Utladalen and Vettisfossen
Utladalen is one of the most spectacular valleys in Norway, known for dramatic scenery, waterfalls and high mountains.
Vettisfossen
Utladalen is the gateway to Jotunheimen and offers beautiful hiking trails through lush landscapes and wild nature. Many start their experience at historic Hjelle farm, which is idyllically located at the entrance to the valley. From here you can continue towards the mighty Vettisfossen , one of the highest unregulated waterfalls in Northern Europe.
Vettisfossen is the highest protected waterfall in Northern Europe with a free fall of 275 meters.
Vettifossen has been voted Norway's most beautiful waterfall - and not without reason!
The most common way to experience the waterfall is by walking the Folkevegen to Vetti, and then continuing on the path to the waterfall. This usually takes 3-4 hours. The way up is rich in nature experiences. The waterfall is also known from literature.
In the book "Under the big one" Jan Schwarzott writes:
"Because by appearing uniquely handsome, you know Vettisfossen "a wealth of opportunities for experiences that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Despite its enormous dimensions, the Queen can be seen from every conceivable angle, always with an unobstructed view of the entire cliff face."
The folk road to Vetti
The almost five-kilometer-long Vettisvegen, or Folkevegen as it is called in Årdal , leaves the farm Hjelle up home Utladalen to the two farms on Vetti.
The road was built in the years 1973-1977 as a large joint venture between private and public parties.
The road crosses the river in four places. Walking the Vettisvegen is a "journey" through nature and culture of the rarest kind.
The People's Road became a gigantic volunteer project, where both young and old, women and men, worked together to realize the road connection between Vetti and Hjelle There used to be a bridle path here, adapted for horses and people.
It took 5 years and 50,000 volunteer hours to realize the project, which has rightly been described as the largest volunteer project in recent times.
Vettisfossen viewpoint
Over the gorge there Vettisfossen throws itself off the mountainside, you find Vettisfossen viewpoint in Utladalen .
Film: Leif Magne Kinserdal
The viewpoint is a ramp made of corten steel, placed with a slight overhang over the waterfall gorge to ensure that visitors can see the entire waterfall in all its glory from top to bottom. The location is designed so that visitors do not have to climb over the fence and out to the edge of the gorge to get the best view.
Because this is a vulnerable natural area, we encourage everyone to follow the marked path and not go outside the fence.
The trip from Årdal starts in the parking lot at Hjelle , where the journey into Utladalen landscape conservation area begins. First you walk on the beautiful country road to Vetti Gard for about 5 km, before turning right to follow the path up the mountainside to the top of the waterfall. You can expect +/- 1 hour for the ascent from Vetti gard to the viewpoint.
Vettisfossen was voted the most beautiful waterfall in Norway a few years ago, and is the highest unregulated waterfall in Northern Europe, with a free fall of 275 meters.
PHOTO: Visit Sognefjord
Utladalen national park center
Utladalen The National Park Center is the only national park visitor center located within the protected area.
Photo: Torunn Todal Laberg
Utladalen The national park center is located below Skåri at Hjelle , and is an old farm in Utladalen which was in operation until the 1970s. In 1996, work began to restore the old cultural landscape. Utladalen National Park Center first opened as Utladalen Nature House in May 1998, and has been run by the Foundation Utladalen Natural house ever since.
In 2024, the site was authorized as a national park visitor center, and has since installed a nature trail, a new exhibition and a new profile. The purpose is the same as before, namely to provide information about the natural and cultural history of the Utladalen and West Jotunheimen - with a focus on conservation values and nature communication.
The National Park Center's employees also run a popular summer café every summer. Utladalen The National Park Center is a popular venue for various events, and the center can be used for meetings, seminars, parties or other events. The Foundation Utladalen Naturhus has established Utladalen national park center AS, but the foundation itself was established in March 1997 by Hydro Aluminium, the County Governor of Sogn og Fjordane and Årdal Municipality.
It is the Foundation Utladalen Nature houses that organize the care work at home Utladalen , so that the cultural landscape appears as much as possible like when there was farming in the valley.
From Utladalen At the National Park Center you can hire a guide - either for a walk through the exhibition, for a tour of the area or for a trip up the famous and airy Avdalsskåri up to Avdalen Gard .
Please contact us by phone +47 905 16 686 to book a guided tour.
Utladalen The National Park Center can also be rented for various types of events; meetings, gatherings, lectures, presentations, baptisms, confirmations, festive parties and the like. Standard equipment such as projectors and screens are available. More information on their website.
Gravdalen and Stølsmaradalen
Gravdalen
Gravdalen was formerly the seat of Avdalen, and is located about an hour up in the mountains west of Avdalen. The trip follows the route towards Stølsmaradalen until the fork in the path. Our route turns left and first goes past Vårstølen. Here one first traveled to the seters with the animals in the spring. Continue steadily steeply upwards until the terrain opens up and you see the beautiful seter embankments in Gravdalen . A dream of a place both in summer and winter, and a great starting point for trips further inland towards Hurrungane. The seal is locked with a standard DNT lock and unattended.
Stølsmaradalen
Not many people have found this little gem, so often you have the cabin and the landscape in Stølsmaradalen all to yourself. And what a valley this is! Here you have a nice view of Stølsnostind, Falketind and the other peaks that tower up on the east side of the valley. And once you have arrived at the cabin, you can take an extra day and make the trip to Stølsmaradalsfossen.
Route:
The easiest route up to Stølsmaradalen is to follow the markings from Avdalen. A more difficult route is to go via Vetti and up the steep Brendeteigen. This is more demanding, but the view towards Vettisfossen makes up for this.The cabin is also a great starting point for hikes in Hurrungane.
Vormeli
A little history
The name "Utladalsholet" has also been widely used for Vormeli Utladalen Naturhus currently manages the maintenance of the building, accommodation and care of the cultural landscape.
A group called Vormelis Venner restored one of the houses in the mid-1970s and was then responsible for its maintenance until 2014. Since then, Utladalen Naturhus took responsibility, in agreement with Vormelis Venner, and the owner of the site, which is Eide Gard in Luster.
Vormeli was the starting point for Slingsby, Mohn and Lykken's famous trip to Store Skagastølstind, where Slingsby managed to reach the top, while his friends waited in the sker between Store and Vetle, which has been named Mohn's Skar.
Slingsby is officially credited with being the first to reach this peak, which is often called "Storen" in Norwegian.
Accommodation
On Vormeli You can stay overnight as long as you have a DNT key with you. Unattended accommodation. Payment information can be found in the house.
Question?
Contact supervisor Ole Magnar Nundal on tel. +47 959 97 045.
Avdalen Gard
Avdalen Gard is a beautifully situated mountain farm in Utladalen , which is located just above the spectacular Avdalsfossen waterfall.
The garden has been beautifully restored, both with the house and the cultural landscape, and is currently run by the Foundation. Avdalen Gard The foundation's board is made up of representatives from the landowners, family, enthusiasts and villagers who are all passionate about Avdalen and Utladalen each in their own way. The work they have done is fundamental to Avdalen Gard today may be open and accessible to tourists who want to stay overnight.
Avdalen Gard is manned during the summer season from the end of June to the beginning of September. Outside the season, one storehouse is unattended (DNT key).
Vetti Gard
Vetti Gard Tourist Station has been an important place for mountain people since the mountain pioneers found their way inland. Utladalen all in the 19th century. Edvard Grieg once said that he became 10 years younger every time he visited Vetti - and once you have found your way there once, there is a good chance you will return. The farm has also been home to other famous people - such as Nansen, Slingsby and Queen Sonja.
Today is Vetti Gard Tourist station, a summer-open farm located in the heart of Jotunheimen . The Garden has 13 rooms, a unique dormitory in the old barn and a total of 30 beds. Extra beds/mattresses can be placed in the barn as well. The Garden has food service during the summer season.
Call + 47 57665800 for more information and booking, or send an email to post@vettisriket.no .
Utladalen landscape conservation area
PHOTO: Bulder & Brak Experiences
Utladalen The landscape conservation area was established on December 5, 1980 together with Jotunheimen national park. The protected area covers an area of approx. 300 km2. The landscape conservation area is located on the west side of Jotunheimen national park, in the municipalities Årdal and Luster. The safety regulations were revised on 14.11.14.
From approximately the watershed on Sognefjellet, the protected area extends down the Vetle and Storutla valleys along Utla to Hjelle The side valleys Skogadalen, Uradalen and Fleskedalen in the east and Stølsmaradalen and Gravdalen in the west is also within the landscape conservation area.
Famous tourist attractions such as Vettisfossen , Skogadalsbøen Tourist cabin, Avdal farm , Vetti gard and Utladalen Nature House are central to the conservation area.
Why protection?
The purpose of the landscape conservation area is to protect a wild and beautiful western landscape with natural environment and cultural heritage associated with it. Jotunheimen national park, while the areas can be used for agriculture, outdoor activities, hunting and fishing.
Protection regulations for Utladalen landscape conservation area
Management plan for Jotunheimen national park and Utladalen landscape conservation area
Care plan for Utladalen landscape conservation area
Map of the protected area
Revised safety regulations:
In 2004, a process was initiated to revise the protection regulations for Jotunheimen national park and Utladalen landscape conservation area. These were finally adopted by the King in Council on 14.11.14. More information about the process behind it, see here .
Source: www.nasjonalparkstyret.no