Hjelle and Oppstryn

Q: Distance from the airports:

Ørsta/Volda Airport Hovden : approx. 90 km (about 1 hour and 30 minutes) Sandane Airport Anda : approx. 85 km (about 1 hour and 30 minutes) Ålesund Airport Vigra : approx. 170 km (about 2 hours and 50 minutes) Bergen Airport Flesland : approx. 330 km (about 5 hours and 20 minutes) There are direct flights from Oslo and Bergen to Ørsta/Volda and Sandane. To Ålesund there are also direct flights from, among others, Trondheim, London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Gdansk.

Ski in shorts, cool down in emerald-green glacier lakes, and explore the national-romantic Hjelle and Oppstryn.

©Thomas Sagvik

©Thomas Sagvik

©Unknown

©Miriam Flo

Hjelle – a quiet gem by Oppstrynsvatnet

At the eastern end of Oppstrynsvatnet in Oppstryn lies Hjelle, a small gem surrounded by glacial lakes, waterfalls and mighty mountains.

Oppstryn and Hjelle lie deep in Stryn municipality, by the mirror-green Oppstrynsvatnet. This is where the national tourist route Gamle Strynefjellsvegen begins, winding through a dramatic high-mountain landscape. The area is surrounded by steep mountains, waterfalls, and the proximity of Jostedalsbreen, Europe’s largest mainland glacier. This is a place for those seeking peace, authentic nature experiences and living history.

Hjelle @ Maciej Ducxynki

All year round

Spring

The snowmelt brings life to waterfalls such as Glomnesfossen, and the valley turns green and vibrant. You can finally head up to the iconic Segestad. With snow on the peaks of the highest mountains surrounding the abandoned farm, the view is especially beautiful. There are also great opportunities for summit hikes in the surrounding mountains.

Summer

Summer is peak season. Tourists come to drive Gamle Strynefjellsvegen and experience Stryn summer skiing. It’s also the perfect time for paddling on Oppstrynsvatnet, mountain hikes, swimming, and visiting local cafés. In mid-June, the Strynefestivalen takes place at Folven Camping, and the valley fills with party- and outdoors-loving enthusiasts.

Autumn

In autumn, you get the mountains, nature, and the most popular places without the summer tourists. Erdalen offers calm, pleasant hikes inward toward Erdalsbreen in beautiful autumn colors.

Winter

In winter, the landscape rests under snow. Hjelle offers a quiet and authentic winter experience, with easy access to skiing activities nearby. You’ll also find several great summit hikes in the area.

Glomnesfossen @ Thomas Sagvik

Erdalen @ Thomas Sagvik

Nature and landscape

Oppstrynsvatnet is just as green and beautiful as the better-known Lovatnet, but much calmer. The lake lies like a mirror between steep mountain sides, and from Hjelle you have wide views both out over the valley and up toward the mountains.

Hjelledalen stretches eastwards toward Strynefjellet, while Erdalen offers lush landscapes, summer farms and glacial rivers. In spring, the snowmelt brings waterfalls like Glomnesfossen to life, while summer opens up for long days in a vibrant, green landscape. Autumn colours the valley in warm tones and brings a slower pace, while winter lays a quiet blanket of snow over the area.

Along Gamle Strynefjellsvegen, built between 1889 and 1894, you drive past kerbstones and stone walls that still stand as they were built more than a hundred years ago. The road is closed to buses, which provides a quieter and more authentic experience. From Videfossen you get a raw nature experience, where blue-green masses of water plunge down into Hjelledalen with great force. The waterfall is located right by Hotel Videseter and is a natural stop for views, photos and a short break on the journey along Gamle Strynefjellsvegen.

Activities

Oppstryn is a good starting point for both well-known and lesser-known nature experiences. One of the most popular hikes from Hjelle goes to the abandoned mountain farm Segestad, which is spectacularly situated on a rocky outcrop with views over Oppstrynsvatnet. The hike passes Glomnesfossen and offers both a nature experience and an insight into the history of the mountain farmers.

Erdalen offers a beautiful valley walk to historic summer farms, and is the starting point for the classic three-day ski tour across Jostedalsbreen. On sunny Flo you’ll find an open and lush cultural landscape with several hiking options.

Along Gamle Strynefjellsvegen lies Stryn Summer Ski Centre, where you can ski in the middle of summer. Here, both beginners and experienced skiers will find challenges, from groomed trails to off-piste skiing and ski touring.

For lower-tempo activities, Hjelle is perfect for experiences on the water. Kayaking, SUP and rowing bring you close to nature and the still lake. At Folven Adventure Camp you can combine accommodation with activities such as cycling, climbing and social events, while the area otherwise offers good opportunities for trail biking, including routes such as Himalayastien and Napen.

Stisykling i Hjelledalen - Mattias Fredriksson

Mountain biking in Hjelledalen @ Mattias Fredriksson

Culture and history

Jostedalsbreen National Park Centre in Oppstryn gives you insight into how the glaciers have shaped the landscape and how they are developing today. Here you will find interactive exhibitions, films, a mountain garden, and a panoramic café with views over Oppstrynsvatnet.

Hjelle has long traditions as a travel destination, dating back to the 1890s when the first tourists arrived here by steamboat. Hjelle Hotel, built in 1896 in Swiss-chalet style, is one of the historic wooden hotels in Western Norway and still offers an authentic experience of early tourism.

At Hjelle you will also find Gamlebutikken from 1882, a charming place where you can enjoy coffee, lunch, and a local atmosphere. The mountain farm Segestad provides a unique insight into life in steep and demanding terrain, with roots far back in history.

Food and accommodation

Hjelle and Oppstryn offer a varied selection of accommodation options, whether you want comfort, history, or closeness to nature. Hjelle Hotel gives you an experience in historic surroundings with views over the lake, while Vollsnes offers both modern holiday houses, a guesthouse, and nature-close glamping. Along the old Strynefjellsvegen you’ll find the historic high-mountain hotel Hotel Videseter, with views over Hjelledalen and Videfossen.

In Hjelledalen you’ll find family-friendly cabins, and at Folven Adventure Camp you can stay in the middle of an active and social environment. Nygård Camping is a good alternative with cabins, a campsite, and its own bakery.

The food experiences range from traditional dishes to simple café options. At Hjelle Hotel you can enjoy dinner in historic surroundings, while Gamlebutikken offers lunch and afternoon tea. In the surrounding area you will also find local food and fresh baked goods in Oppstryn and Erdalen.

Are you looking for historic hiking experiences, spectacular nature, or activities all year round? Oppstryn and Hjelle offer an experience out of the ordinary, in a landscape where tranquillity, history, and nature meet.

Practical information

Distance from the airports:

Ørsta/Volda Airport Hovden: approx. 90 km (about 1 hour and 30 minutes)

Sandane Airport Anda: approx. 85 km (about 1 hour and 30 minutes)

Ålesund Airport Vigra: approx. 170 km (about 2 hours and 50 minutes)

Bergen Airport Flesland: approx. 330 km (about 5 hours and 20 minutes)

There are direct flights from Oslo and Bergen to Ørsta/Volda and Sandane. To Ålesund there are also direct flights from, among others, Trondheim, London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Gdansk.

How to get here:

Hjelle and Oppstryn are located at the far end of Stryn municipality, along national road 15, which runs between Stryn town centre and Strynefjellet. The area is easily accessible by car and lies along the main transport corridor between Eastern Norway and Western Norway.

From Stryn town centre it takes about 25 minutes to drive to Hjelle. The trip follows the beautiful Oppstrynsvatnet, with several nice stops along the way.

There is a bus through Oppstryn with connections to both Stryn and onwards to the east and west. However, to explore the area around Hjelle and Oppstryn, it is an advantage to have your own car.

There are good parking options at accommodation sites and at trailheads for hikes in the area.

Strynefjellsvegen @ Thomas Sagvik

Accommodation in Hjelle and in Oppstryn

Activities and experiences at Hjelle and in Oppstryn

Food and drink in Hjelle and Oppstryn

See more in Stryn kommune

Hjelle and Oppstryn are part of Stryn kommune. Stryn is known for spectacular nature with glaciers, mountains, waterfalls and emerald-green lakes – a destination where adventure and nature experiences take center stage. Here you can experience iconic places such as Loen, Lodalen, Oldedalen and Briksdalsbreen, combined with year-round activities and vibrant local communities between fjord and mountain.

Innvik and Utvik

Loen and Lodalen

Olden and Oldedalen

Stryn

Experience all of Nordfjord – Everything in one fjord

Nature experience or adventure? Why choose when you can have it all in Nordfjord? Experience the perfect combination of majestic fjords, towering mountains, lush valleys, and a wild coastline.