Hike to Mt Saksa (Sørtoppen) – Demanding Mountain Hike with Fjord Views

The hike to Mt Saksa starts from Urke by the Hjørundfjord and is a demanding route of around three kilometre with more than 1000 meters of ascent. The trail rewards experienced hikers with spectacular views over the Hjørundfjord, Norangsfjord and the surrounding mountains. Map to use: Hjørundfjorden 1:50000.

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Mt Saksa is located at Sunnmøre, between Norangsfjorden and the Hjørundfjord. You have a great fjord view to the two fjords all the way from the start at Urke to the summit which is located at 1030 masl.

Season, guiding and important safety information

SAFETY & RESPONSIBILITY: Follow the Mountain Code when hiking in Norway. Conditions can change from summer and sunshine to winter and frost within minutes. Always be prepared for rapidly changing weather.

Read about your personal responsibility and how to stay safe in Norwegian nature.

BEFORE YOU GO: Weather and conditions are crucial. Always take this into account before setting out. Avoid the hike in bad weather, fog, thunderstorms, snow or icy conditions. Bring appropriate clothing, good hiking shoes, a map and compass, and enough food and water. Always check the weather forecast before you go.

DIFFICULTY: Demanding. This is a general assessment based on distance, terrain, elevation gain and exposure. The mountain Saksa has three different summits. The hike described here is the route to the South Summit (Sørtoppen), which offers the best views. The traverse from the South Summit to the Central Summit (Midttoppen) and the North Summit (Nordtoppen) is demanding and exposed, requiring protection equipment and some climbing.

DURATION: 5–7 hours.

ELEVATION: This hike starts at approximately 40 masl (Parking lot at Urke). Highest point at approximately 1030 masl (Mt Saksa).

SEASON: Mid July to Mid September. These are approximate months and depend on weather, temperature and snow conditions in the mountains.

SUITABILITY: This hike is not suitable for children! This is a long and demanding hike, you should be an experienced hiker to do this hike. There are several steep, narrow and exposed sections on this hike.

GUIDE: We recommend using a guide on this hike. See Uteguiden for information about guided tours.

NAVIGATION: We recommend to use a map and compass on this hike since parts of the hike go in areas where there is no trail. It also often happens that Mt Saksa is shrouded in fog.

MOBILE COVERAGE: Mobile coverage is often limited or unstable on many of the hikes described on this website, and in some areas there is no mobile coverage at all. It is recommended to bring an extra power bank for your mobile phone.

LIVESTOCK ON GRAZING LAND: Keep a safe distance from grazing animals, avoid sudden movements and close gates behind you. Dogs must be kept on a leash as required by regulations for much of the year. Read more about how to behave around animals and nature in Norway.

OFFICIAL TRAIL DESCRIPTION: Descriptions on fjords.com may be incomplete or contain errors. Always check updated information from official sources before you go. Many hikes in Norway can be found on UT.no, which provides maps and elevation profiles. Here is a trail description of Saksa on UT.no.

Urke – The start of the hike to Mt Saksa

Urke and Urkeelva river seen from the bridge that crosses Urkeelva.
Urke and Urkeelva river seen from the bridge that crosses Urkeelva.

The hike to Mt Saksa starts at the center of Urke. Drive to the bridge that crosses Urkeelva River, and continue for about 100 meters on the road that goes up along the west side of the river.

There you will find two parking lots (parking fee) on the left side of the road, that is where the trail to Mt Saksa starts.

You walk a short distance through the forest before reaching some open land. Here the path turns and you walk steeply up the forest towards Bentebu. On a short distance, in the forest, you can choose to walk on a tractor road instead of the trail in the forest (see pictures).

The trail in the forest is steep but well maintained with stairs made of stone on the most difficult stretches. Bentebu is a nice place to take a break and enjoy the fantastic view towards Norangsfjorden and Øye and the surrounding mountains. Mt Slogen is one of those mountains.

Bentebu – Great view towards Øye and Mt Slogen

The view from Bentebu towards Øye. Mt Slogen to the left.
The view from Bentebu towards Øye. Mt Slogen to the left.

From Bentebu, the trail continues upwards, but it is not quite as steep as down in the forest. Soon you will come out of the forest, and here the path is more gentle.

But this does not last long, because now you start on the climb up the long mountain side, and this is a long, heavy and steep hike. It is a good mix of a natural trail, stones, gravel and stairs made of stones.

In the upper part, the trail is steep. You need to be careful to not release stones when walking, it can be dangerous for those who walk behind you.

Saksa South Summit (Sørtoppen) – Spectacular Views of the Norangsfjord and Hjørundfjord

View from the summit of Mt Saksa.
View from the summit of Mt Saksa.

The upper part is exposed, but the trail is nice to walk on. The South Summit (Sørtoppen) of Saksa is located at 1,030 metres above sea level and offers spectacular panoramic views.

From there you can see the Norangsfjord and almost the entire Hjørundfjord. You can see the fjord villages Øye, Bjørke, Sæbø and Indre Standal and almost all the way to Ålesund.

And the view from Mt Saksa towards Mt Slogen is probably as nice as the view from Mt Slogen towards Mt Saksa.

NOTE: Saksa has three different summits. The hike described here is the route to the South Summit (Sørtoppen), which offers the best views. The traverse from the South Summit (Sørtoppen) to the Central Summit (Midttoppen) and the North Summit (Nordtoppen) is demanding and exposed, requiring protection equipment and some climbing.

South Summit (Sørtoppen): This is the most popular summit and the destination chosen by most hikers to enjoy the views.

North Summit (Nordtoppen): This is the true main summit and the highest point of the mountain.

Central Summit (Midttoppen): Located between the South Summit and the North Summit.

I spent four hours from Urke to the summit of Mt Saksa (Sørtoppen), which is the normal time to use for this hike.

Guiding – There are Guided tours to Mt Saksa, estimated time on the guided hike is five hours in total.

The Hjørundfjord – What to see and do

The innermost part of the 35-kilometer-long Hjørundfjord is surrounded by steep mountains, narrow valleys, waterfalls and glaciers. In between all this, there are small idyllic villages down by the fjord, all of which are great starting points for adventures in beautiful nature. The Hjørundfjord is located in the southwestern part of the county of Møre og Romsdal, north in Western Norway.

Visit NorthWest

Visit NorthWest is the official destination company for Møre og Romsdal, a region known for its spectacular fjords, mountains, coastal scenery and dramatic landscapes, including the Geirangerfjord, Hjørundfjord and the Romsdalsfjord area.

Panorama View from Saksa towards the Hjørundfjord and the Sunnmøre Alps.
Panorama View from Saksa towards the Hjørundfjord and the Sunnmøre Alps.

Hotels and accommodation by the Hjørundfjord

Sagafjord Hotel – Sæbø
Hotel Union Øye – Øye
Christian Gaard Bygdetun – Trandal
Hustadnes Fjordhytter – Sæbø
Hjørundfjorden Brygge, Maritbu – Sæbø
Hjørundfjorden Brygge, Studio – Sæbø
Hjørundfjord Camping – Sæbø
Bondalselva Camping – Sæbø
Rekkedal Gjestehus – Bondalen, Sæbø

 

Here you will find an overview of recommended hotels and accommodations in Western Norway – FJORDS HOTELS, FJORD SPA and FJORDS LIVING. You will also find an overview of MICHELIN KEY HOTELS in Western Norway – hotels recommended by Michelin.

There are 13 restaurants that have awarded Michelin Stars and Michelin Guide’s Point Of View in Western Norway. Seven of the Michelin restaurants are located in Stavanger, five in Bergen, and one in Bekkjarvik on the coast near the Hardangerfjord. Here you will find an overview of MICHELIN RESTAURANTS in Western Norway.

USEFUL LINKS is an overview of websites with useful information about Norway and the fjords.

Mt Saksa – Map Overview