Viksdalen: Hiking Trails, Waterfalls and Culture

Viksdalen combines hiking experiences with waterside landscapes and places of cultural and historical interest. On the Fossestien trail, a steel bridge crosses the Likholefossen waterfall and continues onto the trail; by the shore of Lake Viksdalsvatnet, there is a beach near the centre and the Hestad rest area. Other hiking destinations include Storefjellet and the Haugaro day-trip cabin. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Viksdalen, you might first consider whether longer hikes, time by the water or fishing will be the main focus of your holiday.

Hiking the Fossestien and summiting peaks

The Fossestien trail runs from Gaularfjellet via Eldal, Likholefossen, Longstølen and Torsnesstølen to Viksdalen. It is 21 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 500 metres. The trail surface consists of gravel and compacted earth; several wooden bridges and boardwalks are also part of the route. These details give you a clear idea of the route and its terrain. When choosing a hike for your holiday, you can use them to decide whether this longer route fits your plans for the day.

Another hike leads to Storefjellet. It is 7 kilometres long and follows a trail marked with the Norwegian Trekking Association’s (DNT) red T symbols. It reaches almost 1,182 metres above sea level. By comparison, the hike to Knausen starts right at Flatheim and is described as a half-day hike. The two destinations offer different options when choosing a hike: a marked trail up to Storefjellet or a half-day hike to Knausen starting at Flatheim.

Water, rest areas and trails for children

The Gaular watercourse is protected, passes Flatheim and offers opportunities for swimming, fishing and hiking along rivers and waterfalls. If you’d rather focus on a single lake, there is a beach on Lake Viksdalsvatnet near the centre of Viksdalen. The lake is 14 kilometres long and is considered a good fishing lake. This gives you a choice of different focuses for your holiday: water-based activities or hiking.

The Haugaro day-trip cabin in Viksdalen can be reached on a family-friendly hike; the path to the cabin is also suitable for pushchairs. The cabin also has a gravel path that is considered universally accessible. If you would like to drive to the cabin, contact the landowner beforehand. From the trail and the Haugaro cabin, you can enjoy views of the centre of Viksdalen and Lake Viksdalsvatnet.

The Hestad rest area is on the north shore of Lake Viksdalsvatnet, in a protected landscape area. There are two trails with seating and information features along the way. Hestad Chapel stands on a headland between Hestadfjorden and Lake Viksdalsvatnet. Its origins date back to the Middle Ages. If you’d like to discover historical places as well as nature during your trip, this is another way to experience the landscape around the lake.

Fishing and other activities

Fishing is possible along the Gaular watercourse, from the high mountains to Lake Viksdalsvatnet. Trout is the only fish species in the lake. Fishing permits along the watercourse are issued by Viksdalen Vilt- og fiskelag on behalf of the landowners. Every summer, a three-day big trout fishing festival is also held on Lake Viksdalsvatnet, Haukedalsvatnet and Hestadfjorden. If you’d like to plan your stay around fishing, you can choose between the watercourse, the lake and the festival as different options.

You can also play disc golf in Viksdalen. At Flatheim, a small farmhouse hotel in Viksdalen on the Gaularfjellet National Tourist Route, one of the buildings is protected as a cultural heritage site. It contains a living room from the 16th century. Viksdalen thus combines active days outdoors with a cultural and historical highlight.

Discover more places

Also discover Sande in Sunnfjord, Bygstad and Skilbrei.

For the overview of the wider area, visit: Gaular.