothing, shoes, sports, interiors, books, a pharmacy, and much more. The center also offers a cafe and free parking.

Tip: Feel free to combine your shopping trip with a visit to one of the cozy cafes or restaurants in Fagernes or Gol.

Cross-country skiing

Cross-Country Skiing in Valdres

Valdres is a paradise for cross-country skiing, with hundreds of kilometers of groomed trails through mountains, forests, and open highland terrain. Both beginners and experienced skiers will find great touring opportunities throughout the winter.

Popular ski areas in Valdres:

Tisleidalen – miles of hilly, high-standard trails in beautiful nature.
Beitostølen – one of Norway's most famous cross-country areas, with a large and well-groomed network of trails.
Vaset – family-friendly trails in stunning mountain terrain.
Syndin – a varied trail network with fantastic views of Jotunheimen.
Aurdalsåsen – great touring opportunities in peaceful surroundings.
Tyin-Filefjell – snow-sure highland trails with spectacular nature.

Fagernes Folkemuseum

Valdres Folk Museum

A visit to the Valdres Folk Museum in Fagernes is like traveling back in time. The museum is one of Norway's largest open-air museums, with over 100 historic buildings gathered in beautiful surroundings by Strandefjorden. Here you can experience how people lived in Valdres over several hundred years.

The museum offers exciting exhibitions, traditional crafts, folk music, animals grazing in the summer, and a lovely nature trail along the water's edge. In addition, you will find both a café and a museum shop on site.

See more: Valdres Folk Museum

A perfect outing for the whole family, just a short drive from Bjørkestølen.

Mountain Hike

Hiking in Valdres

Valdres offers fantastic mountain experiences for both families and experienced hikers. Here you can find marked trails through beautiful nature, from gentle forest walks to spectacular peaks with views over mountains and valleys.

Gribbe: An easy, rolling, and family-friendly hike

Makalaus: Great hike with spectacular views over the mountain ranges.

Bitihorn (1,607 m) – one of the most popular peaks in Valdres, with fantastic views towards Jotunheimen.

Synshorn – easily accessible summit hike with great panoramic views over Bygdin.

Besseggen – perhaps Norway's most famous mountain hike, easily accessible from Valdres.

Rasletind – a family-friendly summit hike with stunning views.

Mugnetind – the highest mountain in Valdres and a great destination for experienced hikers.

Stølsvidda and Vaset – a large network of hiking trails in a beautiful cultural landscape.

Whether you want a short afternoon hike or a full day in the high mountains, you'll find hiking opportunities for all levels in Valdres. Remember good shoes, clothing suitable for the weather, and a camera to capture the stunning views. 

Stave Churches

Experience some of Norway's most important cultural heritage through the beautiful stave churches in Valdres and Hallingdal. These unique wooden churches from the Middle Ages provide a fascinating insight into Norwegian history, architecture, and craftsmanship. Valdres alone is home to six of Norway's 28 preserved stave churches, making it the area in the country with the highest concentration of stave churches.

Stave churches in Valdres:

Hegge Stave Church, Øystre Slidre
Reinli Stave Church, Sør-Aurdal
Lomen Stave Church, Vestre Slidre
Høre Stave Church, Vang
Øye Stave Church, Vang
Hedalen Stave Church, Sør-Aurdal

Stave churches in Hallingdal:

Torpo Stave Church in Ål is the only original stave church still standing in Hallingdal and the oldest building in the valley.
Gol Stave Church in Gordarike Family Park is an exact replica of the original stave church from Gol. The original is now located at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Oslo.

Fermented fish and local food

Valdres is known for its strong food traditions and local ingredients.

Throughout Valdres, there are several farm shops, dairies, and eateries where you can experience the true taste of the mountains and countryside. This offers a unique food experience and a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage the region is known for.

Noraker Farm, Fagernes area (Nord-Aurdal)
One of Valdres' most famous rakfisk producers with a farm shop and long traditions.

Hande Rakfisk, Vestre Slidre
Family business that produces rakfisk and cured meats according to traditional recipes.

Olestølen Micro Dairy, Øystre Slidre
Cozy dairy farm that makes artisanal cheeses from goat's milk.

Nørrestogo, Øystre Slidre
Farm dairy with handmade goat cheese and local products.

Strandmo Stølsysteri, Leira
Known for farm cream, butter, pultost, and other traditional dairy products.

Piltingsrud Farm, Begnadalen
Award-winning producer of meat products and local foods.

Valdres Vilt, Ulnes
Farm shop with its own game meat and products from several local food producers.

Sparstadstølen, Vang
Traditional summer farm with local food production and serving during the summer.

For more information: Click here