Gausta skisenter
Under Telemark's iconic Gaustatoppen summit
Gausta Skisenter sits beneath Gaustatoppen, the iconic pyramid peak above Rjukan in Telemark, famous for a summit view said to take in a huge sweep of southern Norway. It is a scenic, family-friendly resort paired with one of the country's most striking mountains.
- 710 m Base
- 1,250 m Top lift
- 540 m Vertical
- 30 Pistes mapped
- 12 Lifts
Best known for
Après & vibe
The scene is quiet and low-key, centred on the ski centre's café and the small communities of Rjukan and Gaustablikk rather than nightlife. Evenings are about warmth, good food and the mountain setting.
The resort
Gausta Skisenter lies in the shadow of Gaustatoppen, the distinctive pyramid-shaped peak that dominates the Telemark landscape above the valley town of Rjukan. The ski area itself offers a friendly, manageable spread of pistes well suited to families and improving skiers, threaded through a beautiful, high mountain setting. What makes Gausta special is the mountain above it: Gaustatoppen is renowned for a summit panorama that, on the clearest days, reaches across a remarkable expanse of southern Norway. The area has a calm, uncrowded character and a strong sense of place rooted in Telemark's landscape and history. It rewards those who come as much for the scenery as the skiing.
Go to Gausta for the combination of relaxed, family-friendly skiing and one of Norway's most iconic mountains on the doorstep. It suits families, scenery-lovers and anyone keen to pair their piste days with the experience of Gaustatoppen's celebrated summit.
Set high in Telemark, Gausta has a cold interior climate that holds a long, dependable season with dry, light snow. The ski area gives shelter and definition on its lower slopes, while the surrounding peaks catch the big weather. Midwinter is cold and short on daylight, with the pyramid of Gaustatoppen a constant backdrop; spring brings brighter, softer skiing and the clearest summit views.
Snow & weather
Live conditions from the mountain, plus the average snow you can expect month by month.
- Feels like
- —
- Conditions
- —
- Wind
- —
- Fresh snow (3-day)
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Live data © Open-Meteo.com
Reliable, high-altitude cold-climate snow through a long Telemark season, supported by snowmaking on the main pistes; the elevated setting keeps cover dependable well into spring.
Average monthly snowfall
Snowfall climatology unavailable.
Terrain & aspect
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Slopes mostly face W — 63% on snow-holding, poleward-facing slopes.
Aspect derived from run bearings · OpenSkiStats / © OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Skiing & terrain
Good, gentle beginner and family terrain with easy progression in a spectacular setting.
A pleasant spread of blue and red cruising to enjoy, with the scenery adding to every run.
A more limited selection of steeper pistes; advanced skiers will find the area modest but can explore off-piste and ski-touring nearby.
Not a hardcore alpine mountain, though the surrounding Telemark terrain offers backcountry and touring for the experienced and well-equipped.
The view from Gaustatoppen
Gaustatoppen is famous for a summit panorama that, on the clearest days, is said to span a vast portion of southern Norway. Reaching the top of this iconic pyramid peak is the definitive Gausta experience, whether by touring or via the mountain's unusual railway.
Riding the Gaustabanen mountain railway
The Gaustabanen is a remarkable railway that climbs inside the mountain towards the upper reaches of Gaustatoppen. Originally built for military use and now open to visitors, it offers an extraordinary way to gain the heights of Telemark's most celebrated summit.
Skiing in a Telemark landscape
The ski centre sits within the dramatic scenery of the Rjukan valley and Gausta massif, a landscape steeped in Norwegian history. Days here are as much about the setting and the ever-present pyramid peak as the pistes themselves.
On the map
Legend
Run difficulty
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced / Expert
- Freeride / Extreme
- Unknown
Run types
- Downhill — groomed
- Downhill — ungroomed
- Downhill — gladed
- Nordic (groomed)
- Ski tour
- ☾Lit (night)
- △Not patrolled
- →One-way
- ❄Snowmaking
Lifts
- Operating
- Operating (private)
- Non-operating
- Lift station
Slope-gradient grading
Downhill / ski tour
- Flat<3°
- Easy3–14°
- Intermediate14–22°
- Advanced / Expert22–45°
- Freeride / Extreme>45°
Nordic
- Easy<6°
- Intermediate6–9°
- Advanced>9°
Aspect (sun exposure)
- N — least sun
- E — morning
- S — most sun
- W — afternoon
Legend after OpenSkiMap
Stay in Gausta skisenter
Lodging is found around the ski area and the nearby Gaustablikk plateau, with hotels, cabins and apartments, while the historic town of Rjukan in the valley below adds more accommodation and everyday amenities.
Lifts and pistes from the door — the point of a high, purpose-built resort.
Self-catering residences, the bulk of the beds and the flexible-budget option.
Catered and self-catered chalets for groups wanting the whole place.
From simple to high-end, with pools and spas to thaw out in.
How to get there
The gateway is Oslo (OSL), with Gausta lying in Telemark to the west, a drive of roughly two and a half to three hours.
Most visitors self-drive or arrange a transfer from Oslo through the Telemark countryside; the mountain roads are scenic but winter driving conditions merit planning.
Best time: January to March offers the coldest, most reliable snow, with clear late-winter and spring days giving the best chance of the famous Gaustatoppen views.
Nearby resorts
Other resorts within reach.
Hovden Alpinsenter
- Vertical
- 421 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 31
- Lifts
- 9
Faces north © Sam Wennerlund / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Hemsedal skisenter
- Vertical
- 79 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 37
- Lifts
- 10
SNØ Oslo
Myrkdalen
- Vertical
- 621 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 23
- Lifts
- 9
Getting to Gausta skisenter
Book an airport transfer up to the resort, or pick up a car at Oslo (OSL) — search and compare without leaving the page.
Ski data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via OpenSkiMap & Skimap.org. Basemap © OpenFreeMap / OpenMapTiles. Editorial: mynext.holiday. Accommodation via Stay22; transfers via Kiwitaxi; car hire via Travelpayouts.