Exploring The Beautiful Oldendal Along The Summit Hike To Klovane: A Comprehensive Guide

When I first drove along Lake Oldevatnet to see Norway’s famous Briksdalsbreen glacier I knew this area was special.

During my first visit, I hiked to Kattanakken. I was so mesmerized by the views along this trail, I decided to study maps and pictures of the area to find another one that matched them. Then I stumbled upon Klovane. The hike that checked off all the boxes…

11 Things to Know about Hiking to Klovane in Norway

This trail is featured on many of my road trip plans across Norway. If you are planning a holiday in this corner of the World and need help you should look into them.

1. Oslo to Oslo in 10-14 days: across the mountain and fjords of Norway
2. Bergen to Bergen in 7-10 days for hiking enthusiasts
3. Åndalsnes to Åndalsnes in 10 days for adventure lovers (coming soon)

1. Klovane day hike: the stats

2. Where is the Klovane hike?

Klovane is one of the peaks surrounding Oldedalen (Dalen in Norwegian means valley). It is located right at the edge of the Jostedalsbreen National Park and right above the isthmus of the two parts of Oldenvatnet Lake.

Jostedalsbreen is Norway’s biggest glacier field and most visited National Park. The nearest towns are Olden and Loen, both built on the shore of the Invikfjord.

The whole area is a paradise for hikers and outdoor adventure enthusiasts.

3. The map of the Klovane hike

Above you can see the screenshot of the path I followed from the trailhead to the summit. I measured the distance, elevation gain, and route with my Garmin Fenix 6S pro watch.

This map is for showcasing purposes only and should not be used for navigation. The local website UT.NO has a great map tool. You can view the map for the Klovane trail here.

4. How difficult is the hike to Klovane?

This is a short but demanding hike with chains placed in the steepest sections. I’ve said it many times before. Norwegians don’t know what zig-zags are. They climb mountains in the shortest way possible, which often means just going straight up.

To put things in perspective for you, in the first two kilometers of the hike, you gain 800 meters. That means 400 meters of elevation/kilometer. That is steep!

The rapid elevation gain isn’t the only challenge. There are plenty of roots, rocks, and mud to face along this trail. It took me an hour to clean my boots after hiking to Klovane.

5. The best time of year to hike Klovane

The trail is accessible from June until October. The later the season the drier it gets. My photos taken along this trail at the end of July may lead you into thinking that this kind of weather is the norm.

On the contrary, my friend and I were really lucky with the conditions and the views they brought with them.

Norwegian fjords and mountains are graced with cloudy and rainy weather and July also tends to be the rainiest month. The two summer seasons I spent in Norway only confirmed that.

If you plan a road trip across Norway consider August or the beginning of September for it. That’s when you will have the highest chances for sunny and dry days.

6. How to get to the trailhead of the Klovane hike

The trailhead for this hike is located very close to the Oldevatn camping ground, which in turn lies right at the isthmus of the two parts of the Oldevatnet lake.

There is a small parking area at the end of the gravel road leading from the campground. There are a few residential buildings next to it.

At the time of writing, the parking was free of charge, however, I still recommend bringing some cash with you. A fee may be introduced in the future, given the popularity this hike is gaining.

There is a clear sign right on the trailhead pointing in the direction of the trail.

7. The highlights of the Klovane hike

The view from Klovane is one of my favorite views I have seen in Norway, making it one of my favorite hikes in this region. The lake takes its beautiful turquoise color from the glaciers of the Jostedalsbreen field, including the famous Briksdalsbreen glacier tongue.

The distinct view of the triangle-shaped Mount Hogenibba just on the other side from Klovane will accompany you throughout the hike. It if weren’t for the effort that one has to put into getting to the top, this would truly have been a perfect outdoor adventure.

8. Facilities along the Klovane trail

There are no toilets directly at the trailhead or anywhere along this hike. Follow the bring-out-what-you-brought-in policy including used toilet paper and tissues! It’s never ok to leave them behind. I always bring a little trash bag with me, which I keep in the side pocket of my backpack.

There are toilets and showers at the Oldevatn campground, as well as a little store where you can treat yourself to ice cream at the end of the hike.

I also recommend dipping your feet in the lake. There are a few access points at the campground. It will speed up your recovery.

9. Klovane trail description

From the beginning to the end, the trail is marked with red paint marks located on rocks and trees.

For the first few hundred meters, the trail climbs gently through the forest with a few glimpses toward the lake.

After that, the real grind begins. For the next 2 kilometers, you will be hiking on a steep forest path with roots sticking out of the ground and waiting for your brief lack of attention to make you tumble on the ground. The sound of the flowing stream will be accompanying you almost all the way to the top.

There are 3 sections with chains secured to the rocks to help with balance. I am not sure if I would bring my dog again on this hike. On occasion, I had to lift him, which is not easy considering he weighs 25 kilos.

Once you emerge from the forest you will be hiking through muddy fields. The last 500 meters become quite gentle. A nice welcome after the forest battle.

It’s nice to tick off the summit, but the views are the best just below the summit looking towards the lake and the glaciers. Here you can find a few outcrops which present great photo opportunities.

READ MORE: 30 Best Day Hikes and Via Ferratas in the Fjord Region of Norway

10. What to bring and wear on the Klovane hike

Clothes

Wear clothes that won’t constrict your movements. Leggings, like the Fjallraven Abisko trekking tights, will be a good choice as they will also cover your legs and prevent any abrasions.

I wore shorts because it was a hot day, but I did get a lot of small scratches on this hike.

A Merino wool T-shirt is always a good idea. I always carry a spare one with me and change immediately after I reach the summit to retain warmth. For colder days opt for a long sleeve.

Hiking Boots

I have two pairs of trekking shoes: above-the-ankle and low-cut approach shoes. I don’t really like trekking in my heavy boots in warm weather so for this hike I opted for my Salewa approach shoes.

They were absolutely filthy once I completed the hike and it took me an hour to get them to look presentable again.

You definitely need a good and sturdy pair of hiking boots. During colder days I highly recommend the Hanwag Alverstone boots which have passed the test on my other hiking trails in Norway. I always pair them with Merino wool socks.

Down jacket

Even though we were very lucky with the weather and we had around 20 degrees Celsius during the daytime, it still got chilly at the summit, especially since we stayed up there for over 2 hours.

I always carry my down jacket or down vest in the backpack with me. Click on the link to get to know a few of my favorite down jacket brands.

Equipment

A pair of lightweight Black Diamond trekking poles are always a part of my equipment when I go hiking, although I must admit, on this trail, they spend most of their time tucked in the side pockets of my backpack.

Speaking of backpacks, I use the 36-liter Osprey Kyte as my daypack. It’s big enough to pack all the essentials as well as my camera equipment. I also used it on plenty of hut-to-hut hikes in the Dolomites.

I always bring plenty of water for me and my dog in my 3-liter HydraPak water bladder. It’s the best way to stay hydrated when hiking. There were a few possibilities to fill up water along this trail.

11. Where to stay nearby 

If you are traveling in a campervan I recommend staying at the Oldevatn camping. It’s a well-maintained ground with waterfront camper parking spaces. The views are amazing.

You will have direct access to the Klovane trail. It’s also possible to rent cabins – a very popular accommodation option when traveling around Norway.

If you would like to be really close to the main attraction of the area – the Briksdalsbreen glacier viewpoint book your stay at the Briksdalsbre Fjellstove.  There is another hike that starts nearby – the Kattanakken trail, which I mentioned at the start of the post.

Another great place to stay is in Loen and the Alexandra Hotel. Loen offers great access to many glacier viewpoints in the Jostedalsbreen National Park and is home to the famous Via Ferrata Loen.

Other hikes, activities, and places to experience nearby

Kattanakken

One of the best trails in Norway if you want to get amazing aerial glacier views. Kattanakken starts only a few kilometers further down the road from Klovane.

Rakssetra

A quick-to-reach old mountain farm with amazing views over Innvikfjord and into the Olde Valley. The whole hike takes 1.5-2 hours to complete.

Via Ferrata Loen

The most famous via ferrata in Norway, thanks to its long suspension bridge along the route. Via Ferrata Loen takes climbers to the top of Mount Hoven high above the Innvikfjord.

Lovatnet

Another beautiful lake in the Stryn municipality of Vestland county in Norway with fascinating and equally terrifying history of megatsunamis. Lovatnet can be found in the parallel valley to Oldedalen.