Scenic Route Old Strynefjell

This road, built more than 100 years ago - by manual labour - winds its way over the mountains between Stryn and Skjåk. A piece of cultural heritage.  

Between the mountain village of Skjåk and the fjord village of Stryn there were several ancient routes for the transport of people and essential goods. It was a strenuous and slow journey.

In 1881 the decision to build a road between Grotli and Hjelle was made. Swedish navvies and local people from both sides of the mountains took part in the hard work of construction. In 1894 the road was ready for use, a masterpiece of road building and engineering.

In 1978 the old Strynefjellsvegen was replaced by a new 12-kilometre long road with three tunnels that remained open all year. However, it is still the old road that provides a view and perspective. Nature displays its contrasts along this stretch of road, with the rounded, glacier-scoured forms to the east and a steeper, more precipitous topography to the west.

Gamle Strynefjellsvegen is closed during winter and opens in June. Right up until the 1950s, snowploughing the road was manual labour. Two hundred men with spades dug their way through miles of several metre high snow banks, but that is history now. These days the snowploughs clear the road in a matter of days.

At Tystigen it is still possible to ski far into the summer. Otherwise, high summer and autumn is the time for walking in the mountains. The road is also excellent for cycling.

This tour suggestion takes you through the Old Strynefjell road.
 

Attractions

• Hjelle: This idyllic village is beautifully situated on the east side of Strynsvatnet lake at the end of Hjelledalen valley.
• Jøl bru: The old stone-vault bridge can be hard to spot. A new viewing platform is being planned, which will make this road-building masterpiece from 1883 more visible. 
• Videfossen: Utsiktspunktet er perfekt for en fotopause og gir deg en opplevelse av å være tett på fossen.
• Øvstefoss: Starting from the road, you can take the 200-metre long footpath and experience the foaming waterfall from a close distance. 
• Gamle Strynefjellsvegen: Old, handmade stone walls and long rows of guard stones are the hallmarks of this mountain crossing that dates back more than a century. 

Norwegian Scenic Route Gamle Strynefjellsvegen, runs between Grotli and Videsæter and is 27 kilometres long. RV 258.

More info on nasjonaleturistveger.no