Hovden Overview

Located in southern Norway’s Agder region, Hovden Alpinsenter offers one of the most extensive alpine experiences in the country. The resort’s high-altitude setting, with a summit reaching 1,183 metres, ensures consistent snow cover throughout the season, averaging 348 cm annually. Skiers have access to 2,601 hectares of terrain, served by eight lifts and featuring 33 pistes that range from gently sloped beginner runs to challenging advanced sections.

Hovden is particularly welcoming to families, with dedicated children's areas, beginner-friendly slopes (comprising 28% of the terrain), and well-designed facilities that cater to multi-generational groups. The resort also boasts comprehensive snowmaking across its alpine zone, ensuring solid coverage even during milder spells. Off the slopes, visitors enjoy the convenience of a compact village area with restaurants, equipment hire, and access to ski-in/ski-out accommodations.

A strong draw for winter tourists is the balance of size and accessibility at Hovden. Unlike larger, busier resorts, it maintains a relaxed atmosphere while delivering a wide range of runs and high-speed quads that cut down on lift queues. Whether you’re after scenic descents, progressive learning zones, or well-groomed pistes suitable for intermediate cruisers, Hovden provides variety within a stunning mountain backdrop.

The lift capacity is over 9,000 people per hour, so even during a busy weekend, you will always find a tow or a lift without a queue. The trail network extends across three ski areas: Breive, and the areas around the peaks Hovdenuten and Storenos.

Hovden is accessible by bus or car.

Driving remains a practical and scenic option, especially from Oslo (approximately 250 km). The journey takes around four and a half hours via the E134 and County Road 9, with well-maintained roads leading to the resort’s entrance. During winter, the roads are regularly cleared, and parking is available at the base.

There is a daily bus service from Kristiansand, Bergen and Oslo to Hovden.

Check timetable on akt.no, nor-way.no or entur.no

The terrain at Hovden Skisenter is set across varied mountain zones, with the base station situated at 763 metres and a summit that tops out at 1,183 metres. The vertical drop of 420 metres allows for a well-balanced mix of cruising pistes and steeper sections. The main lifts include high-speed quads and surface lifts that connect all levels of difficulty across 42.5 km of skiable terrain.

Storenos side

Here you will find the main part of the facility with parking, a welcome center, ski rental, and a sports shop, as well as the activity center Hovden Aktiv, which offers everything from ski school to tobogganing. You will also find the restaurants Skikroa, Offpiste and Hovden Alpin Lodge here.
The slopes on the Storenos side range from black runs to green beginner slopes. Here you will also find the play area Tusseland, in addition to both parks and the ski cross trail. The 4-seater chairlift takes you to the top in approx 8 minutes, and if you don't want to go quite that far, you can choose between three ski tows and a ski carpet. What’s unique about the Storenos side is that the whole family can take the chairlift to the top and find slopes that suit them, regardless of skill level. This is also where the black slopes approved by FIS for slalom. The children's and cross-country slopes also start from this top, and on the way down, the park is strategically located. So here, everyone in the family can choose their slopes, meet at the bottom, and take the lift together back up again.

Breive side
Breive is a paradise for those who want to carve perfect turns, especially if you want to make the first tracks of the day. Here, you'll find the steep slopes and often have more space to enjoy your skiing.
There are three slopes, all served by a 4-seater chairlift, each offering varied terrain and a level of difficulty that challenges most skiers. The main slope, Breivelia, is a popular training ground.
At the base of Breive, you will find an unattended warming hut with restrooms where you can enjoy your packed lunches and drinks.

Hovdenuten
Hovdenuten is situated over 1100 meters above sea level, and for environmental reasons, the T-bar lift stops at 1000 meters. There is only one groomed slope down, but for those who love freeriding, we highly recommend this area. Many skiers carry their skis on their backs and hike all the way to the top, where you are promised a fantastic view and many exciting tracks down.
Remember that skiing outside the marked trails is at your own risk. Always check the avalanche information before you set off. From this area, you can also take the trails back to the base area on the Storenos side if you don't want to complete the entire loop via Breive.

Terrein park
Hovden boasts one of the country’s best park facilities, which has been nominated multiple times for "Park of the Year" by the Norwegian Snowboard Association. Thanks to a long T-bar lift, the park offers efficient runs with many laps per hour.
Hovden Park features both a red park and a blue park, packed with various elements. We cater to riders at all levels, from beginners to Norwegian Cup standards. The red jump line is the most renowned, consisting of three large jumps that give you plenty of time to try more challenging tricks. However, we never underestimate the joy of playing around on the smaller, but equally fun, features. The park typically includes over 30 elements, a mix of rails and jumps.

The park serves as a training ground for the Snowboard & Freeski program at Hovden Ski Academy and is the home arena for internationally recognized snowboarder Sindre Tveiten, who is also the park's team rider. This is a well-established park favored for national-level competitions, especially in slopestyle.

The children's area

The children’s slopes from the top of Mt. Storenos lead directly to the "Tusseland" area. This is a safe and well-organized area for families with the youngest skiing enthusiasts. The area features two button lifts and one conveyor lift, slopes for all levels, as well as a small kids' park with jumps and rails.

In Tusseland, benches are available for those who need a little break. There is also a small hut with restrooms. From the winter holidays and throughout the season, fire pits are set up for everyone to use, making it a great spot for the whole family to enjoy a break, meals, or some grilling.

The prime window for visiting Hovden Alpinsenter is late February through March, when snow conditions peak and the sun begins to offer longer daylight hours—ideal for full-day outings. Slopes are especially well-covered then.

One way to avoid queues is by starting your day at opening hours and ski the Breive side rather than the main side. Early risers also get pristine snow in the terrain park before it becomes popular with freestyle skiers by midday.

Finally, visitors arriving on Sunday will enjoy relatively empty slopes through Tuesday, making it perfect for learning or improving technique before the weekend crowd arrives. This midweek dip in traffic is consistent even during peak season, offering added value for flexible travellers.