Høydalsmo: Cross-country skiing, ski jumping and culture

Høydalsmo lies on the E134 and is considered the gateway to the municipality of Tokke. Cross-country skiing, ski jumping and cultural history offer different starting points for planning your stay. You can plan around the trails, ski jumping facilities or the historical attractions in Eidsborg.

Cross-country skiing and ski jumping in Høydalsmo

Høydalsmo has a modern cross-country skiing arena. The trail network maintained by Høydalsmo IL includes routes of 2.5 km, 3 km, 5 km and 10 km; the starting point is at the ski stadium by Høydalsmo school. The four distances give you a specific range of options within the same network. The trail network was upgraded for the Norwegian Championships in 2002. Høydalsmo IL has also hosted World Cup races and other major events.

Oftejordet has a ski facility that is free for anyone who wants to try ski jumping. Its facilities include ski jumps, rails and a forest trail. Oftejordet hosts the Oftejordet Challenge every year. The Telemark Hoppanlegg Huka has a snow-secure 90-metre ski jump. Nearby, between Høydalsmo and Åmot, the popular Skinan ski area lies on Grønliheia and is part of the Høydalsmo IL trail network.

Practical facilities in the area

A TokkeGym membership gives you access to the TokkeGym facility in Høydalsmo. A valid training card is required to use it; a card for the local facility can be purchased by arrangement with Gunnar Breiland on 47 75 00 65. Take the arrangement into account when planning and check the latest information in advance, as arrangements may change.

Storstøga Høydalsmo offers parking for cars and trucks, as well as a dedicated overnight rest area for truck drivers. If you plan to use these facilities during a stop, check the latest information before setting off, as arrangements may change. Storstøga serves traditional homemade food as well as a broad, modern international menu. As the menu may change, check the current offerings before visiting.

Cultural history and art

The Vest-Telemark Museum Eidsborg has a museum site with more than 30 buildings, including the Stålekleivloftet, dating from 1184. The museum also presents the history of Eidsborg whetstone mining and exports to Europe. Whetstones from the quarries in Eidsborg were exported to Europe as early as the early Viking Age.

According to research findings from 2024, Eidsborg stave church may have been built shortly before 1150; it is one of Norway’s five oldest stave churches. Galleri Karen exhibits and sells acrylic and watercolor works, as well as crayon artworks made with an iron. The cultural themes thus range from historic architecture and whetstone trade to artworks in a variety of techniques.

Tokke: Dalen, the canal and hiking trails

In Tokke, Dalen lies at the end of Bandak and the Telemark Canal. The canal reaches Dalen from Skien via a 105 km route, with 18 lock chambers and a difference in elevation of 72 m. Passenger boats operate seasonally on the Skien–Dalen and Dalen–Skien routes, including the M/S Henrik Ibsen and the M/S Victoria. If you plan a trip on the Telemark Canal, check the timetable before you travel.

The trails in Tokke also vary in length and route. Lårdalstigen runs along the ridge from Dalen to Lårdal, is 14 km long and reaches up to 800 m above the Telemark Canal. The Rui Sherpa staircase in Dalen is 1 km long, has 810 steps and climbs 200 m; the one-way walk takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Trail conditions can vary, so check them before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Dalen, Åmdals Verk.

For the overview of the wider area: Tokke.