Biking at the Rallarvegen
THE OLD NAVY ROAD
Rallarvegen, goes over the Natinalpark Hardangervidda, belong the railway to Bergen/Oslo. It starts from Haugastøl (alternatively you can start from Finse/Hallingskeid) and end up in Myrdal, Flåm or in Voss. The track is an attraction itself and bring you through a wonderful highland area over 1'300 m. and down to sea level. The longest route from Haugastøl to Flåm is 80 km and with an ascent of 1'341 m. It is possible to rent bikes in Haugastøl, Finse, Flåm and Voss. After the tour the bike can be returned by train. There are lodges at the way and organized tent camps. The weather at these heights can change quickly from beautiful sunshine to blustering winds and snow-storms in the middle of summer. There can be quite a lot of snow at the beginning of the season, whish starts approximately middle of July.
GEOGRAPHY
Rallarvegen starts about 200 km north-west from Oslo. The first part goes through the north part of Hardangervidda.
HOW TO GET THERE
By public transport: Take the train from Oslo/Bergen to Haugastøl (or Finse). You can start directly from the train station.
By car: From Oslo, drive to Gol - Geilo and park the car in Haugastøl. It is not possible to drive further to Finse, because it is just accessible by train.
CABINS belong the Rallarvegen
Finsehytta, 1'222 m. (DNT-member)
Finse 1222, 1'222 m. (private hotel)
Hallingskeid, 1'090 m. (DNT-member)
Vatnahalsen, (private mountain hotel)
DURATION / TIME
6 days / July-August 2000
TOUR DESCRIPTION
The goal for this adventure was to take our time to enjoy the nature and surroundings. It was no point to make the tour as quick as possible. To reach Bergen within six days we biked about 40 km per day.
Haugastøl - nearby Fagervatn
At the train station in Haugastøl we where already in the "real mountains". From Haugastøl (900 m.) was it gentle uphill climb to Finse (1'222 m.) and Fagervatn (1'343 m.). Some places we had to cross snow with our bikes. Nearby Fagervatn just beside the track, we tented at a peaceful place.
Nearby Fagervatn - Flåm - Gudvangen
The Flåm railway station is 2 m. above sea level, so from Fagervatn to Flåm it’s mostly down-hill with just a few inclines en route. The last track down to Flåm was steep with zigzag curves. But fascinating with waterfalls and view over the Nærøyfjord. From Flåm we took the ferry over the fjord to Gudvangen. From there we continued about 5 km belong the main road direction Voss, before we found a place to tent.
Gudvangen - Voss - Evanger
The first part went through a narrow and nice valley. Almost the hole day we where biking belong the road. At a part between Gudvangen and Voss was a quite heavy uphill climb. We enjoyed our lunch and a bath in the small city, Voss. At the way to Evanger the last part of the track went through soft farmer landscape. We tented in a small park in Evanger (maybe not allowed!) and tried to get some fish in the fjord.
Evanger - Eksingedalen - before Straume
Eksingedalen is a peaceful and vigorous valley with small lakes and fascinating waterfalls. It was almost no traffic and just some few farmhouses. We had to climb 800 m. by bike to reach a pass. But from the top we had a nice view over the Eksingedalen. After the valley, we passed a charming, small fish village at the end of the Veafjorden. Somewhere before Straume we found at least a place to tent - that means we asked a farmer if we could camp in their garden!
Straume - Dale - Lonevåg
From Straume via Dale to Stanghelle we had to drive belong the main road. Between Stanghelle and Trengereid it was better and more safe to take the train. We continued some kilometers at the main road over a bridge to the island, Lonevåg. We camped somewhere belong the street.
Lonevåg - Bergen
The last day of our tour, we took a small ferry from Valestrand back to the mainland and continued belong the road direction Bergen. This area is known for bad weather. We had sunshine during the whole week, but exactly when we arrived Bergen it starts to rain! A friendly truck driver felt pity for us and gave us a ride to the city. We had two relaxing days in Bergen before we returned by train to Oslo.
ALTERNATIVES
The route from Rallarvegen to the end of the Eksingedalen is very good suited for bikes. It is not much or no traffic and the tracks are mainly in untouched nature. A suggestion to make the last part more attractive would to make some small changes with the route. Instead of taking the train, take the ferry over Veafjorden from Stanghelle to Grøtå (Lonevåg) - watch up: The ferry has few departures! From there it is a nice bike road to Valestrand. Ferry from Valestrand and if possible bus to Bergen.
