Sjusjøen, Norway
Sjusjøen (pronounced Shoe Shurn), is situated 18 kms from Lillehammer, in the province of Hedmark, and easily accessible from Oslo by train. It has has 350 kms of XC trails, with tracks that connect to several other resorts, and sits at an elevation of 700 - 900 metres. It was home to the Nordic events at the 1994 Winter Olympics and is peppered with lakes and several summits reaching 1000m. Additional material kindly supplied by Karin Jäger. Karin was a member of the West Germany cross country ski team for 18 years and competed 3 times in the Olympics in 1980, 1984 and 1988. She also worked as a journalist and Olympic broadcaster in 1992, 1994 and 1998.
Getting to Sjusjøen by Air
You can fly direct from the UK to Oslo Gardermoen Airport. There are daily flights from:
- London, Manchester and Birmingham
On some days of the week you can also fly from Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Train from Oslo to Lillehammer
Trains run regularly to Lillehammer and the station is directly underneath the airport. Trains go from Platform 1.
There are various websites to pre-book tickets but the best one for the Oslo area is
www.vy.no
By Car from the Airport
Sjusjøen is 140 km north of Oslo airport if you are hiring a car.
Bus connection to Sjusjøen
Once in Lillehammer you will find the bus station is right outside the door from the train station. Download the Entur app beforehand as the buses work on a pre pay system and the ticket is scanned as you enter the bus. Book your ticket to Sjusjøen Langrennsarena, which is near the Supermarket. It is a 30 minute ride and they are used to taking luggage and ski bags in the hold.
Cross Country Ski Terrain
The area in and around Sjusjøen is very scenic. It offers a lot, especially to holidaymakers who love winter sports. An extensive network of cross-country ski trails connects the town with the neighboring areas. The connected cross-country ski trail network is more than 3,500 km. There are two cross-country skiing stadiums available, both suitable for racing at an international level. The Natrudstilen Arena is the venue for the races of the world's elite cross-country skiers. It is used for training camps and competitions.
Sjusjøen is regularly voted the most popular ski destination by Norwegians and has long since established itself as a year-round training location for national teams of cross-country skiers and biathletes. Roller ski facilities for professionals and amateurs, the network of trails for extended tours, artificial snowmaking and, last but not least, favourable weather constellations ensure long winters - cross-country skiing is sometimes possible from the end of October to the second half of May.
Cross Country Ski Map of Sjusjøen
Cross Country Ski Tracks and Routes
The trail network of Sjusjøen, Nordseter, Pellestova and Hafjell covers 800km, and is regularly groomed and prepared for both classic and skating technique.
Track cutter Johannes Haukåssveen is proud of his work which has earned him the title of "best slopes in the world". Every night in winter Haukåssveen starts about 4:30 a.m. and ends his day at 10 p.m. Johnannes has his own Facebook page where you can follow his track cutting information.
The terrain around Sjusjøen is varied with tracks on top of the mountainside at 1000m, on the Olympic trails, or through woods. You will find clean air, great snow, cosy cottages, and views to the top of the Jotunheimen peaks (the highest in Norway), winter sun and even the northern lights. Less experienced skiers will appreciate the easy tracks close to the lake. Løipe to the east of Sjusjoen are generally flatter than those to the west, with hills of birch and spruce forests rising to rolling plateaux. Routes can be taken to Nordseter and for the more experienced, descend to Lillehammer, along stretches of the famous Birkebeiner route.
In the surrounding areas there is a total of over 2,500 km of tracks available. There are two cross-country ski arenas suitable for competitions at an international level - Sjusjøen Langrennsarena and Sjusjøen-Natrudstilen Langrennsarena.
This is the specific live track information for Sjusjøen from Skisporet. You can download the app for ease of use on your phone.
Cafes and Bars in Sjusjøen
The Ludden Bar and Canteen is a little way from the Birkebeiner trail and Sjusjøen ski stadium. It's located on the caravan park and here is the menu. It's open Sunday - Thursday 11:00 - 16:00 and Friday and Saturday 11:00-20:00. Takeaway is available for pre-order.
The
Låven bar
is situated on the main road, almost opposite to the bus stop. You can also reach it from several trails. It has a good menu with burgers and pizzas, soup of the day for lunches as well as more substantial meals. This is the
menu. The kitchen are open Sunday to Thursday 12.00 - 18.00 and Friday - Saturday 12.00 - 20.30. The bar stays open on Friday and Saturday until 1am, often with music.
Where to Stay
In Sjusjøen itself is the Rustad Hotel and Fjellstue, which is situated directly on Lake Sjusjøen. It provides very good half board rooms, and also has several self catering cabins to rent.
You could stay in Lillehammer which gives you a wider area to ski in each day if you take the bus, and Sjusjøen is only an 18kms drive. The Station Hotel and First Hotel Breiseth are very close to the bus and railway stations for getting about, and I would definitely recommend the breakfast at the latter!
The majority of other accommodation in Sjusjøen is self catering in cabins and I can recommend renting this cabin, which is owned by Karin, an ex West German Olympian cross country skier. You can find further details about the cabin here.
Cross Country Ski Rental/Retailers
Sport 1 have ski rental, sales and lots of retail opportunities. They are located opposite the Kiwi Supermarket
There is an Intersport Ski rental available at the Natrudstilen ski area at Sjusjoen Skicenter.
Supermarket
The Kiwi supermarket is just off of the main road from the the Langrennsarena bus stop. It's convenient for any snacks once you've got your skis and also has a toilet at the checkouts near the entrance, which is convenient. There is only one, however, which does make it a long process if there are a group of you!
Cross Country Ski Races
The Birkebeiner Ski race starts in Rena, East of Sjusjøen, and runs for 54 km through Sjusjøen to finish in Lillehammer. In 2024 it takes place on 16th March.
The Lillehammer Troll Ski Marathon is one of the world's longest ski races and takes place at Easter every year. The race route follows the Trolløypa from Venabygdsfjellet to Sjusjøen and takes in various mountain terrain between 850 and 1050 metres. The distances are 120 kms, 95 kms, 45 kms and 13 kms.
Unfortunately it was announced in 2024 that this race will no longer take place as there were not enough volunteers to manage it. But you could always try the route yourself in various stages.
Tour Companies who Feature Sjusjøen
