Vaset with children – the cabin village on Stølsvidda with its own children's lift and miles of trails

Vaset lies on Stølsvidda, the broad mountain plateau between Valdres and Hemsedal, on the western side of Vestre Slidre. There's no village centre with hotels and après-ski, just cabins scattered among old summer farms, a lake and a small ski hill run by Vaset Skiheiser AS. That's exactly why families with young children love it: the car stays put all week, the slope is close to the cabin and the trails start at the door. You'll find more Norwegian options, big and small, in Norway's ski resorts.

The kids' slope and the first runs

The most important place for a four-year-old is Barnebakken. It isn't steep, has its own short children's lift and sits right next to the warming hut, so anyone who gets cold is inside within a minute. Once the child can manage the drag lift, Familieløypa is the next step. It winds its way down, avoiding the steepest parts of the slope.

The ski rental has a ski harness for the very youngest, so a parent can hold them back on the first turns. There are also pulk sledges for a sibling coming along on a cross-country tour, and ordinary Stiga sledges that can be used on the kids' slope. A helmet is included when you hire a full package. Book equipment by 09:30 on the same day at the latest – preferably the day before, as it gets busy during the holidays. What your child can practise at home before the trip is covered in the guide to children's very first ski trip.

Ski school and age groups

The ski school offers both private and group lessons, and it strictly divides pupils by age: 5–6, 7–9, 10–13 and 14–18, and adults. Children and adults never ski in the same group, not even in private lessons. For an adult, 90 minutes is recommended, but for young children 50 minutes is often enough – a five-year-old rarely manages to concentrate for longer than that.

Lessons are booked through Brennabu, the cabin company on Panoramavegen that also runs cross-country courses. Arrive rested, fed and after a trip to the toilet, as the ski school itself reminds you.

The slopes, the park and the toboggan run

Vaset Skiheiser has three drag lifts and a children's lift of its own, eight runs and about seven kilometres of slopes between 860 and 1,040 metres above sea level. Roughly two thirds is easy, the rest intermediate, and there are no black runs.

• Spesialisten has two steep sections and the terrain park with jumps and rails. This is not a place for the little ones to ski on their own.
• Solløypa runs through the cabin area and over a ski bridge back to the lift – most fun the day after a snowfall.
• On the western side, a new T-bar opened in 2020 with two runs down into the birch forest and a little off-piste between the trees.
• Stubbeløypa through the forest has wooden rails and is skied at your own risk. It suits older children who already have their turns sorted.

The big surprise is the toboggan run, 1.2 kilometres on its own groomed track from almost the top. The pro toboggans have proper brakes and can be ridden by anyone aged eight and over. Children under eight ride with an adult. Helmets are compulsory, and ski boots are not allowed on the toboggans.

Halfway down the slope you'll find Fjellkaféen, with a fire in the hearth, home baking, pizza, waffles and hot chocolate. It's open for as long as the lifts are running.

Lift passes and keycards

• Everyone needs a keycard, even the youngest. Bring old cards from other ski areas – some of them work here.
• Lift passes are cheaper online than at the ticket window. Passes are collected from a pick-up box by the slope.
• For a whole season there's a family pass, which is only sold online.
• The Valdreskortet pass is valid here too, and at all the other ski areas in Valdres.

The price list for 2026/27 is in Vaset Skiheiser's online shop. The resort's information doesn't say up to what age children ski for free, so check when you buy.

Open in the 2026/27 season

Vaset is a weekend hill that also opens in the holidays. Before Christmas the lifts only run at weekends, and from 19 December to 3 January every day except Christmas Eve. In January it's open on Saturday and Sunday, and from February until Easter on Fridays as well. The lifts run every day during the Norwegian winter holiday weeks 7–9 and throughout Easter – see the table.

So with the Swedish sportlov in week 10, that means Friday to Sunday on the slopes and out on cross-country skis for the rest of the week. Check which week applies to you in sportlov 2027 (Swedish February ski break).

Cross-country skiing on Stølsvidda

Vaset is at least as much a cross-country area as an alpine hill, and Valdres as a whole has around 1,500 kilometres of groomed trails. The terrain on the plateau is open and gently rolling. Three loops from the cabin village:

• Kvålestølenrunden, about 9 km. The family loop. Start at the car park by Sekskanten Kro & Pub, then follow the yellow trail along the flat shore of Vasetvatnet past Vasetstølen. The last stretch up to Kvålestølen is fairly steep, but the reward is a long downhill glide home.
• Murkelie–Bjødnhovd, just under 15 km. Same start, but the trail climbs steadily to almost 1,000 metres and needs a ten-year-old with stamina.
• Gomobu–Synet, about 20 km. Start at the pay car park by Gomobu Fjellstue. A detour of just under a kilometre takes you up Synet, 1,137 metres, with views towards Jotunheimen and the Hemsedal mountains. By the lake Valtjern there's a kiosk that's often open during the school holidays.

A trick for families who want different things: the adult who fancies a longer tour takes the lift up and carries on across the open fell, while the rest stay on the slopes. Trail status is on skisporet.no. How to plan cross-country tours for little legs is described in cross-country skiing in Hafjell.

Getting to Vaset

By car, take the E16 to Fagernes and on to Ulnes, where signs for Vaset and Panoramavegen lead you up onto the mountain. From Fagernes it's about 20 km, from Oslo roughly three hours and from Bergen four and a half. From Sweden the route goes via Oslo, on the E18 from Värmland and Stockholm or the E6 from Gothenburg. Do a big shop in Fagernes, as the choice up on the mountain is limited.

By bus, both Nor-Way Bussekspress and Vy run several times a day from Oslo to Fagernes, and Vy also has departures straight from Gardermoen via Gjøvik. Fagernes is the nearest bus station. You'll need a taxi or hire car for the last 20 km up to Vaset, as no ski bus has been published. The case for car, train or plane is set out in guide to getting to the ski resort.

Accommodation in Vaset

Accommodation is in cabins, and most families rent from private owners or through Brennabu. There are also mountain lodges such as Gomobu Fjellstue and Vasetstølen. If you're self-catering all week, the recipes in food for a ski week will help.

Vaset, Beitostølen or Eggedal?

• Vaset suits you when the cabin is the main thing, the children are between three and ten and the parents enjoy cross-country skiing.
• Beitostølen, further north in Valdres, has a ski stadium, floodlit trails and a proper village – read Beitostølen.
• Eggedal is an even smaller hill closer to Oslo – see Eggedal with kids.

If you'd rather head to a big resort on the other side of the mountains, there's Hemsedal with kids. Tick off the packing list the evening before you leave, so mittens and base layers don't get left at home.