Elevator to heaven and 11 other things to do in Loen
Beneath the mighty Jostedalsbreen glacier, deep in Nordfjord, lies Loen. Perfect for exploring mountains and nature during the day and enjoying wellness and relaxation in the evening.
From fjord to sky in 5
Loen Skylift is a new, high-altitude attraction in the village, taking you from the edge of the fjord to the top of the mountain in five minutes. You board one of the two cars, Hugin and Munin. After a glide of a few minutes, you are at the top of the mountain Hoven, 1011 meters above sea level. Many great, well-signposted trails for all levels start here. The overview you get from the top of Hoven is reason enough to test the cable car. You can see Skåla and Lovatnet in the east, Jostedalsbreen and Olden in the south and Nordfjorden stretching towards Stryn in the west. In the summer of 2020, ziplines also opened up here. In Hoven Restaurant you can enjoy local food from a rich menu, and here you will find a bar with outdoor seating. On the roof of the restaurant you'll find SkyShop with everything from gifts and clothing to coffee, ice cream, cinnamon buns and waffles.
Loen Skylift. Photo: Marius Beck Dahle/Loen Skylift
Test motet in ziplina
At the top of Hoven 1000 meters above the fjord, Loen Active has opened two brand new ziplines that are 125 and 95 meters long respectively. Fly over the upper part of Tungejølet, with a view of the suspension bridge in Via Ferrata Loen. The ziplines are only a 5-10 minute walk from the top station of the Loen Skylift, and are located by the path from Via Ferrata Loen, and will also be a nice finish for those who have climbed up. Find out more
Flying Fox Loen. Photo: Marius Beck Dahle/Loen Skylift
Hiking as the crow flies - Via Ferrata Loen
There are other, more challenging routes to the top at Hoven. One of them is a climbing trail, or Via Ferrata, which starts behind Hotel Alexandra down in Loen. As part of the route up to Hoven, you can cross the 120-meter-long Gjølmunne Bridge, the longest Via Ferrata bridge in Europe. It is strung up 750 meters above the fjord, so there are good chances for a little tickle in the stomach. In 2019, the new extreme route Ragnarok also opened, for those with strength and experience. Guided tours take place through Loen Active.
Gjølmunne bridge in Via Ferrata Loen. Photo: Loen Active/Simon Sjökvist
Mt. Skåla
Another high point in Loen is the 1848 meter high Skåla. This peak is considered to be the one in Norway with the greatest difference in altitude from fjord to mountain. Up here you can spend the night in Skålatårnet, which has been named Norway's most special tourist cabin. The new and beautifully designed tourist cabin, Skålabu, is right next door and will relieve the venerable Skålatårnet. Skålabu is open all year round, and is ideal for summit hikers in winter. If you want less strenuous hikes, we recommend hikes in Lodalen, around the center of Loen and at Hoven. Touring maps for Loen-Lodalen are available from Loen Active and Loen Skylift.
Skåla with a view of Lodalen and Jostedalsbreen. Photo: Sverre Hjørnevik/Fjord Norway
Lodalen Valley
Lodalen is a national romantic gem, and the valley's dramatic history makes it very special. At the bottom of the valley lies Kjenndalsbreen, the lowest glacier arm of Jostedalsbreen. Further down is the charming Breng farm, which is a great photo opportunity. Bødalen is one of the side valleys, and here you'll find Bødalssetra, which is the starting point for hikes to Lodalskåpa ("Vestlandsdronninga") itself (2083 meters above sea level). From July 1 to August 13, you can leave your car and hop on Loen Shuttewhich runs the Loen-Kjenndalen route three times a day.
Lovatnet and Lodalen. Photo: Sergey Bogomyako/Fjord Norway
Let the kids have free rein in Loen Play
In the center of Loen, you'll find your own little universe for kids, with great challenges for both body and mind. Perfect on gray days, and when the adults have been allowed to decide the program a little too long. Loen Play offers activities for all children, and on the ground floor you'll find the activity house for children aged 3-12, as well as a department for the very youngest. In the basement there are activities for slightly older children.
Full speed ahead in Loen Play. Photo: Christer Lunde Solberg
Paddling on the fjord
If you prefer the wet element, there is no reason to steer clear of Loen. Loen Active offers kayak trips on the fjord and Sande Camping rents out rowing boats and canoes. Kjenndalstova also rents out canoes. Loen Active also rents out SUP boards and pedal boats on the fjord.
Paddling on the fjord. Photo. Marius Beck Dahle/Loen Active
Sightseeing on Lovatnet
If you like larger boats, you can join the canal boat MS Kjenndal across Lovatnet. It has room for 100 passengers and operates between Sande and Kjenndal on selected dates during the summer. The Kjenndalsstova café is located in Kjenndal. It's also possible to reach the café on your own, by renting a bike from Loen Active and pedaling inland Lodalen.
MS Kjenndal II on Lovatnet
Jostedalsbreen National Park up close and personal
Jostedalsbreen National Park surrounds Loen, with a boundary that runs some way up the mountainside. Within the protected area you'll find Kjenndalsbreen, at the end of Lodalen, and Bødalsbreen in the valley next to it. Bødalssetra, a large and idyllic mountain lodge, is located along the lovely hiking trail just before Bødalsbreen. If you want to take a deep dive into geology and history, we recommend a trip to Jostedalsbreen National Park Center in Oppstryn.
Kjenndalsbreen.
Fishing trip
Sande Camping rents out rowing boats, canoes and fishing equipment, so you can take a trip to Lovatnet and try to hook a trout. Fishing is free throughout Lovatnet, so a fishing license is not required. The average weight of the trout in the lake is around 200 grams, and the largest fish caught in a net recently was 9.2 kilos. Turid and Magne provide simple instruction and good advice.
Lovatnet. Photo: Nordlandsblog/Fjord Norway
Lodalskåpa - Vestlandsdronninga
Like Skåla , the mountain peak Lodalskåpa is also located inside the national park, 2083 meters above sea level. This is the highest mountain in the national park, and is called the Queen of Western Norway. The hike is long and it is recommended to go with a guide.
On the way to Lodalskåpa. Photo: Jan Heggheim
Spa yourself down
As an end to a busy day, or as a relaxing break, a trip to the bathing facilities at Hotel Alexandra is recommended. The facility has its own spa area and indoor and outdoor pools. Please note that the facility is only open to residential guests.
Alexandra Bath at Hotel Alexandra. Photo: Marius Beck Dahle
Stay a little longer and experience more?
With Loen as your base, you can easily reach other great attractions and activities such as Briksdalsbreen, the Geirangerfjord, the new Viking center Sagastad, and even reach the coast in just 1.5 hours. Activity seekers can test the new climbing park in Stryn, cycle on trails in Hjelledalen or at Sandane, skiing at Stryn Summer Ski or surfing at Stadlandet.
Hoddevik. Photo: CH/Innovation Norway
Travel and accommodation
Loen is located in Stryn municipality in Nordfjord in beautiful western Norway. Take an express bus from Oslo, Bergen or Trondheim, drive, or fly to Sandane, Ørsta/Volda or Ålesund. Find out more details about itineraries here. And there are plenty of accommodation options. One of Norway's best hotels - Hotel Alexandra - is located in the middle of Loen, and close by you'll find the cozy Hotel Loenfjord. If you're looking for self-catering accommodation, the new Loen Apartments are a great alternative. There are also many cabins, campsites etc. in the area.
Hotel Alexandra in Loen
Some of the content was first published on visitnorway.com