Hallingdal
The Hallingdal is a broad valley extending northwest from the north end of Lake Krøderen, watered by the Hallingdalselv, here a broad and tranquil stream. The river forms a number of lake-like basins, the largest of which is the Brommavatn. The valley is densely wooded; the hills are bare, with occasional rocky hummocks worn smooth by ice.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
Hallingdal
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Aurlandsfjord
From Ål the road goes on to Hol (church of 1924), where Road 288 (the Aurlandsvei) goes off on the right to the Aurlandsfjord (97km/60mi). This very attractive tourist road, opened in 1974, runs through numerous tunnels.
Fagernes (Buskerud)
1.5km/1mibeyond Gol, Road 51 goes off on the right and runs northeast to Fagernes (52km/32mi); 25km/15mi along this road is the Sanderstølen Høyfjellshotell. At Leira Road 51 joins E 16 (Oslo/Hønefoss-Fagernes).
Geilo
From Hol, Road 7/13 runs up the wooded Ustadal, with the Ustaelv flowing in a deep gorge on the left, and comes in 11km/7mi to Geilo (alt. 795m/2,608ft, pop. 2,500), a popular holiday resort with excellent alpine skiing facilities, several ski-lifts and a chair-lift up the Geilohøyda (1,056m/3,465ft; restaurant). The Numedal road from Kongsberg comes in just south of the town.
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
Gol
From Nesbyen it is 21km/13mi to Gol (alt. 207m/679ft, pop. 1,800), at an important road junction. Chair-lift 1,600m/1,750yd long climbing 450m/1,475ft; fine views from top. More than 200km/125mi of cross-country skiing trails.
Gulsvik
At Gulsvik, the "gateway to the Hallingdal", Road 7 runs through a tunnel, with the Hallingdalselv to the right. In 11.5km/7.5mi it passes Flå church (1858) on the right. Farther along the road there are a number of camping sites and a variety of other accommodation - at Stavn, Kolsrud (on an island in the river), Bromma and Roløkken.
Hallingdalselv
From Gol the road through the Hallingdal runs southwest on Road 7/13, which for most of the way follows the course of the tumultuous Hallingdalselv (many waterfalls).
Hallingskarv
3.5km/2mi beyond Geilo, at Fekjo, 17 burial mounds of the ninth and 10th centuries (identified in 1923) can be seen on the left.
Over the following 8km/5mi the road climbs steeply to Ustaoset (alt. 991m/3,251ft), on the northern shore of the Ustevann, which is dominated by Hallingskarv (1,933m/6,342ft; six-eight hours' climb), to the north. To the south is Ustetind (1,376m/4,515ft; three-four hours' climb). From here Road 7/13 continues west to the Eidfjord.
Over the following 8km/5mi the road climbs steeply to Ustaoset (alt. 991m/3,251ft), on the northern shore of the Ustevann, which is dominated by Hallingskarv (1,933m/6,342ft; six-eight hours' climb), to the north. To the south is Ustetind (1,376m/4,515ft; three-four hours' climb). From here Road 7/13 continues west to the Eidfjord.
Leveld
8km/5miles from Torpo, at Gullhagen, a road goes off on the right to the alpine skiing center of Svarteberg (two ski-lifts) and Leveld (chapel), from which there are alternative routes: on the Fanitullvei to Hemsedal, or northwest (27km/17mi) to the Bergsjø Høyfjellshotell (alt. 1084m/3,557ft), or back to the main road via Hovet.
Torpo, Norway
(Near Honefoss)
In 13km/8mi from from Gol, Road 7 comes to Torpo (alt. 327m/1,073ft), which has a 13th century stave church with fine carving and ceiling paintings, one of two stave churches "signed" by the builders.
Ål
3km/2mi beyond Gullhagen is Ål (alt. 437m/1,434ft, pop. 1,700), with a large 18th century church. Beyond Ål the Hallingdalselv opens out into the Strandefjord. The road continues along its north side. At Kleivi, at its western end, is the Hol 3 power station, and on the other side of the river the Usta station.
