Below the mighty Jostedalsbreen, at the inner part of the Nordfjord lies Loen. Perfect for exploring the mountains and nature during the day and enjoy relaxation and wellbeing in the evenings.

From fjord to sky in 5

The high-reaching attraction in the village is the Loen Skylift cable car, which takes you from the fjord edge to the mountain top in five minutes. You step onboard one of the two cable cars, Hugin and Munin, down beside the fjord in Loen. Following an ascent taking only minutes, you exit onto the top of Mt. Hoven, 1,011 meters/3316 ft above sea level. From there, many excellent, clearly waymarked trails serve as a nice starting point for hiking excursions on all skill levels. The expansive view you will enjoy from the top of Mt. Hoven is plenty of good reasons to give the cable car a try. You can see Mt. Skåla and Lake Lovatnet to the east, Jostedalsbreen Glacier and Olden to the south, and Nordfjorden which extends toward Stryn to the west. Up at the top, you have a 210-degree panorama view of the fjord and surrounding landscapes as well as the opportunity to dine on local food at the Hoven Restaurant. There is also a bar up there with an outdoor terrace, where visitors can sit and relax with something to drink. On the roof of the restaurant, you find the Sky Shop with gift items and clothes, to coffee, ice cream, cinnamon buns, and waffles.

Put your courage to the test

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. Fly over the upper part of Tungejølet gorge, with a view of the suspension bridge in Via Ferrata Loen. The ziplines are only a 5-10 min walk from the top station to Loen Skylift, and are located by the path from Via Ferrata Loen, and will also be a nice finale for those who have climbed here.

Hiking at heights

There are alternative and more strenuous routes to the top. One of them is a climbing route, or Via Ferrata, which starts behind Hotel Alexandra in Loen. As part of the route up toward Hoven, you can cross the 120-meter long Gjølmunnebrua Suspension Bridge, the longest Via Ferrata bridge in Europe. It is suspended up at an elevation of 750 metres above sea level, so there are ample opportunities to feel some butterflies in your stomach. We recommend joining an instructor on your climb.

Lake Lovatnet and Lodalen Valley

The beautiful, untamed nature and the valley´s dramatic history make a visit to Lodalen an experience not to be missed. At the head of the valley lies Kjenndalsbreen glacier, which is the lowest-lying offshoot of Jostedalsbreen glacier. Further down the Lodalen valley lies a charming summer pasture farm called Breng. Lake Lovatnet is green because it contains clay particles and rock dust, carved out by glaciers and swept along by rivers. The glaciers are continuously crushing up rocks and stones. When the glacial water reaches the lakes and fjords, it looks green, especially when it’s sunny. Bødalen is one of the side valleys, and here you will find Bødalssetra which is the starting point for trips to Mt. Lodalskåpa ("The Queen of Western Norway") (2083 m.a.s.l.). To explore Lodalen Valley it is perfect to hop on the Loen Shuttle, which has three daily departures from and to Loen from 1st of July until the 14th of August 2022.

Mt. Skåla

Another lofty attraction near Loen is the 1,848-metre-high Mt. Skåla. This hike is considered to have the greatest difference in elevation between fjord and mountain peak in Norway. It is possible to stay the night in the Skåla Tower, which has been designated as Norway’s most special tourist lodge. The new tourist lodge, Skålabu, with its splendid design is located nearby and ensures increased capacity for overnight accommodation and is a superb spot for visitors during the winter season. Read more about Mt. Skåla here.

Kayaking and SUP on the fjord and lakes

If you prefer the wet element, there is no reason to steer clear of Loen. Loen Active offers kayak trips and rents out SUP boards on the fjord and at Lovatnet, and Sande Camping rents out rowing boats and canoes. Kjenndalstova also rents out canoes.

Beachen climbing field

If you have strong fingers, you can climb on Beachen which is situated a few kilometers from Loen. A crag there keeps the mountainside dry even when it is raining, but this also means that this is not the most suitable location for total beginners. The routes are graded from 7+ to 9–, and nearly all of them are 30 meters long. This popular climbing area is considered to be one of the best in Norway.

Sightseeing on Lake Lovatnet

If you like larger boats, you can join the canal boat MS Kjenndal across Lake Lovatnet. It has room for 100 passengers and runs in traffic between Sande and Kjenndal on selected dates this summer. In Kjenndal you will find Kjenndalsstova café. It is also possible to reach the café by bike or car. Rent a bike from Loen Active.

Fun down in the valley

If you prefer to stay in lower elevations, that is no reason to avoid Loen.

Sande Camping rents out rowboats, canoes, and fishing equipment, so you can enjoy an outing on Lake Lovatnet and try your luck at hooking a trout. No fishing permit is required.

You also have the option of getting to the Kjenndalstova Café on your own steam by renting a bicycle from Loen Active and biking through Lodalen Valley. The road along the lake leading to the Kjenndalsstova café is 16 kilometers long, but you can always turn around if it becomes too exhausting. For example, at the picturesque Breng meadow.

Explore the National Park

The Jostedalsbreen National Park is always nearby with its border extending a little way down along the mountainside. The Kjenndalsbreen glacier is located within the protected area, which is situated at the end of Lodalen Valley, and the Bødalsbreen glacier is in the adjacent valley. A short distance along the trail before you get to Bødalsbreen glacier lies an idyllic collection of mountain farm huts called Bødalssetra.