Best Places to Cross Country Ski in Norway
Lumi Experiences’ guest smiling and cross-country skiing in a snowy Norwegian landscape.
The best places to cross country ski in Norway include in world renowned ski races, on public local trails, and through scenic backcountry trails connecting quaint villages.
As an official tour operator for the Worldloppet and with decades of experience skiing in Norway, we’ve collected a list of some of our favorite trails.
Straight from the recommendations of our local guides and the training courses for our Olympians, we’ve skied these cross country trails and hand-selected our top picks. Read on to discover some of the best places in Norway to nordic ski.
Skiers descend the steep stairs of the Holmenkollen National Arena in Oslo.
Urban Skiing in Oslo
Head to the home of Nordic skiing–Oslo, Norway. In Oslo is the Holmenkollen Ski Arena, where the legendary Holmenkollen 50K and annual World Cup races are held. Beyond the area sits Nordmarka, an expansive network of groomed trails that weave through serene forests and frozen lakes. We highly recommended staying in Oslo for a few nights to make the most of your cross country ski trip.
Lumi guests Matthias and Curt with US Cross Country Ski Team athlete Ben Ogden at Holmenkollen.
Visit the Iconic Holmenkollen Ski Arena
A visit to the Norwegian Ski Museum and Holmenkollen ski jump provide context for the importance of skiing here and a stunning view of Oslo below. A favorite local activity is sledding the Korketrekkeren or “corkscrew” trail, accessible by tram so you can simply enjoy the childhood sensation of swooshing downhill on a sled.
Freshly groomed ski tracks in Nordmarka, Norway.
Cross Country Ski in Nordmarka
A trip to Norway’s Nordmarka is the ultimate destination for any cross country ski lover. With our decades of experience in skiing around the world, this has to be one of our favorite cross country ski areas. In the Nordmarka region, meaning northern forest in Norwegian, is the Nordmarka Sports Centre offering miles of groomed trails. This is an easily accessible area for beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers alike.
Lumi guest nordic skis on a sunny day in Norway.
Add Lillehammer & Sjusjøen to Your List
Visit the epic location of the 1994 Winter Olympics. Lillehammer and Sjusjøen have some of Norway’s best-groomed trails. The network connects villages, mountains, and forests. Perhaps ski right from your front door! Explore the Lillehammer ski trails, which occasionally lead to trailside saunas. Then ski more on the breathtaking trails in Sjusjøen, another wintery wonderland just 25 minutes away from Lillehammer.
Whether you’re researching for your own ski vacation or joining one of Lumi’s guided Nordic ski tours, these iconic cross country ski destinations are sure to please.
Discover Lumi’s Norway & Birken Trip or perhaps our sight-skiing tour in Norway. Our Norway Birken Trip is our most popular cross country ski tour.
Lumi’s guided Nordic ski tours make the travel part easy — so you can focus on skiing, not the logistics. Additionally, we also offer self-guided options, if you prefer to ski with your own crew.
Take a look at our full collection of guided cross country ski tours around the world here.