Sinnes: Cross-country skiing, water park and winter sports history

Sinnes combines cross-country skiing on the trail through Sinneslia with a water park on Sinnesvatnet and a remarkable winter sports history. The area offers a range of themes to inspire your travel planning, from a ski on the trail to insights into the history of the place.

Cross-country skiing and trails around Sinneslia

A family-friendly cross-country ski trail runs through Sinneslia. It crosses the Neset Bridge and joins the wider trail network. For families who want to include cross-country skiing in their travel plans, its family-friendly rating is a useful guide. As trail conditions and routes can change, check the current route before setting out.

There are also local cycling routes: they connect Sinneslia with the main hiking trails on Sinnes. If you like combining cycling and hiking, this connection is another factor to consider when choosing the focus of your holiday.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Sinnes, consider which of these activities matters most for your trip: cross-country skiing on the trail, the cycling connection to the hiking trails, or the water park by the lake. Check conditions and routes before each outing, as both can change.

Water park on Sinnesvatnet

There is a water park on Sinnesvatnet, near Sinnes Fjellstue and the Sinnes roundabout. It has two features: a wall and a mat. Its operating schedule may vary by season. It offers an alternative to the cross-country ski trail; when planning, bear in mind that access may depend on seasonal operation.

The car park for the water park is on the opposite side of the road and Sinnesvatnet, in the direction of Ålsheia. Parking arrangements may change; check before your visit.

Winter sports history and the name

Sinnes’s winter sports history encompasses more than a single place or activity. In 1954, plans began to develop the Sinnes area into a winter sports centre and promote skiing and outdoor sports there. Training slopes, ski jumps and slalom slopes were built in Sinnes. From 1958, Ålsheia on Sinnes became a new venue in the history of the Påskerennen in Sirdal.

The place name also points to an older use of the landscape. The commonly accepted interpretation connects Sinnes with the Old Norse word “sinder”, meaning slag. This is linked to the production of bog iron on the shore of Sinnesvatnet. Alongside the trails and the lake, the local history of the name is one of the distinctive features you can discover while exploring Sinnes.

Sinnes in the wider context of Sirdal

For a regional perspective, it is worth looking at Sirdal as a wider travel destination. Sirdal has several ski resorts and around 200 kilometres of groomed and marked cross-country ski trails. This regional variety complements the specific trail through Sinneslia. Sirdal’s Seven Summits comprises seven mountain peaks of varying difficulty. Sirdal’s largest climbing areas are in Hunnedalen, Liland and Sirekrok, and are suitable both for beginners who want to boulder and for experienced sport climbers.

Culture and visitor information are also part of the wider picture: Sirdalsdagane is an annual local festival that has grown from a small event into one attracting several thousand visitors, and it also features local food. Sirdal’s tourist information office is located in the information building at the Sirdal Fjellmuseum in Kvæven. It provides information about current offers and activities, as well as brochures, maps, books and other items.

Discover more destinations: Tonstad, Tjørhom, Sirdal, Lunde.

Return to the main travel overview: Sirdal.