Hemsedal ski guide
Norway · Editorial review: 12 November 2026.
Early answers
Hemsedal is a Norwegian ski resort in the Hallingdal valley in Buskerud county, with a published vertical drop of 810 m across three peaks, Totten, Tinden and Roni. SkiStar: Hemsedal — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm).
Key takeaways
- Official figures: 810 m vertical drop, 22 lifts, 47 slopes and a highest point of 1,450 m (Totten); the longest run is about 6 km.
- OnTheSnow splits runs 46% beginner, 27% intermediate, 19% advanced and 8% expert, so it suits beginners and intermediates best, with steeper terrain higher up.
- Annual snowfall sources disagree: OnTheSnow shows 267 cm (its overview text says 277 cm) and SkiStar states 326 cm.
- Third-party base depth rises from about 49 cm in November to about 101 cm in March; the season is projected 5 December to 2 May.
- Interest in Hemsedal is high: it ranks third in Europe and first in Norway in Ridestore's Ahrefs-based search study, so conditions and planning questions are common.
| Who it suits | Norway's well-searched resort for beginners, families and intermediates, with 810 m of vertical and steeper terrain near the top. Read the assessment |
|---|---|
| Daily budget | No resort prices are published here; use your own amounts. |
| Pass | not verified yet |
| Weekday / weekend / holiday waits | not verified yet / not verified yet / not verified yet |
| Monthly snow evidence | Third-party averaged monthly snowfall and base depth, see the snow section; the operator's own annual figure is higher. |
Verified photo not available yet
No generic mountain is presented as Hemsedal.
Snow statistics
Historical published figures for Hemsedal. These are not a forecast, live report or guarantee of open terrain.
third-party aggregated average monthly snowfall and average base depth. Measured at: Not stated by the publisher. OnTheSnow historical snowfall page, seasons 2012–13 to 2025–26 to date (2014–15 not listed).
Line chart of typical snow depth in centimetres. Each point is labelled with its cm value. The line breaks across months with no data. Hatched marks mean no data, not zero.
- Verified monthly value
- No data (not zero)
Scroll sideways to see every month. Hatched slots are no data, not zero snow.
Bar chart of monthly snowfall in centimetres. Each bar is labelled with its cm value. Hatched slots mean no verified data, not zero. Full cm and inch values are in the table.
- Verified monthly value
- No data (not zero)
Scroll sideways to see every month. Hatched slots are no data, not zero snow.
Monthly snow statistics for Hemsedal (centimetres, with inches in parentheses). No data means not verified — it is not zero snowfall.
Swipe or scroll sideways to see every month.
| Metric | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly snowfall | 64 cm (25.2 in) | 50 cm (19.7 in) | 80 cm (31.5 in) | 65 cm (25.6 in) | 40 cm (15.7 in) | 21 cm (8.3 in) | 17 cm (6.7 in) |
| Typical snow depth | 49 cm (19.3 in) | 56 cm (22 in) | 78 cm (30.7 in) | 97 cm (38.2 in) | 101 cm (39.8 in) | 87 cm (34.3 in) | 71 cm (28 in) |
Months without published figures are left out of the charts and the table.
Season length
Typical season: December to early May. Confirm the current operating calendar with the operator before you travel.
Snow reliability
Strong mid-winter snowfall on third-party averages, but season totals vary widely and the operator states a higher annual figure
Based on: OnTheSnow multi-season averages (annual average 267 cm; seasons from 95 cm to 496 cm) versus SkiStar's own 326 cm annual snowfall figure; the two are not reconciled. Measurement elevation is not stated.
Sources for these snow figures
- OnTheSnow — Hemsedal historical snowfall — retrieved 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm). Period: Seasons 2012–13 to 2025–26 to date; measurement elevation not stated.
- OnTheSnow — Hemsedal overview (projected season dates) — retrieved 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm). Period: Projected opening 5 Dec 2026, closing 2 May 2027.
- SkiStar — Hemsedal — retrieved 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm). Period: Operator statement, current page (326 cm annual snowfall).
A historical average is not a forecast or a guarantee of open terrain.
How should I plan lift tickets at Hemsedal?
Confirm with the operator which ticket type covers the days you plan to ski and what its date rules are, then enter only that access in your own trip plan. Lodging, equipment, food and transfers are separate categories and are not estimated here.
When is Hemsedal quietest, on weekdays, weekends or holidays?
Separate weekday, weekend and holiday waiting times have not been verified for Hemsedal.
| Visit context | Measured waiting time |
|---|---|
| Weekday | not verified yet |
| Weekend | not verified yet |
| Peak holiday | not verified yet |
Who should consider Hemsedal?
- Beginners and families: OnTheSnow lists 46% of runs as beginner level, and the resort has children's areas; SkiStar names a children's area by its lodge base.
- Intermediates: 27% of runs are intermediate, with long runs down from the three peaks, including the 6 km descent from Totten.
- Experts: 19% advanced and 8% expert on OnTheSnow, and SkiStar mentions off-piste skiing next to the groomed slopes. Off-piste and avalanche conditions need a same-day check.
- Cross-country skiers: SkiStar lists more than 250 km of cross-country trails.
What is the terrain like at Hemsedal?
The table records the published wording and figures.
| Published field | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical drop | 810 m (base 640 m to summit 1,450 m) | SkiStar — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm) and OnTheSnow overview — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Peaks | Totten 1,450 m; Tinden 1,345 m; Roni 1,225 m | SkiStar — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Lifts | 22 | SkiStar — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Slopes | 47 (SkiStar quick facts and OnTheSnow); SkiStar page text also says 51 | SkiStar — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm) and OnTheSnow overview — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Longest run | About 6 km | SkiStar — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm) and OnTheSnow overview — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Run split (OnTheSnow) | 46% beginner, 27% intermediate, 19% advanced, 8% expert | OnTheSnow overview — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Skiable terrain | 526 ha (OnTheSnow) | OnTheSnow overview — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Night skiing / snowmaking | 12 km / 21 km (OnTheSnow) | OnTheSnow overview — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Projected season | 5 December 2026 to 2 May 2027 (182 days); 159 days open last year | OnTheSnow overview — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm) |
Slope and snowfall figures differ between sources, so this guide quotes each with its source rather than one total. Published specifications do not establish which terrain or lifts are open today.
Frequently asked questions
How much vertical does Hemsedal have?
The resort publishes a vertical drop of 810 m. Totten is the highest peak at 1,450 m.
How much snow does Hemsedal get per year?
Sources conflict: OnTheSnow shows an annual average of 267 cm (277 cm in its overview text), while SkiStar states 326 cm. OnTheSnow's season totals range from 95 cm to 496 cm.
When is the Hemsedal ski season?
OnTheSnow projects opening on 5 December 2026 and closing on 2 May 2027, and reports 159 days open last season. Confirm the operating calendar with the operator.
What is the longest run in Hemsedal?
SkiStar highlights about 6 km of uninterrupted skiing from Totten. Check that the lower sections are open before planning it.
Is Hemsedal or Trysil more searched?
It depends on the market. In Ridestore's Ahrefs-based 2021/22 study across 14 countries Hemsedal ranks higher, while Danish Keyword Planner data for 2022 shows more annual searches for Trysil. This guide covers Hemsedal only.
Sources and limits
- SkiStar: Hemsedal — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm). Scope: peaks, lifts, slopes, vertical drop, cross-country trails, annual snowfall claim.
- OnTheSnow: Hemsedal historical snowfall — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm). Scope: monthly snowfall and base depth averages in cm, seasons 2012–13 to 2025–26 to date; measurement elevation not stated.
- OnTheSnow: Hemsedal overview — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm). Scope: projected season dates, run split, elevations, terrain figures.
- Ridestore: most searched ski destinations — checked 2026-11-12 (Europe/Stockholm). Scope: search-interest ranking (2021/22).
This Hemsedal assessment interprets the listed sources; it is not a first-hand visit report. Confirm the current operating calendar with the operator.
Plan the next step
Plan your Hemsedal budget. Compare: Åre, Sälen.