Mountain hiking in Balestrand
The mountains in Balestrand are spectacular! You'll find a good and varied network of well-marked hiking trails. Everyone can find a trail that suits them.
The trails are also well organized with viewpoints, benches and campfire sites. Some of the trails can be reached from the center of Balestrand, others are a short drive away.
Before embarking on a trip, it is always a good idea to talk to people you know, either at the tourist office or here at the hotel. Good maps of the tours are available and recommended to take with you.
We can mention a small number of recommended tours:
Nature trail 0 -150 m above sea level, suitable for most people. Information points where you can find information about nature and the animals that live here.
Orrabenken 0 - 370 m above sea level, climb up to the bench with panoramic views of the village and the Sognefjord, suitable for most people.
Raudmelen 0 - 978 m.a.s.l., a relatively difficult hike up the mountain behind the center of Balestrand. You can rest both at Orrabenken or a little further at Buråasi (575 m above sea level) where you can enjoy the view of Esefjella and Esefjorden. At the top, you can look out over large parts of central Sogn.
Saurdalen 920 - 650 m above sea level is a great starting point for several hikes. You can take short walks in the valley or go on longer hikes upwards in varied nature. The day trip from Saurdal to Balestrand via Raudmelen is a fantastic hike for those in good shape.
Tjuatoten 0 -1098 m above sea level, a demanding summit hike starting in Dragsvik, 9 km from the city center. At the top you can find an old sun cross and the view from the top is fantastic.
Keipen 0 - 1417 m above sea level, the hike is a total of 12-14 km long, and has a height difference of almost 1500 measured after each step. This is a long and physically demanding hike, but the nature experience is equally magnificent! Watch the video!
Fossestien is a hiking trail from Gaularfjellet to Viksdalen. It passes 14 major waterfalls, including Likholefossen, and 7 mountain lakes. The trail covers over 500 vertical meters, is suitable for most people and has 4 different starting points.