Lofthus: H M Queen Sonja’s Panoramic Hiking Trail

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The Queen's Trail from Lofthus

The Queen’s Trail takes you high up to the top of the landscape of the fjords, from where there are several points with stunning views: Hardangervidda National Park, Folgefonna National Park, and the Hardanger Fjord. The Queens’s Trail can be accessed on foot from both Kinsarvik and Lofthus. The trail, which is between 750 and 1,000 masl, is marked in accordance with Her Majesty’s instructions.

Season: When it is snow free, usually end June to mid-September.

Park: By Bunnpris supermarket in Lofthus, or by Opedal school during school holidays.

Start from Lofthus: The Queen’s Trail starts at about 1,000 masl at Rjukande in Hardangervidda. From Lofthus one has to walk up to Rjukande past the Monks’s Steps (600-800 masl) and Nosi (950 masl) on a track marked by the Norwegian Trekking Association with red T’s, or on the dirt road which ends at 750 masl. This road is private and not open to motor vehicles.

Start Queen’s Trail: At Rjukande (about 1,000 masl) the actual Queen’s Trail starts. It is marked with blue D’s. Follow this trail through the mountain landscape for about 4 hours to Heng (750 masl)

End Queen’s Trail: At Heng (about 750 masl) above Kinsarvik, the Queen’s Trail ends. From Heng there is a dirt road going down to Røte (about 200 masl), and from Røte a paved road down to Kinsarvik. It takes about 1.5 hours to walk from Heng to Røte, and about 2 hours from Heng to Kinsarvik.

Travel by public transport to Lofthus/Kinsarvik: Bus from Odda, Eidfjord, Geilo, Voss stops in Lofthus and Kinsarvik. In the summer there is a boat stopping in Lofthus and Kinsarvik (to/from Norheimsund with bus going to/from Bergen). Bus stop/Boat dock in Kinsarvik is about 2.5 km from Røte.                                       

Grading: The terrain along the Queen’s Trail itself varies a little. The Lofthus side is quite bare and rocky, whereas the Kinsarvik side is more marshy. It is very hard to walk from the parking by the superkarket or the school, up to the start of the Queen’s Trail at Rjukande. It is also a long way down from Heng to Kinsarvik. So all in all, this is a very hard trail.

Lenghth: Lofthus-Rjukande about 4 km, Queen’s Trail from Rjukande to Heng about 8 km, Heng-Røte about 4,5 km. Total length is about 16 km.

Height differences: Lofthus-Rjukande  about 1,000 m, Queen’s trail from Rjukande to Heng about 350 m, Heng-Røte about 550 m. Total height difference is about 1,100 m.

Time: Lofthus-Rjukande about 2,5 hours, Queen’s Trail from Rjukande to Heng about 4 hours, Heng-Røte about 1.5 hours. Totalt length in time is 6-10 hours, depending on physical condition and age.

Good advice: Bring nutritious food and drink, wear good footwear and warm clothes. Bring a map and compass.

Description: When starting by the supermarket in Lofthus, follow road RV 13 northwards. After 50 metres take local road Fv 102 on the right and walk direction Lofthus Camping. After about 300 metres, by Opedal School, take a steep paved road on the right hand. After about 300 metres the road splits, take the dirt road on the right hand. Follow this dirt road up the mountain, it is signed with ”Nosi”.  From about 400 masl a track cuts the dirt road several places. The track is shorter and steeper. The dirt road ends at about 700 masl, from where  the track continues to Nosi. The track is marknad with red T’s by the Norwegian Trekking Association. Between 600 to 800 masl the so-called Monks’ Steps are found along the track. The view is very good on the way up. Remember to write your name in the book in the box by Nosi (950 masl). A few hundered metres above Nosi the Hardangervidda plateau opens up. At Rjukande (1,000 masl), where the waterfall Bjødnabykset starts, the Queen’s Trail goes off on the left hand. Follow the blue D’s northwards, at the edge of the Hardangervidda plateau. The Queen’s Trail ends at Heng, which is about 750 masl above Kinsarvik. It takes approximately 4 hours to walk the Queen’s trail from Rjukande to Heng, one way. Note that the trail is very close to the edge of the mountain some places. Please be careful between Oksli and Rjukande, and by Ulvskjaft. From Heng follow the dirt road down to Røte (about 200 masl), and further on paved road down to Kinsarvik.

Shorter alternative: Go from Lofthus, past the Monk’s Steps and Nosi, to Rjukande and from there do a little part of the Queen’s Trail before returning back the same way. 

Information and map at ut.no.

Hotel Ullensvang/Lions Club Ullensvang map.