Some of the worlds greatest hikes are located in Norway. The towering cliffs and mountains overlook the scintillating fjords below. The views at the top of these cliffs are priceless and rank amongst the worlds best. I personally have hiked several and my favorite by far is Kjerag, the home of Kjeragbolten.
Kjerag is a massive mountain located over Lysefjord near the town of Lysebotn. From Lysebotn you take a spectacular windy road that is closed in winter up to a parking area at Øygardsstølen. From there, it’s a 2.5 to 3 hour hike, depending on how fit you are and how well you do on steep rocks.
The hike to Kjerag can be classified by 3 mountainous hills you have to climb up and down to reach Kjerag and Kjeragbolten. The first is a brutal stretch some 300 meters straight up rock. There are chains to help you ascend and hold on if you cannot balance yourself. The first stretch is the hardest in my opinion. Once you’ve reached the top of the first mountain then you’re treated to some great views of Lysefjord and Lysebotn far below.
The more gradual descent on the backside of the mountain takes you into a river valley of sorts and has some amazing vistas. When I was there, the snow was still melting and the run offs were fantastic and created surreal looking scenery.
The hike up the second mountain isn’t too bad, it ascends some 200 meters and is more muddy than rocky. It also involves walking through some snow and likely getting your feet wet and certainly dirty. At the top you know you are getting close as the clouds start to lift and the mountains are really taking shape to the eye.
The third mountain is basically a long walk across frozen tundra so to speak. You literally walk through snow for several hundred meters a few different times. Your feet will again get soaked and if you are unlucky like my friend Brian and I, you may fall through the snow and cut your leg on the rocks below.
After trekking for about 30 minutes you reach Kjerag and your first reaction is simply stunned disbelief. I couldn’t even find words to describe the beauty of what I was looking at. The clouds below made for an eerie, Gotham kind of appeal.
Then you make your way down the snow hill and then you see Kjeragbolten, which is the main reason you came on the hike in the first place.
Kjeragbolten is a 5m boulder wedged into a mountain crevasse at Kjerag. It is possible to go out onto it without ropes or anything. All you need is a big set of balls, good balance and a lack of vertigo. My two buddies and I all hopped out immediately.
It is pretty indescribable being out there on Kjeragbolten because it is a very small surface area and there is absolutely no protection from falling. There is a direct 241 meter drop below and then another 735 meter tumble after that to the fjord.
Let’s just say you’d be in some serious trouble if you fell. Several people have fallen but most choose not to go out there. It is scary, I will not lie. You’re knees feel like they’re going to give out, especially after 2-3 hours of hiking up mountains to get there in the first place.
Aside from the amazing pictures and views from Kjeragbolten, there are magnificent views from the northern drop of Kjerag of Lysefjord below and the mountains across the fjord above the clouds.
Kjerag is also a popular place for base jumpers throughout the world to come and hurl themselves off these massive cliffs with only a parachute or one of those squirrel suits on. I base jumped once and it was scary as hell in a controlled environment. The guys who base jump off Kjerag are completely insane!
After taking in the views and taking pictures at Kjerag and Kjeragbolten, take some time to reflect on where you actually are and how lucky you are to be at this most amazing place. There aren’t many better views on Earth and if you visit Southern Norway, you’ll be in luck because it has a couple of the worlds best.
After the hike, head back down to Lysebotn an catch the 3pm car ferry down the 42-kilometer Lysefjord to see where you just hiked up to from the fjord below. It’s pretty awesome and makes you realize how high you just actually were!
Hike to Kjerag, Norway
June 13, 2012 by 29 Comments
Looks like a hell of a hike Lee…sweet pics too!
Thanks bud…was a great hike!
I saw your pictures on Facebook and reading the words brings it to life more. Awesome!
Appreciate you double dipping! Thanks man.
That picture of you standing on the rock is mind blowing…I don’t think I’d have the guts to get out there
Ya it’s pretty scary out there but if others are doing it then you’d get the nerve. When we arrived the others there weren’t doing it then they saw us do it and they all followed suit when they saw we made it and how cool the pics were.
Wow…nothing else to say
Thanks…
That looks seriously bad ass. I am putting that on my to do list for next year. I love to hike and that rock looks sick! Thanks for sharing.
No problem and if you like alpine style hiking then you’ll love Kjerag and the rock is killer
We are going to Stavanger in about 6 days and we want to hike Kjerag. However, I understand the bus tour that go there do not start until the last week in June. Therefore, do I have to rent a car to drive to the trail head? Can I leave Stavanger early in the morning and arrive back late at night? Renting a car for one day in Stavanger is quite pricey … around $120 US per day.
You are right about the bus tour not starting til the end of June and yes it is possible to take the early ferry from Stavanger I think but likely you will have to soend one night because you will not be done with the hike by the time the ferry returns from Lysebotn at 3pm. If you are a very good hiker it will take you 2-2.5 hours there and 1:45-2 hours back and that doesn’t include how much time you spend up there. If you are an average hiker it’ll take about 3 hours each way. I would rent a car because the drive out is amazing along the 45 that goes through some amazing scenery then use the car ferry at 3pm back through Lysefjord…can’t beat that. Yes that car will be about $150 a day…Norway ain’t cheap!
Beautiful, spectacular, amazing!
That it is! Thanks!
Fantastic pictures
Looks awesome Lee, hope to see you in NY sometime soon
anytime man
Looks like fun Lee…love your stories!
Thanks Mariel
Well I’m sold, that’s on my next vacation list…looks amazing
definitely should be!
Awesome post, Lee. I especially like the picture under the one where you are on the “floating” boulder. The clouds between the rocks look so amazing. I was wondering how you stepped down onto the boulder, was there a way down to it that doesn’t show on the pictures or did you have to climb down to it??
I hiked out here in late June 1995 on the recommendation of a local we met near Stavenger. There was not a soul around, and the pictures you show – with a little snow on the hike – are exactly what we had. Five hikers, one botte of water, three cameras, and big brass – we all took pictures on the Rock. An absolutely stunning day. Thankfully, we had our own transportation. Just another day in our 10-day Norwegian Odyssey!
Wow! What photos!!!!! I think I’d seriously crap my pants if I walked to the edge of that cliff or walked on that wedged boulder…. I don’t have a fear of heights per se, but YES I have a fear of falling! I live in British Columbia here the hiking is divine, and it looks a lot like Norwegian hiking too!
Hi Mr. Abbamonte,
First off, congratulations on your travels. I will be heading out to Norway in less then a month. A friend of mine from Oslo will be going with me to Kjerag to do the hike. I climbed to the Pulpit a couple years ago and was wondering which hike is tougher? I’m not in the best of shape but determined not to waste a trip from American to Norway without climbing on that boulder and hopefully Trolltunga?
Awesome! I’m so excited to visit this spot in a couple months, your pics only solidified my interest. I’m not sure how I just now am hearing/reading about you and your travels, but I’m glad I stumbled upon this. I want to be you when I grow up:)
Just found your Blog Lee, very cool. I’m curious where abouts did you do your BASE Jump?
I’d never actually considered Norway as a hiking location, but my goodness it looks seriously amazing!
I always love mountain treks, I especially love the photos of the stunning adventure. Makes me wanna visit it and do the same thing you did take a pic on a rock stuck in a ravine.