Folgefonni

1,662 m

Norway

Also known as Folgefonna, Søndre Folgefonna

Folgefonna · Søndre Folgefonna

Elevation: 1,662 m
Prominence: 1,233 m
Difficulty: 4/10; Alpine hike
Best Season: Jul–Aug
Routes: 1

Routes

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AlpineFGlacierNormal route

Sources differ: Ekstra krevende / black (Bondhus–Fonnabu path) (ut.no / DNT) · Red (ski tour, Norges beste toppturer) (Peakbook)

The classic way onto Folgefonna: from the Bondhusbrea car park in Sunndal (about 60 m) up the restored 'Turistvegen' bridleway in 18 bends to Gardshammarsetra, past Botnavatnet and the old Breidablikk hut to the DNT glacier hut Fonnabu (1,450 m), then about an hour across the gently rising glacier to its 1,662 m high point. About 1,600–1,700 m of ascent; usually two days.

Elevation Profile

approximate line

Distance: 13.3 km; one way
Ascent: +1,718 m; −113 m lost on the way up
High Point: 1,662 m
Time Up: 7h 37m; DIN 33466
Time Down: 5h 29m; DIN 33466 · same way back

From Fv 500 in Sunndal, turn at the 'Bondhusbrea' sign and drive about 500 m to the paid car park at Bondhus (about 60 m); park so tractors can pass. Follow the gravel road Isvegen up Bondhusdalen to the fork about 500 m before Bondhusvatnet (information board), where the historic tourist road turns left. It climbs Hillerslia in 18 restored hairpins to the summer farm Gardshammarsetra (745 m), then continues past the bridge at Botnavatnet on a partly stone-built path through scree to Øyremerkevatnet (1,217 m, the last reliable water) and steeply south-east to Breidablikk (1,322 m), Bergen Turlag's hut from the 1890s. The path is marked with red T's and cairns. About an hour further, the marked route goes up the ridge of Fonnanuten (1,454 m) to Fonnabu (1,450 m) at the edge of the glacier. Allow 5–6 hours to the hut. From Fonnabu descend steeply onto the glacier, then go straight ahead, gently uphill, to the highest point of Søndre Folgefonna at about 1,662 m: roughly an hour on ski, longer on foot in summer snow. The high point is a featureless snow dome; navigation in fog requires GPS and compass. Going onto the glacier requires proper equipment and experience, or a guide from Folgefonni Breførarlag, who run guided glacier walks from Fonnabu in July and August. Return the same way. A ski ascent in spring is the classic way to reach the top (about 26 km and 8 hours round trip from Sunndal in the guidebook), but the approach is avalanche-prone in winter.

Start

Bondhus56 m

Bus to Sunndal (Skyss); the car park is about 500 m from Fv 500
Parking at the trailhead

Stages

Day	Stage	km	m ascent	m descent	Time
1	Bondhus → Fonnabu	10.5	1,437	49	6h 12m
2	Fonnabu → Folgefonna high point	2.9	281	65	1h 26m

Waypoints

Parking:
Bondhus56 m
Feature:
Gardshammarsetra745 m
Summer farm at the top of the 18 hairpins
Hut:
Breidablikk1,318 m
Hut:
Fonnabu1,447 m
Summit:
Folgefonna high point1,662 m

Key Passages

18 hairpins up Hillerslia
Steep climb from Øyremerkevatnet to Breidablikk
Descent onto the glacier from Fonnabu
Navigation on the glacier dome

Equipment

0/7 packed

Technical

Crampons and ice axehard snow or bare ice in late summerRecommended
Skis or snowshoesdeep summer snow on the glacier; skiing is much easier than walkingRecommended

Glacier

Rope, harness and crevasse-rescue kiton the glacier unless guidedRequired

Safety

Sunglasses and sun protectionglare on the glacierRequired

Clothing

Rain and cold-weather clothingweather near the glacier changes quicklyRequired

Navigation

GPS and compassfeatureless glacier in fogRequired

Hut & Camping

Sleeping-bag liner or sleeping bagrequired at FonnabuRequired

Downloads

Route confidence 70%

Download GPX Download KML

Overview

The 1,662 m snow dome at the top of Søndre Folgefonna glacier, the high point of Kvinnherad: reached from the fjord at Sunndal on a historic tourist path to the DNT glacier hut Fonnabu, then an hour across the ice.

Folgefonna (Folgefonni in Nynorsk) is a group of three plateau glaciers on the peninsula between Hardangerfjorden and Sørfjorden in Vestland, protected as Folgefonna National Park. The southern glacier, Søndre Folgefonna, is the largest and highest; its rounded summit at about 1,662 m is the highest point of Kvinnherad municipality, with a prominence of about 1,230 m. From the top the view takes in much of Hardangervidda, including Hårteigen and Hardangerjøkulen, and many coastal mountains.

The summit itself is a gentle snow dome with no rock. The classic approach starts at sea level in Sunndal on Maurangerfjorden, on the restored nineteenth-century 'Turistvegen' that once carried visitors and horses across the glacier to Odda. It climbs past the old Breidablikk hut to Fonnabu, a large self-service DNT hut on the glacier edge, from where the high point is about an hour away across the ice.

The summer ski centre on Nordre Folgefonna, near Jondal, lies on a separate glacier and does not give access to this summit.

Climbing Notes

The walk to Fonnabu is long (about 1,400 m of ascent, 5–6 hours up) but on a good marked path; most people stay the night. The glacier section needs proper glacier equipment and skills or a guide from Folgefonni Breførarlag (guided walks in July and August, book ahead and arrive at the hut the day before). On the glacier the main hazards are crevasses and whiteout navigation on a featureless dome. Skis make the glacier much easier: the classic ascent is a spring ski tour of about 8 hours return from Sunndal for fit, experienced parties. In winter the path to the hut is avalanche-prone and not recommended without solid experience.

History

Folgefonna has drawn tourists for over 200 years. The tourist road from Sunndal was built so that European visitors could reach and cross the glacier; Breidablikk hut dates from the 1890s, and an 1893 entry in its hut book describes sledge rides 'under the warm rays of the summer sun, yet surrounded by full winter'. The 18 hairpins up Hillerslia were restored in 2007, and the Tokheim side of the crossing by Odda og Ullensvang Turlag in 2002. At Fonnabu the safety hut dates from 1974 and the main hut from 1996.

Season

Best Jul–Aug

January: Not advisable
February: Not advisable
March: Possible
April: Good
May: Good
June: Good
July: Best (best window)
August: Best (best window)
September: Good
October: Possible
November: Not advisable
December: Not advisable

Jan: Winter; approach avalanche-prone
Mar: Ski touring for experienced parties
Apr: Spring ski touring
May: Spring ski touring; snow on the upper path
Jun: Late ski ascents; snow lingers high up
Jul: Hiking season starts; guided glacier walks July–August
Aug: Guided glacier walks
Sep: Crevasses most open; early frost
Oct: Hiking season ends in October

Access & Permits

Hut Booking

Fonnabu (DNT, self-service, open all year, unlocked): 42 beds, 28 bookable at hyttebestilling.dnt.no and 14 kept for drop-in guests; unbooked guests register and pay in the DNT app. Breidablikk (4 beds) is unstaffed and unlocked.

Fees

Paid parking at the Bondhus trailhead
Fonnabu overnight fee (DNT member prices available)

Rules

Folgefonna National Park rules apply
Dogs are not allowed in the main Fonnabu hut; book a dog cage

Getting There

Sunndal (Kvinnherad); Odda across the glacier

Bergen Flesland (BGO)

By car: from the Årsnes ferry quay about 30 minutes to Sunndal; from Odda through the Folgefonn tunnel; turn off Fv 500 at the 'Bondhusbrea' sign and drive about 500 m to the car park
Bus to Sunndal (Skyss)

Hazards

Glacier
Crevasses
Weather
Avalanche

Huts & Shelters

BreidablikkHutUnstaffed
4 beds · Open all year (unstaffed, unlocked)
1,322 m
FonnabuHutUnstaffed
42 beds · Open all year (self-service, unlocked); hiking season July–October
Book Fonnabu Website of Fonnabu
1,450 m