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Hiking tips in Fjord Norway - Take your trip to new heights
Fjord Norway is a region full of contrasts: Dramatic rock formations meet deep-blue fjords and cascading waterfalls as well as charming fjord cities and villages. Steep mountains that rise straight up from the sea create the perfect surroundings for great walking experiences with panoramic views. We have collected a few tips for hiking possibilities in Fjord Norway that can be found off the beaten tracks.
Ford Norway is known for famous hiking trails like those to Trolltunga or Preikestolen. But hikers will find many more stunning possibilities for all levels and abilities. Put on your hiking boots and gear, grab your “matpakke” – Norway’s iconic packed lunch —and set out for a day, a few days or even a week of unmatchable vistas and views. Weather and trail conditions vary, so keep yourself informed before heading out. Last but not least: Fjord Norway’s natural landscape is clean and pristine, and we ask that you help us keep it that way.
Spectacular fjord views
Wherever you are in Fjord Norway, striking fjord views are guaranteed! Set out from Haugesund to climb Mount Himakånå, a family-friendly, 1-hour hike up to panoramic views from a perch 357 meters over farms and forests lining the Nedstrandsfjord and a shimmering lake called Lysevatnet. Create your own hiking stories on the Saga Trail a 4-hour trek from Boknafjord shores, up a set of stone stairs built by Sherpas from Nepal, to the top of Hovlandsnuten for plenty of awe-inspiring vistas.
For those, who want to “step up” the hiking game even more: Sherpas also built Norway’s longest stone stairway: the 2,200-step Midsundtrappene, leading 659 meters up Rørsethornet mountain on Otrøya island. Fjord Norway is also home to one of the world’s longest wooden stairs! The 4,444 steps at Flørli hug waterpipes connecting a hydropower station and a dam, offering unhindered Lysefjord views.
In the charming fjord village Balestrand, in the heart of Fjord Norway, you can join a local guide for a hike up to Mount Keipen. Looming 1,400 meters over the majestic Sognefjord – Europe’s longest and deepest fjord, and home to some of its most wild and wonderful scenery, Keipen is the perfect spot for soaking in lots of sun during our long summertime nights. Farther north on the Nordfjord, work your way higher and higher atop Trollenykjen. Once on top you will have views of endless mountains, the fjord and the lake Hornindalsvatnet.
Ocean vista
If you prefer an ocean view, you will have 360-degree panorama from the top of Norskehesten — “the Norwegian Horse” – a unique, 460-meter-high peak on the tiny isle of Alden at Værlandet in Askvoll. Hike up Godøy mountain from the Alnes lighthouse, outside Ålesund—a superb trek that affords amazing views out over the Atlantic to not only Ålesund, but the Sunnmøre Alps beyond.
For hikes that literally take your breath away —and not just from lack of oxygen – scale Hornelen, Europe’s highest sea cliff, at 860 meters over the Frøysjøen strait. The trail up may be challenging and steep but you’re rewarded with stunning panoramic views. Then there’s the aptly named Skomakarnibbå, or Shoemaker's Crag, perched 700 meters over the Jøsenfjord. It’s an easy enough hike up but steer clear of the crag! Got nine lives? Hike the showstopping Kattanakken, meaning Cat’s Neck, near the Nordfjord for dizzying glacier views.
More interested in gain than pain? No worries; we’ve got you covered in Fjord Norway. Try a light stroll up the 418 steps to the town mountain Aksla from Ålesund city center. Want to head higher? Soar 1,011 meters up to Mount Hoven by the Nordfjord on board the Loen Skylift, one of the world’s steepest aerial tramways. You can also ride the Stranda Fjord Gondola for spectacular views of the Torfjord—entrance to the UNESCO World Heritage Area of the Geirangerfjord—the Sunnmøre Alps and the fjord village of Stranda from 1,067 meters above sea level.
