Loen Skylift, a fjord-to-sky adventure
Fjord Norway’s stunning new attraction takes you to new heights starting this May
Photo: Lars Korvald / courtesy of Loen Skylift
The Loen Skylift is one of the world’s steepest arial ropeways, ascending over 1,000 meters.
Molly Jones
The Norwegian American
On May 20, Norway will welcome yet another adventure guaranteed to attract tourists from around the globe: the Loen Skylift.
Aboard a large cable car, holding 40 to 45 people each, guests will be transported from the Fjord Station on the Nordfjord up one of the world’s steepest aerial ropeways to the Mountain Station, located 1,011 meters above sea level at Mount Hoven. Each five-to-seven-minute journey offers breathtaking panoramic views of Loen—a village located on the inner part of the Nordfjord in Norway’s Sogn og Fjordane county.
Although Loen Skylift’s opening is still approaching, the fjord-to-sky experience is expected to quickly become one of the top tourist attractions in fjord Norway.
“Loen Skylift is the quickest and easiest way to explore the best of what Norwegian mountains have to offer. The trip from the fjord to the mountain only takes a few minutes. High, steep, and safe, you are brought a thousand meters up to Mount Hoven,” says Richard Grov, General Manager of Loen Skylift.
While the journey may last only a few minutes, there are plenty of activities available at Mount Hoven to make the trip well worth it. First off, guests will want to head to the viewing platforms to soak in a bit more of the incredible sights that make the Norwegian fjords so Instagrammable.
“The view is breathtaking, with beautiful fjords in all directions, spectacular mountains, and the Jostedalsbreen Glacier in the background. This is undoubtedly one of Scandinavia’s most exciting travel experiences,” says the Director of Fjord Norway, Kristian Jørgensen.
Photo: Bård Basberg / courtesy of Loen Skylift
Nordfjord’s newest tourist attraction transports visitors from fjord to fjell in a few minutes, with stunning views along the way.
From Mount Hoven, visitors are encouraged to explore the multitude of trails in the area, whether that’s on foot during the summer or on skis or snowshoes during the snowy times of the year. If you’d prefer to have a guide along, Loen Skylift offers several guided tours, ranging from easy walks for families to challenging alpine hikes. The most adventurous may choose the extreme trek on Via Ferrata Loen, the popular climbing route that includes the Gjølmunnebrua suspension bridge—the longest via ferrata bridge in all of Europe.
Another option is to indulge in a delicious meal featuring local ingredients at Hoven Restaurant. This fine dining restaurant operated by the local Hotel Alexandra is opening on May 20 in conjunction with the Loen Skylift project. Its expansive windows provide diners with a 210-degree panoramic view overlooking Mt. Skåla and Lake Lovatnet in the east, Jostedalsbreen Glacier and Olden in the south, and the Nordfjord in the west.
The opening of both the skylift and the restaurant is set to be an exciting event, and even Queen Sonja of Norway will be there to perform the official opening.
“Our goal is to create jobs and growth in this rural area, and well being both for those who live here and for our visitors,” says Grov of the project, which cost about USD 32 million. The largest shareholders include local businesses Hotel Alexandra, Nordfjord Kjøtt, and Stryn Municipality, as well as the Swiss Gondola supplier Garaventa AG.
Loen Skylift will be open to visitors all year round, and the hope is to welcome at least 40,000 visitors to the new attraction within its first year. Will you be one of them?
This article originally appeared in the May 5, 2017, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
