Kjerag

Kjerag – the majesty in the bottom of the Lysefjord!

NB! Do not hike to Kjerag in the winter! Outdoorlife Norway offers guided hikes off season.

Rising 1,084 metres above the Lysefjord, Kjerag is the tallest peak of them all. This massive mountain has for ages been admired from the fjord, however during the last few years, it has become increasingly more popular to hike up to the actual mountain plateau. Most people is satisfied with taking in the mesmerising views from the top of the mountain, however for some hikers the highlight seems to be taking one’s photo on the Kjerag boulder, this round chunk of a rock wedged into the crack of the mountain. Kjerag has also become a popular goal for mountain climbers and base jumpers. 

The hike to Kjerag 
Season: June – September. The hike takes around 5-6 hours return trip and is around 10 kilometres long. The hike starts from the parking (fee) at Øygardstøl south of the Lysefjord by Lysevegen above Lysebotn. Located here is a service facility with toilets and tourist information. The demanding trail will take you up and down hilly mountaintops, and the difference of altitude is 570 metres. It is always important to take weather precautions. If there is snow in the mountain it is not recommended to do the hike, or you should use a nature guide. Remember good footwear, preferably mountain shoes, warm clothing, food and drinks. Should the weather indicate difficult conditions, please use walking sticks/ski poles on the hike. A general good physical fitness is necessary. To avoid the loss of daylight on your return hike, you must not embark on this hike too late in the day. Get informed on the time for sunset as well as other weather conditions. Recommended related article - top 10 practical tips for your hike.

Read more about updated weather conditions and important messages with regards to the hike to Kjerag. 

Fun facts about Kjerag 
At mountain Kjerag, in one specific place just before reaching the top of the mountain, you can sometimes hear a sound similar to that of a gunshot and see smoke coming out of the mountain. This happens again from time to time. A surveying engineer experienced this phenomenon in 1855. His story goes: “I first heard a few bangs that gradually became more frequent and stronger, then I heard a terrible noise as I witnessed a beam of light shooting horizontally out from the rock and into the middle of the fjord, where it dissolved and vanished. “ Why this happens, nobody knows for sure, however the locals have for years assumed that it is water being forced out of the mountain.