Øystre Slidre municipality in Norway has approximately 3.500 inhabitants and covers a area of 963,1 km2. Mountain pasture farming and forestry have always been important for settling and employment in Øystre Slidre. The majority of today´s residents live in the villages of Heggenes, Rogne, Skammestein, Beito, and Beitostølen. The winter sports resort of Beitostølen, host to World Cup events in biathlon and cross-country skiing. There are only about 30 square kilometres of agricultural land in the municipality. About 85% of farmers in the municipality use the high mountain pastures in the summer time.
The boat pass (Båtskaret) is a narrow pass along Bitihorn where in medieval times people from Øystre Slidre dragged their boats through, therefore the name. A bit further into the mountain there is a big lake called Vinstervatnet lake with a lot of fine trout. As a result of a dispute between people from Valdres and people from Gudbrandsdal, they could not leave their boats behind. Therefore they had to resort to dragging their boats through Båtskaret. According to local folklore, the dispute began in medieval times with a young bride being married to an old man and a knight stealing his way over the mountains to rescue her.
The highest point is Øystre Rasletind (2,010 metres). Lakes and rivers cover 75 square kilometres of the area. The largest lakes are Vinstri, Yddin, Vangsjøen, Javnin and Olevatn.
BEITOSTØLEN
In the course of 80 years, Beitostølen 900 – 1.700 metres has grown to become an internationally recognised travel destination with good help of Beitostølen Health Sports Centre. Culture and tradition continue – this is reflected among other things in the wooden buildings designed and built by local architects and craftsmen. There are a range of accommodations to choose from.
Within walking distance of downtown, there are in all 2.500 beds available in various accommodation categories. Large and small hotels, the most modern apartments, comfortable cabins, pleasant holiday farms or camping sites. Both the tourist office and the hotels have an entire menu of activities to choose from.
Beitostølen lies high above the stress of everyday life. The high mountain peaks and plateaux offer ample opportunities for physical exertion as well as relaxation. Whether winter, spring, summer or autumn, the nature and climate will provide you with a wealth of impressions, memories and energy.
You can sleep, eat and drink well. We offer anything from local food traditions of wild game to Chineese food, from the simple to the sophisticated. Bars, restaurants, pubs and discoteques of various types provide a varied nightlife. There are also a variety of shops and products to satisfy your urge to shop.
BITIHORN MOUNTAIN
Beitostølen lies on the foot of Bitihorn mountain. Bitihorn rises 1.607 meters above sea level. On the top you can view towards Bygdin and a row of pinnacles in Jotunheimen, Valdresflya, Vinstervatnet, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Øyangen and Slettefjellet. Sight to Øystre Slidre, Øyangen, Beitostølen, Bygdin and the mountainformation from Kalvehøgdi to Hurrungane.
The road open from early May and normally well into the month of November. During May and parts of June, the top of Valdresflye (1.389 m.a.s.l.) is an extremely popular starting point for magnificent spring ski trips across the level mountain plateux to the east or up toward the Jotunheimen peaks in the west. The plateux are white, the days are long and you won´t have a care in the world. The road leading across Valdresflye is a journey through a landscape that has evolved over the course of millions of years.
Most of the formations, however, were formed in the last ten thousand years (after the last Ice Age). Along the national road you will be impressed by the contrasts between rounded mountain formations to the east and the high jutting Jotunheimen peaks to the west. The peaks – that make up by far the most 2000-metre peaks in all of Norway – consists in large part of ancient course grained gabbro rock, while deep valleys bear witness to the dramatic geological events take place at the end of the last Ice Age.
The landscape on the east side of the park is characterised by a more undulating coutryside with valleys and open lakes. Old riverbeds, eskers and glacier pits bear witness to formations created by Ice melting after the last Ice Age. From the highest point along the national road across Valdresflye, you get a feeling of beeing in a truly awe-inspiring plateau landscape. Landscape rich in historical buildings in Heidal and Valdres serve as a backdrop to the national road across Valdresflye.
Heidal is a heavyweight in terms of traditional building techniques and heritagelisted farm enviroments. Valdres – the forest valley – offers a distinct and dynamic cultural landscape in a colourful and fertile enviroment. The summerfarm communities at Beitostølen and in Sjodalen have histories reaching far back in time, and in Sjodalen the unique tradition of winter pasture farming was in practice as late as the 1930s; this is one of the reasons that many of the largest mountainfarm structures in Norway can be found in this area.
JOTUNHEIMEN NATIONAL PARK
Hunters and fishermen have used Jotunheimen for thousands of years, and since the 1850s Jotunheimen has been one of Norway´s most popular mountain walking areas. Some areas have a lot of tourist cabins and marked trails, while others are virtually untouched. There is good trout fishing in several lakes and streams, and fish breeding supplements natural spawning.
HEGGE STAVE CHURCH
This church is mentioned for the first time in 1327 AD but was probably built about 1250 AD. It is a basilica with 8 free standing inner columns. It contains a fine altarpiece (reredos) carved by Kjørn from Heidal between 1781-1782.
The Stave Churches are constructions of high quality, richly decorated with carvings. In virtually all of them the door frames are decorated from top to bottom with carvings. This tradition of rich ornamentation appears to go back to the animal carvings of the Viking age. The dragons are lovingly executed and transformed into long-limbed creatures of fantasy, here and there entwined with tendrils of vine, with winding stems and serrated leaves. The elaborate designs are executed with supreme artistic skill. The stave church doorways are, therefore, among the most distinctive works of art to be found in Norway. However, it is difficult to connect them with the Christian gospel.
HUNTING
The best access to small-game hunting on private land is normally in areas where the sale of hunting permits has been organised through landowners’ associations or local hunting and fishing societies. Hunting rights for small game in a given area can be hired out exclusively for longer or shorter periods, but this is more expensive than the ordinary sale of hunting permits. Only shotguns with up to two cartridges, and rifles, are allowed in small-game hunting.
SKIING
There are 2 large ski areas, a 6-seat express-lift, toboganning, mogul runs, good off-piste conditions, and more than 320 km of cross-country tracks. The skiable area stretches all the way from the village and up to 1.100 metres.
At Raudalen you’ll find a slope for off-piste, snowboard and a growing number of Telemark skiers. At wintertime you can iceclimb at the waterfall. From Beitostølen to the Alpine slope at Raudalen there goes a bus several times a day, and your Skipass is certenly valued at both Beitostølen and Raudalen. Whether your cross country or alpine skier, snowboarder or telemark fan, you’ll be sure to find your favourite spot in our vast skiing area. The altitude of 900 metres, and the nearby mountain range of Jotunheimen ensure early snowfall, and a skiing season that lasts until May.
FISHING
(Rakfisk = half-fermented trout). Hunting and fishing is both for the supplement, and for the fun of it. In most of the waters and rivers there are mountain-trout to be caught. Both wild and breed trout are especially enjoyed around Christmas either smoked or as “raka” fish. (Raka-fish is fish that is cleansed, salted and put in barrels where it is kept for about 2 months at 6-9 degrees Celsius, before it´s eaten.)
Valdres is well known for its numerous mountain waters and lakes as well as rivers and streams that are perfect for fishing enthusiasts. You can purchase fishing passes for more than 100 sites, or the recommended “Fishing in Valdres” pass, giving you access to almost 70 sites all over Valdres.
Aurdalsfjorden is a lake well organized with facilities for fishing. Excellent trout and perch fishing. The fishing licence is valid both for the Aurlandsfjord and the Begnavassdraget, all the way to the Sør-Aurdal county border.
Begna river, from Bagn in Valdres to Nes i Ådal, is one of this regions most popular rivers to fish trout. This is the river that the “writer of the wilderness” Mikkjel Fønhus named “the big river” in his books. Mikkjel Fønhus lived and wrote at the Begna´s riverside. In Begna you can fish for trout, perch, pike and whitefish. (Pike just south of Eid). It is the trout and the pike that is the most numerous. In early spring and late fall the most usual bait is worm. In May – August there is an exiting fly fishing season. The river is easy accessible from both sides of E16. Many beautiful fishing spots is marked and it is made several fishing paths along the riverside.
Vangsmjøsa, an idyllic lake in Vang surrounded at all sides by high mountains. You can buy a fishing licence for both rod and otterfishing and you are allowed to fish both from the shore and from boat. Vangsmjøsa have excellent facilities for the people with special needs and the fishing places and easy accessible from the road.
Fasle is a river with excellent facilities situated between the Strondafjord and the Aurdalsfjord. Good fishing with several goods spots for catching fish. Good trout and perch fishing. Easy to reach from Rv51.
In Eidsbugarden the lakes are situated 1100 – 1500 meters above sea level. Not too much fish caught in the last few years. Bygdin is situated 1050 metres above sea level. The other lakes are 1200 metres above sea level and higher. This is high mountain fishing. You will not find big fish in these lakes. About 20 km on a gravel road (fv 252) from Tyin to Eidsbugarden. From here you have to walk 1/2-1 hour to reach the lakes in question.