Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Ascending the Loen Skylift is a not to be missed activity if you are visiting the Loen or Olden part of Norway. The Skylift starts at the fjord and ascends close to vertically up to the top of the Mount Hoven at around 3,300 feet above sea level.
At the top of the Skylift you will find epic viewsof the fjords, a restaurant, a gift shop and hiking trails. Below you’ll see exactly what you need to know before you visit to make the most of your time at the top of the Loen Skylift.
We took the Skylift up on the first day of our time in Loen and after lunch at the top, hiked around some of the trails. We highly recommend this activity if you are in the area for at least a day. You can see some of the other things we did in Loen in this article: Epic Things to do in Loen, Norway.
Quick Overview of the Loen Skylift
The Ride
- The ride takes just 5–7 minutes each way, taking you from fjord level to mountain top.
- It’s one of the steepest cable cars in the world, with gradients up to around 60 %.
- There are two cabins that shuttle back and forth, seating dozens of passengers comfortably. We were there in the summer
What You’ll Find at the Top
Once you reach Mt. Hoven, there’s plenty to do beyond:
- Panoramic Views: Enjoy sweeping views over Nordfjord, Skåla, Lake Lovatnet, Jostedalsbreen National Park, and the surrounding peaks. There is a viewing platform that is great for photos.
- Hiking Trails: There are a whole series of trail above the skylift and you can do a short or longer hike.
- Dining: The Hoven Restaurant & Bar sits right on the cliff edge with floor-to-ceiling views and local Norwegian fare.
- Adventure Activities: There are several other way to enjoy this area in addition to the skylift -In summer, you can try ziplining or the Via Ferrata climbing route; in winter, there’s snowshoeing, sledding, and skiing.
Tickets for the Loen Skylift
You can purchase tickets for the Loen Skylift directly at the Skylift – you don’t need to purchase these in advance although it is possible tp buy them online. The tickets are not for a specific time of day so you can use them whenever you want on that day. You can also buy packs of tickets, one-way tickets and round trip tickets.
Once you have your tickets, you ascend to the waiting platform. There are 2 cars operating so it will stop and you load from the bottom. These are large and fit a lot of people. Once it’s loaded, the car ascends the steep hillside in just a few minutes. It’s exhilerating and a bit unnerving, but my dad was with us and dislikes heights but felt secure on the skylift.
Eating in the Hoven Restaurant & Bar
This is a fantastic experience if you are going up the skylift. The restaurant is perched right on the edge of the cliff and has large glass windows overlooking the fjord. I strongly recommend making a reservation at the restaurant as they reserve the best tables for people with reservations. We sat right in front of the window with an incredible view.
The restaurant did no fill up when we were there, but it was nice knowing we had a table for our group of 6.
The food at the restaurant was surprisingly good and Finley had his best meal of our Norway trip at the Hoven Restaurant.
Hiking Trails Above the Loen Skylift
After we took in the views and enjoyed a meal, we went for a hike. There are many trails above the skylift from short walks to longer challenging walks. There are well marked trails that make it easy to decide where to go. Below you can see a map with some of the trails (note this map is not totally complete as there are several more smaller trails.
We started on the loop just above the skylift and Hadley, Freja and I continued up to the summit of Skredfjellet.
Most of the walked trails are wide and flat but some of the smaller trails are steep with rocks. Its important to have good walking or hiking shoes and warm clothes. The weather was significantly colder than down at the base of the fjord and the wind made it even colder.
The views from the hiking trails are different and you may get a view down into the neighboring fjord, but I think the best view is from the restarant and viewing platform.
Why You Should do the Loen Skylift
- It’s a “from fjord to sky in 5 minutes” experience — meaning you go from sea-level fjord scenery to high-mountain landscapes almost instantly.
- The ride and top station are year-round attractions, so you can visit in summer or winter for very different moods and light.
- The Skylift also serves as a gateway to exploring deeper into the Norwegian mountains without needing to hike the entire vertical distance on foot, though many hikers love starting their excursions up top.
We loved spending a few days in the Loen area, and also loved the hike to the Briksdaal Glacier and biking around Lake Lovatnet. If you are looking for a luxury place to stay, we stayed in Hotel Alexandra. This is an upscale hotel that offers a massive buffet dinner and breakfast.
