RAKSSETRA BETWEEN LOEN AND STRYN

#Rakssetra is every instagramer’s wet dream. Put on your fancy dress and run barefoot between the cabins with the drone right behind you while Kanye West sings “Good Morning”. Map: Jostedalsbreen 1:50000.

Featured Image: Rakssetra in Nordfjord, Photo: Eirik Heen

Let´s put jokes aside. The view from Rakssetra down to Nordfjord, Oldebukta and Olden is fantastic. The abandoned mountain pasture is located up on the hillside at Oppheim between Loen and Stryn. It belongs to the farm Rake which is further down towards the fjord.

Visit Nordfjord

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

About season and other important information

GRADING: Medium. ALTITUDE DIFFERENCE: This hike starts at approximately 280 masl (Parking lot at Oppheim). Highest point at approximately 540 masl (Rakssetra).

SEASON: June to mid September, these are approximate dates that depends on the weather, temperature and the amount of snow in the mountains.

SAFETY IN THE MOUNTAINS – You should follow the Norwegian Mountain Code when hiking in Norway. It can change from summer and sunny weather to winter and frost in minutes! Always check the Weather Forecast before you go hiking. For safety reasons it is recommended to avoid hiking in Thunderstorms, in fog, in bad weather and when it is snow and ice on the trail and in the mountain! Always bring good clothes and hiking shoes. And have enough food and water in your rucksack.

The road up to Oppheim and the parking

Just east of Rake, between Loen and Stryn, drive up Oppheimsvegen Road towards Oppheim. Drive Oppheimsvegen all the way to the end, about three kilometers. There is a parking lot (parking fee) at Oppheim, this is where the hike to Rakssetra starts.

The hike up to Rakssetra

FJORDS NORWAY - Rakssetra in Loen, Stryn in Nordfjord, Norway
Rakssetra between Loen and Stryn. Olden on the other side of the fjord.

From the parking lot at Oppheim, you first walk a short distance on a gravel road before you turn left and continue on a marked trail. The trail goes up in the forest between Oppheim and Rakssetra, you walk in the forest all the way.

Rakssetra (540 masl) is an abandoned mountain pasture that is currently used by those who owns it. It is also a popular hiking destination and is used as recreation for others. There is a beautiful cultivated landscape around the farm, and it is nice to sit there and eat your packed lunch while enjoying the beautiful place and the great view down to the fjord, Olden and the Oldedalen Valley.

The hike up to Rakssetra takes between half an hour and an hour to walk. Parts of the trail are a bit steep, but it is easy and nice to walk. Just before you get up to Rakssetra you have to cross a river. Crossing the river can be challenging and sometimes impossible when there is high water flow. From Rakssetra you can walk the same way down as you went up.

NOTE – It is not allowed to camp on or near Rakssetra since it is privately owned. Read more about Rakssetra and how to relate to “allemannsretten” (the right to roam) on Visit Nordfjord’s website.

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.

Nordfjord – What to See and Do

View from Loen Skylift in Nordfjord, Norway.
Nordfjord.

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.

Hotels and Accommodation in Stryn, Loen and Olden

Accommodation in Stryn and Oppstryn

Hjelle Hotell at Hjelle in Oppstryn
Cabins at Glomnes at Hjelle in Oppstryn
Stryn Hotel in Stryn
Visnes Historic Hotel in Stryn
Stryn Camping in Stryn
Strynsvatn Camping in Oppstryn
Lidasanden by Lake Oppstrynsvatnet

Accommodation in Loen

Hotel Alexandra in Loen
Hotel Loenfjord in Loen
Sande Camping by Lake Lovatnet
Loenvatn Feriesenter by Lake Lovatnet
Sandeåsen Feriehytter by Lake Lovatnet
Kjenndalstova at the inner part of Lake Lovatnet

Accommodation in Olden

Oldevatn Camping
Aabrekk Gard in Oldedalen
Melkevoll Bretun Camping
Yrineset by Lake Oldevatnet
Briksdalsbre Mountain Lodge
Olden Camping Gryti
Olden Fjordhotel in Olden

Loen and Olden – Useful Links

Gondola in Loen – Loen Skylift
Adventure Company in Loen – Loen Active
Briksdal Adventure Adventure in Olden – Briksdal Adventure

 

HOTELS - LINKS - FAQ

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. FAQ is an overview of articles that answer the most common questions you have when planning to visit the fjords in Western Norway.

Rakssetra in Nordfjord – Map Overview