The Loen Skylift is a cable car in dreamy Loen, located in the municipality of Stryn in Norway. At up to 7 meters per second, the cable car climbs to an altitude of 1011 meters in five minutes. With a gradient of up to 60 degrees, this is the steepest cable car in the world. At its highest point, the gondola hangs no less than 170 meters above the ground!
Loen Skylift – from fjord to sky in 5
Ever since the last time we were in Loen (2015), people have been busily working on this special construction. So you can imagine that this year I couldn’t wait to take a ride on the cable car!
On May 20, 2017, the Loen Skylift was finally opened by Queen Sonja. Building it cost a total of 300 million NOK (about 30 million euros). The owners expected 55,000 visitors in 2017, but by the end of the first year a whopping 92,000 visitors had been up. Local businesses have seen an 80%(!) increase in their income since the skylift opened.
You could tell, too, when we went on an adventure around the skylift again this year. It has become noticeably busier around Loen. I can see why, because it’s ridiculously beautiful there. And a ride on the skylift is (in my opinion) VERY expensive, but also really, REALLY cool.
Prices and times
The gondolas leave at least every half hour, but run more often when it gets busier. Each gondola holds 35 people, and they’re fully wheelchair and stroller friendly, by the way. A return ticket for the Loen Skylift costs 520 NOK (about €52) per person. For children up to 15 you pay 270 NOK (about €27). You pay extra to bring dogs and bikes. In winter a ride on the skylift is a bit cheaper. Then adults pay 440 NOK (about €44) and children up to 15 pay 220 NOK (about €22).
The legend of Mount Hoven
According to an old legend, Mount Hoven owes its name to Sleipnir, the horse of the Norse god Odin. On a stormy evening, Sleipnir made an unfortunate landing on Mount Hoven and kicked a big chunk of rock down the mountain with one of his eight legs. The dent is still in the mountaintop to this day.
Hugin and Munin
In Norse mythology, the supreme god Odin has two ravens: Hugin and Munin. They fly over Midgard (the world of humans) and Asgard (the world of the gods), observe what happens there and then whisper everything to Odin. That’s what makes him the wisest of all the gods. The two gondolas of the Loen Skylift are named after these two ravens.
Relax or work up a sweat?
Whether you want to relax by the fireplace with a glass of wine and gaze out over the mountain peaks, want to go hiking or are looking for a bit more adrenaline, there’s something for everyone at the top of Loen Skylift. For example, you can choose one of the many hiking trails, zipline at an altitude of 1000 meters, shuffle across a 120-meter suspension bridge, enjoy a delicious dinner or watch the BASE jumpers with weak knees.
Hiking
On top of Mt. Hoven there are plenty of hiking options. Depending on the snowfall, most hikes are very doable between May/June and October/November. All the hikes offer stunning views over the fjord landscape and Jostedalsbreen National Park. There’s something for everyone, from easy evening walks to challenging routes. All the hikes are clearly marked with the familiar Norwegian color codes and signs along the trails.
Via Ferrata
Since May 1, 2019, you can combine a visit to the Loen Skylift with Via Ferrata! There are four Via Ferrata routes you can climb. Just below the summit hangs the spectacular Gjolmunnebrua, a 120-meter suspension bridge at an altitude of 750 meters. It’s highly recommended to do the Via Ferrata with a guide. You could, for example, choose to climb up and only take the Skylift down. Want to reserve a guide and book gear? You can do that at Loen Active. The minimum age is 12.
Paragliding & BASE jumping
For the real adrenaline junkies, there are launch sites for paragliders and BASE jumpers set up at the top. There are also special fields in the area designated for the brave jumpers to land safely. To use these launch sites you need the right papers and certificates. So they’re not just open to anyone. It’s also appreciated if you keep a respectful distance from the jumpers, so they can do their thing undisturbed.
Zip Line (opening soon)
Soon a new ‘attraction’ will open at the Loen Skylift: the Flying Foxes! Two zip lines, 125 and 95 meters long, that let you fly over the upper part of the Tungejølet gorge at an altitude of 1000 meters. If you dare..
210-degree panoramic view
From the terrace of the Hoven restaurant – behind the souvenir shop – you have a 210-degree panoramic view over Mount Skåla, Lovatnet to the east, the Jostedalsbreen glacier, Olden to the south and finally the Nordfjord winding its way to Stryn in the west.
Hoven restaurant
To fully immerse ourselves in the experience, we had reserved a table at restaurant Hoven. If we were going to spend such a pile of money on an outing anyway, we might as well enjoy it to the fullest! It was warm enough to pick a table on the terrace, so we could enjoy the view even more. Of course I did take a quick peek inside, where cozy lounge chairs with throws and an open fireplace alternated with elegantly set tables with candles along the gigantic windows.
The menu was inspired by Norse mythology and the surroundings. Bart-Jan had a ‘Hugin Salad’ with smoked reindeer and I enjoyed a ‘Loen Rösti’ with mushroom sauce. For dessert we had ‘teared svele’ (the best svele I’ve ever had..) and blåbær (my favorite Norwegian word) panna cotta. And all that with locally produced Loen apple juice on the side. Delicious!
And be honest: there’s little as romantic as having dinner ABOVE the mountain peaks and watching the sun sink between them. Have you ever sat in a restaurant with a view like that?!
“Something to make our heart beat a bit faster”
The video below shows really well how versatile Loen Skylift is. All the clichés are true: this is an experience that makes your heart beat faster. What are you waiting for? Loen is waiting for you!
