Hedalen

Hedalen is both a valley and a rural village (Norwegian: "bygd") in the Sør-Aurdal municipality in Oppland. The valley is next to Bengadalen. The village, characterized by coniferous forests, agricultural properties and scattered private housing, extends west and northwards towards Vassfaret from Nes i Ådal, which lies along European route E16 at the north end of Sperillen in Ringerike municipality in Buskerud. The conservation area Vassfaret is partially in Hedalen, and partially in Flå in Buskerud. From Hedalen, a toll road goes in to Aurdalsdammen, and Nevlingen in Vassfaret.
The village center in Hedalen includes, among other things, Hedalen primary and lower secondary school, two convenience stores and a small filling station with service shop. The village is also known for Hedalen Stave Church, a preserved stave church that is still in use.
The village has access via County Road 243 from Nes i Ådal, County Road 225 from Begnadalen, and County Road 223 from (Nesbyen in Hallingdal. It is also possible to get there via the Strømsoddbygda Road from Sokna and the toll road from upper Strømsoddbygda in Soknedalen above Vidalen. This is the old royal road to Valdres.
From the village center in Hedalen to Nes in Ådal, it is about 22 km; to Bagn in Valdres, about 35.8 km; and to Nesbyen in Hallingdal, about 47 km.
Hedalen has been a major supplier of timber from ancient times, and there were annual floats of timber on the watercourses in the village until the late 60s. This has been re-recorded as a cultural heritage, and there is an annual log pond damming in Vassafaret.
The authors Mikkjel Fønhus and Edvard Elsrud have set much of the action in several books throughout Hedalen and the areas in Vassfaret, among others "Skoggandsmand", "Slagbjørnen Rugg", and "Bjørnejakt i Vassfaret".
People of the village have had great interest for taking care of the old in the village - and there has been established a living museum at Bautahaugen Samlinger.
In addition, Bautahaugen has also obtained a complete farmstead, Bergsrud i Hedalen. This has now been established as a "living farm", and will be run in the old way.
In private ownership, there is also an old mill, which is in good condition, but not in operation. It has wandered a bit in its many years of life, and goes under the name "Husemølla" or Hedalsmølla.