NORDFJORD – MOUNTAINS, GLACIERS, FJORDS AND COASTLINE

The mountains, glaciers, fjords and the coastline in the Nordfjord area are some of the most beautiful scenery Norway has to offer.

Nordfjord is located in the northern part of the county of Vestland, in the centre of Western Norway.

Visit Nordfjord

Visit Nordfjord is the official destination company for the Nordfjord area.

Some highlights in the Nordfjord area

Wallpaper from Loen Skylift in Nordfjord, Norway.
View from Loen Skylift towards Nordfjord and Olden.

The mountains, glaciers, fjords and the coastline in the Nordfjord area have some of the finest scenery Norway has to offer.

Stryn Summer Ski, Hjelle and Segestad in Oppstryn, Loen Skylift and Via Ferrata, Briksdalsbreen Glacier in Olden, Lodalen Valley with Lake Lovatnet and Oldedalen Valley are all must-visit places when you are in the inner part of Nordfjord.

The Lodalen valley is like a postcard, there is beautiful and wild nature everywhere you turn. Kjenndalsstova is a great starting point for adventures on lake Lovatnet. There you can rent rowing boats and a canoes, and join guided fishing trips. They also offer boat trips with the tourist boat MS Kjenndal which runs between Kjenndalsstova and Sande by lake Lovatnet.

Rakssetra is located up on the hillside at Oppheim between Loen and Stryn. The view from Rakssetra down to Nordfjord, Oldebukta and Olden is fantastic.

Vågsøy with Kråkenes Lighthouse and Kannesteinen, West Cape and Bremangerlandet with Grotlesanden Beach are some of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in Norway. The stunning beach in Hoddevik at Stad on the west coast of Nordfjord is a popular goal for surfers all year round. Hoddevik is considered one of Norway’s best surfing areas.

Hjelle Hotel in Oppstryn, Hotel Alexandra in Loen and Knutholmen in Kalvåg are all great places to stay. Nordfjord is located in the northern part of the county of Vestland, in the centre of Western Norway.

Loen Shuttle Bus – a new way to experience Loen and Lodalen valley

FJORDS NORWAY - Loen Shuttle Bus at Breng Seter in the beautiful Lodalen. Photo: Loen Active
Loen Shuttle Bus at Breng Seter in the beautiful Lodalen. Photo: Loen Active

Loen Shuttle Bus is a transport offer for visitors in Loen and Lodalen valley. This is a way to reduce the environmental footprint in the area and to simplify logistics.

The bus have three daily departures through Lodalen valley to Kjenndalstova and to Oppheim where, among other things, the hike to Rakssetra starts. Whether you want to hike to Rakssetra, experience lake Lovatnet or swim at Breng Seter, you can now leave your car and hop on the Loen Shuttle Bus. With a flexible day ticket, you can travel as much as you want.

This is an easy and flexible way to experience the area, and is an offer that can reduce the traffic load on the narrow roads. Now guests and visitors can leave their own car and motorhome. The result is less traffic, a reduced environmental footprint, a safer road and (if possible) an even nicer Loen.

Loen Skylift and Via Ferrata in Loen, Nordfjord

View from Loen Skylift to Loen and Lodalen valley.
View from Loen Skylift to Loen and Lodalen valley.

Loen Skylift at Mt Hoven (1011 masl) in Loen in Nordfjord is a gondola that goes from fjord to mountain in five minutes.

From Mt Hoven it is great view to the inner part of Nordfjord; Loen and Lodalen Valley with Lake Lovatnet, and Olden, Oldedalen Valley and Lake Oldevatnet. Hoven Restaurant at Mt Hoven with fantastic view over the Nordfjord Panorama.

This is a popular goal for hikers, skiers and people that want to see some of the finest scenery Norway has to offer.

We recommend you to stay at Hotel Alexandra, down by the fjord.

Hiking to Briksdalsbreen Glacier

The trail towards Briksdalsbreen Glacier. From the bridge over Kleivafossen Waterfall.
The trail towards Briksdalsbreen Glacier. From the bridge over Kleivafossen Waterfall.

Briksdalsbreen Glacier in Olden is an arm of the Jostedalsbreen Glacier.

The hike from Briksdalen Valley to the glacier is one of most scenic hikes in Norway.

The three kilometer long trail is surrounded by beautiful and wild nature, with steep mountains, wild rivers and waterfalls everywhere.

The altitude difference from the start to the end of the trail by the glacier lake is 200 meters. You can also join a ride to the glacier in a “Troll Car”.

Oldedalen Valley and lake Oldevatnet in Olden

Lake Oldevatnet in Oldedalen Valley. Olden in Norfjord.
Lake Oldevatnet in Oldedalen Valley. Olden in Norfjord.

Oldedalen in Nordfjord is a “fairytale valley” located between Olden and Briksdalen. Here you get to experience wild nature at its most beautiful.

Drive the Oldedalen Valley along Lake Oldevatnet in Nordfjord towards Oldedalen and the Briksdal Glacier.

It is difficult to drive this road without stopping for several photo stops. Beautiful and wild scenery everywhere.

In Briksdalen, in the heart of Oldedalen, you can go for a hike to Briksdalsbreen. You can also join a Briksdal glacier in a “Troll car” if you don’t have the opportunity to walk yourself.

Lake Oldevatnet is 11 kilometers long and is only 33 meters above sea level. A narrow strait divides the lake in two, where Oldevatn Camping is located in idyllic surroundings.

Beautiful waterfalls in Nordfjord

In Nordfjord there are countless beautiful waterfalls. Here you will find information about some of them. Especially in spring and early summer, the waterfalls are a great sight, when the snow melt is great and the water flow in the waterfalls is at its most powerful. Season: Summer.

Mt Ramnefjellet with Ramnefjellsfossen Waterfall to the left.
Mt Ramnefjellet with Ramnefjellsfossen Waterfall to the left.

Ramnefjellsfossen Waterfall is 808 meters high and falls from Mt Ramnefjellet at Nesdal, which is located at the innermost part of lake Lovatnet in Loen. You have a great view towards Ramnefjellsfossen from the last part of the road along lake Lovatnet, from the road that goes to Kjenndalsstova.

You can visit Kjenndalsstova which is a great starting point for adventures on lake Lovatnet. Here you can rent both a rowing boat and a canoe, and join guided fishing trips. They also offer boat trips with the tourist boat MS Kjenndal which runs between Kjenndalsstova and Sande by lake Lovatnet. If you participate in any of these activities at lake Lovatet, you will get to see Ramnefjellsfossen up close.

It was parts from the 1493 meter high Mt Ramnefjellet which collapsed when the rock avalanche accidents hit the villages around lake Lovatnet in year 1904 and 1936. After the rock avalanche accident in 1936, the survivors did not return to Bødal and Nesdal. Today there are farms in Bødal and a few people who live there. No one lives permanently in Nesdal anymore.

When you walk along the trail to Briksdalsbreen Glacier, you must cross the bridge at Kleivafossen Waterfall.
When you walk along the trail to Briksdalsbreen Glacier, you must cross the bridge at Kleivafossen Waterfall.

Kleivafossen Waterfall in Briksdal, in the heart of Oldedalen Valley, is one of our most famous photo motifs. The gravel road to Briksdalsbreen Glacier starts at Briksdalsbre Mountain Lodge in the heart of Briksdalen Valley. The road is surrounded by beautiful and wild nature, with steep mountains, wild waterfalls and foaming rivers everywhere. Kleivafossen Waterfall is one of these waterfalls, and you will definitely get wet when you cross the bridge that goes over Briksdalselva river, just below Kleivafossen. The difference in height from the start of the hike to the glacier lake is approximately 200 metres.

In recent years, the Briksdalsbreen Glacier has retreated several hundred metres. But you can still see the glacier hanging on the steep mountainside down from the Jostedalsbreen Glacier, which is the largest glacier cap on the European mainland. The emerald green colour of the water in the glacier lake is worth the trip alone.

Glomnesfossen seen from the road at Glomnes by lake Oppstrynsvatnet.
Glomnesfossen seen from the road at Glomnes by lake Oppstrynsvatnet.

The hike up to the abandoned mountain farm Segestad in Nordfjord takes around an hour and the trail is 3.2 kilometers long. You start from the car park (32 masl) between Hjelle and Glomnes (parking fee) and you must walk around 500 meters along the road to the bridge at Glomnes. From the road you can see the mighty Glomnesfossen Waterfall.

The trail up to Segestad starts on the left side of the river Glomsdøla. There are several great viewpoints along the steep but well-marked trail to Segestad. From the trail, you can also take a short detour to the viewpoint below the spectacular Glomnesfossen Waterfall (be careful, it can be wet and slippery there). From the mountain farm at Segestad (314 m above sea level) you have a fantastic view down to Lake Oppstrynsvatnet and to the snow-covered mountains that surround the lake.

A RIB-Boat adventure in the inner part of Nordfjord

This fjord adventure starts from Mølla Guesthouse in Olden. You enter a RIB-boat and will experience the inner part of the Nordfjord area from the fjord. You might also be lucky and help pull up today’s catch of crayfish from the bottom of the fjord.

On request, it is also possible to depart from Loen. This fjord adventure lasts for an hour.

FJORDS NORWAY - RIB-boat from Olden Active on Nordfjorden. Photo: Kristine Vigmo Larsen
RIB-boat from Olden Active on Nordfjorden. Photo: Kristine Vigmo Larsen

Lake Lovatnet and the Lodalen Valley in Nordfjord

FJORDS NORWAY - Breng Seter by Lake Lovatnet in Loen, Nordfjord
Breng Seter by Lake Lovatnet in Loen.

Drive the Lodalen Valley along Lake Lovatnet in Nordfjord towards Kjenndalsstova at the inner part of Lodalen.

There are several photo stops along the road. here there is beautiful and wild nature everywhere.

At the inner part of the Lodalen Valley you can see the Kjenndalsbreen Glacier in the far distance. Kjenndalsbreen is part of the Jostedalsbreen Glacier.

You can visit Kjenndalsstova which is a great starting point for adventures on lake Lovatnet. Here you can rent both a rowing boat and a canoe, and join guided fishing trips. They also offer boat trips with the tourist boat MS Kjenndal which runs between Kjenndalsstova and Sande by lake Lovatnet.

Here you can see a 360 panorama from the outlet of Lake Lovatnet. At the bottom of the panorama, you will find navigation buttons that allow you to “travel” around and focus on places you want to take a closer look at. Some panoramas allow you to “jump” to other locations.

Breng Seter by Lake Lovatnet

Breng Seter is an abandoned farm yard by Lake Lovatnet. It is dated as far back as year 1340.

The beautiful area around the farm yard is today used as a recreation area.

Rakssetra between Loen and Stryn

#Rakssetra is every instagrammer’s wet dream. Put on your fancy dress and run barefoot between the cabins with the drone right behind your back while Kanye West sings “Good Morning”.

Rakssetra is located up on the hillside at Oppheim between Loen and Stryn. The view from Rakssetra down to Nordfjord, Oldebukta and Olden is fantastic.

FJORDS NORWAY - Rakssetra between Loen and Stryn in Nordfjord, Norway
Rakssetra between Loen and Stryn in Nordfjord

The Old Strynefjellet Mountain Road

Completed in 1894, the Old Strynefjell Mountain Road was a masterpiece of road-building and engineering. This was the only way of passage between Skjåk and Stryn during most of the last century.

Stryn Summer Ski Center is situated in the middle of this road. The 27-kilometer long road is closed during winter.

Hjelle and hike to Segestad Mountain Farm

FJORDS NORWAY - Hjelle by Lake Oppstrynsvatnet in Nordfjord.
Hjelle by Lake Oppstrynsvatnet in Nordfjord.

Hjelle is a beautiful and quiet village down by Lake Oppstrynsvatnet. Here you have the beautiful historic Hjelle Hotel which is a great starting point for excursions around the Oppstryn, Stryn, Loen and Olden area.

Gamlebutikken (The Old Shop) at Hjelle is situated down by the lake. The old shop is from 1882 and has been run by the same Hjelle family since the start. They offer small dishes (sandwiches, soup and cake) as well as selling local handicrafts, arts and English porcelain.

This is a relative short but steep hike which starts from Glomnes, close to Hjelle by Lake Oppstrynsvatnet. The hike up to Segestad takes you around one hour and is 3.2 kilometer long.

There are several great viewpoints along the well marked trail. From the mountain farm at Segestad (at 314 masl) you have a great view down to Lake Oppstrynsvatnet and to the surrounding snowcapped mountains.

Stryn Summer Ski Center

Stryn Summer Ski in Nordfjord.
Stryn Summer Ski at Strynefjellet in Nordfjord.

At Strynefjellet Mountain Road you can visit Stryn Summer Ski Center. Skis and equipment are available for rent.

Normally there are excellent ski conditions, especially early summer.

The summer ski season usually begins late in May, depending on the amount of snow on the winter closed road.

In recent years, the summer ski season has not lasted so long. The last day of the 2023 season was 14 June.

Nordfjord Folkehøgskule – a “free year” in beautiful and wild nature

The folk high schools in Western Norway is a wonderful opportunity for a “free year” where young people from all over the world can make new acquaintances that will last a lifetime.

There are a total of 84 folk high schools (Folkehøgskoler) in Norway, 25 of them are located in Western Norway. In this article you will read more about Nordfjord Folkehøgskule in Sandane in Nordfjord. Nordfjord Folkehøgskule is perfectly located between the fjords, mountains and coast in Nordfjord, which has some of the most beautiful landscapes that Norway has to offer.

Nordfjord Folkehøgskule is located at idyllic Vereide by the Gloppefjord outside Sandane. Vereide on the right in the picture taken from Sandane.
Nordfjord Folkehøgskule is located at idyllic Vereide by the Gloppefjord outside Sandane. Vereide on the right in the picture taken from Sandane.

Hoddevik – Surfers Paradise

There is a great view towards Hoddevik and the beach from the top of the hairpin-road.
Great view towards Hoddevik and the beach from the top of the hairpin-road.

The stunning beach in Hoddevik on the west coast of Nordfjord is a popular goal for surfers all year round. Hoddevik is considered one of Norway’s best surf spots.

The road to the coastal village of Hoddevik in Nordfjord is spectacular in itself. It goes over a mountain pass before continuing down towards Hoddevik.

There is a beautiful view from the mountain pass down towards the road with the hairpin bends and further down to Hoddevik and the white Hoddevik beach towards the blue Atlantic Ocean.

Stad Surfing and Lapoint Surf Camp will assist you with boards, wet suits and instructions.

Vestkapp (West Cape) at Stadlandet

Vestkapp (West Cape) at 497 masl is the westernmost part of mainland Norway. The view is epic. On a clear day you can see from the Sunnmøre Alps in the north to Ålfotbreen Glacier towards south east and Bremangerlandet in the south direction.

The Vestkapp Cliff is quite flat, but do not walk too close to the edge due to the steep cliffs that ends straight into to the Atlantic Ocean 497 meters below you.

Kannesteinen at Vågsøy

Kannesteinen at Vågsøy in Nordfjord.
Kannesteinen at Vågsøy in Nordfjord.

Kannesteinen is a three meter high mushroom-shaped rock that has been formed by ice and the waves from the ocean during thousands of years.

It is a great experience to see this special stone, a wonderful work of art made by nature itself. In the summer, when the weather is nice, you can experience Kannesteinen at sunset. On the horizon you can then see the Atlantic Ocean “meeting” the sky in strong and beautiful colours.

There is a trail down to the beach where Kannesteinen is located. The rock is situated at Oppedal in the western part of Vågsøy, northwest of Måløy.

Kråkenes Lighthouse at Vågsøy

FJORDS NORWAY - Kråkenes Lighthouse at Vågsøy in Nordfjord.
Kråkenes Lighthouse at Vågsøy in Nordfjord.

Kråkenes Lighthouse was built in 1906 and is located at Kråkenes, at the far end of Vågsøy in Kinn Municipality.

Today, the lighthouse and the surrounding area is a popular goal for adventure seekers. People travel there to experience the lighthouse when the storms are at their worst during autumn and winter to see the waves splashing over the lighthouse. But people also come to experience summer and sunsets in the Atlantic Ocean.

You can spend the night at Kråkenes Lighthouse and in Stormhuset, which is located 50 meters from the lighthouse. There is also a small café there in the summer.

Grotlesanden Beach, Kalvåg and Bremangerlandet

Kalvåg on the island of Frøya on the coast outside Måløy.
Kalvåg on the island of Frøya on the coast outside Måløy.

Grotle and Grotlesanden Beach is situated on Bremangerlandet Island at the Atlantic Coast outside Måløy. You need to take the ferry from Måløy to Oldeide to get there, then drive towards west across the mountainpass to Grotle at the western side of the island.

Grotle is a little paradise. It’s great to be there when it’s sunny and summery, but it’s also a wonderful experience when the winter storms are at their worst.

Kalvåg is an idyllic fishing village that is a great starting point for everything you can do in Bremangerlandet. Grotlesanden  is one of the most beautiful beaches in Norway.

Here you can see a 360 panorama from Kalvåg and Knutholmen. At the bottom of the panorama, you will find navigation buttons that allow you to “travel” around and focus on places you want to take a closer look at. Some panoramas allow you to “jump” to other locations.

Nordfjord – Ski and Surf

Stryn Summer Ski in Nordfjord.
Stryn Summer Ski in Nordfjord.

The scenery in Nordfjord is among the most beautiful in Norway, the magnificent mountains and the deep fjord form a fantastic backdrop to winter adventures.

A trip to Nordfjord during winter can be spiced up with summit trips, winter surfing at Stad, spa and well-being treatments combined with delicious meals prepared using local ingredients.

You will find great ski centres in Nordfjord, and you can also ski during summer. Stryn Summer Ski is located by the Strynefjell National Tourist Route, on a glacier arm of the Jostedalsbreen Glacier.

Hotels and Accommodation in Nordfjord

Visit Nordfjord – Accommodation in Nordfjord

 

HOTELS - ACCOMMODATION - LINKS

Here you will find an overview of recommended HOTELS in addition to SPA & BATH HOTELS and OTHER ACCOMMODATION PLACES in Western Norway. The combination of beautiful nature, activities that you can do in all four seasons and a stay at a great accommodation is unique. A stay in one of these places will do you good, both for body and mind.

There are ten restaurants that have awarded Michelin stars and Michelin awards in Western Norway. Eight of the Michelin restaurants are in Stavanger and two in Bergen. Here you will find FJORDS MICHELIN, where you will also find a list of recommended hotels in Western Norway, recommended by Michelin.

USEFUL LINKS is a list of websites with great information on Norway and the Fjords.

Nordfjord – Map Overview