Kvitfjell is at Fåvang in Ringebu, in Norway’s Gudbrandsdalen valley, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of Lillehammer. It was built for the 1994 Winter Olympics, where it hosted the men’s and women’s downhill and super-G, and the black slopes used in those Games are still on the trail map. The summit is 1,039 metres (3,409 feet) and the base 185 metres (607 feet), for 854 metres (2,802 feet) of vertical. Fourteen lifts serve 36 slopes and 34 kilometres (21 miles) of alpine trails, and there are 600 kilometres (373 miles) of groomed cross-country trails. The season usually runs from late November to mid-April.
The resort spreads over three sides. Mellomstasjonen, the Middle Station, is the side you see from the E6, with the downhill course and most of the steep runs. The West Side has mostly wide green and blue runs and some red, with Skitorget at the bottom. Varden, the newest side, is reached by gondola from Skitorget and has gentle family runs. Kvitfjell is a regular stop for the men’s World Cup speed races in March. Alpinco runs it along with Hafjell and Oppdal, and its lift passes work at all three.
Kvitfjell Live is a 24-hour live broadcast from Norway Live Ski TV that the resort carries on its webcam page. The four stills cover the three sides: Toppen at the top, Mellomstasjonen at the Middle Station, Varden on the Varden side, and Skitorget at the bottom of the West Side. Each still is the first of several views the same camera takes. With over 850 metres between top and bottom, compare Toppen with Skitorget before you choose a side.
Most of the drive is on the E6 through Gudbrandsdalen. Leave it at Fåvang and cross the bridge over the Gudbrandsdalslågen river to the resort road. The resort measures Oslo at 230 kilometres (2 hours 40 minutes), Lillehammer at 60 kilometres (55 minutes) and Hafjell at 45 kilometres (45 minutes). Oslo Airport Gardermoen is about 2 hours away. Kvitfjell station reopened for trains in 2022, with transfers to the resort on selected departures.
In Norway, tyres need at least 3 mm of tread from 1 November to the first Sunday after Easter Monday, and studded tyres are allowed only in that period, according to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen). Summer tyres can’t be used on winter roads, and outside that period you still need winter tyres or chains if conditions call for them.
Kvitfjell isn’t on the Epic, Ikon or Indy Pass.