Discover Lesja: winter sports and cultural heritage

Lesja lies between Reinheimen National Park to the west and Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park to the east. Bjorli offers skiing and cross-country skiing; in Lesja, Dalsida and Lesjaverk, routes explore nature and cultural themes.

Winter sports in Bjorli

Bjorli Ski Centre has 11 downhill runs of varying difficulty. The number may change as the ski resort develops. Bjorli also has around 90 kilometres of groomed cross-country trails, with both classic tracks and skating tracks. The length and grooming vary by season. This lets you distinguish between downhill and cross-country skiing and take seasonal changes in trail conditions into account when planning.

The Høyt & Lavt Bjorli climbing park has 7 courses, 95 elements and 10 zip lines. These facility details may change if the park is redesigned. For a walking excursion, Lesja also has Tussheimbue, a day-trip cabin. The climb there from Lesja sentrum is about 3 kilometres long. From the cabin, you can look out over Lesja’s cultural landscape and Reinheimen National Park.

Trails and pilgrimage routes

In Dalsida, the nature and culture trail is a 10-kilometre circular route with 28 information boards. They tell how people and animals have lived alongside their surroundings. The cultural trail in Lesjaverk is shorter: it is 1.5 kilometres long and is also a circular route. These distances provide a practical guide for choosing between the two routes, without implying a walking time.

Valldalsleden is a long-distance pilgrimage route from Sylte in Valldal via Reinheimen National Park through Lesja to Dombås; the total distance is about 11 kilometres. Its section through Lesja runs through Brøstdalen, behind Rånåkollen, and continues to Einbu. Another route, Reinstrakket, crosses the mountains from Dalsida to Lesja and follows an old summer-farm trail. The guided tour offers insights into the history of reindeer hunting as well as the area’s wildlife, botany and geology. Bus transport and a packed lunch may be included in a guided tour; check what is included before booking.

Cultural history in Lesja

Lesja Bygdemuseum is an open-air museum in Lesja, between Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park and Reinheimen National Park. The churches in Lesja and Lesjaskog are also part of the area’s cultural heritage: both are richly decorated with acanthus ornamentation by Jakob B. Klukstad. The Gruvlia walking trail showcases the production resources of the Lesja ironworks.

In Bjorli, Sagelva vasskraftsenter showcases more than 300 years of hydropower use. Visiting details vary by season. The centre adds the history of hydropower to the themes explored by the trails and museums. This gives you a choice between outdoor routes and places focusing on cultural and industrial history when planning your trip.

Landscape, local specialities and getting there

Lesja’s waters include 230 trout lakes as well as numerous mountain rivers and streams with fish. Avdemsbue serves freshly made sour-cream waffles, a Norwegian speciality. These local themes complement the selection of trails and cultural attractions with landscape and cuisine.

The Raumabanen railway runs through Lesja municipality. Trains stop at Lesja station on request; check the current timetable before travelling. If you are looking for a hotel in Lesja, the differences described here can help you decide which activities to prioritise during your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bjorli, Lesjaverk, Lesjaskog, Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Skjåk, Gausdal, Øystre Slidr.

To the main travel overview: Oppland.