Images from a photography enthusiast based in Oslo
Fall Break – Stalheimskleiva
While staying in the Norwegian town of Voss last October, we decided to hike down Stalheimskleiva. The road, one of the steepest in Northern Europe, was built in the mid 1800s and has 13 hairpins and descends from the Stalheim Hotel at the top down in to the Nærøydalen valley.
Other than the great view, one can also see sheep (and lots of sheep dung!) on the road, some farms up in the mountains and in the valley, as well as two waterfalls, Stalheimsfossen and Sivlefossen.
Here are a few shots from our walk down Stalheimskleiva last fall.
A rune-covered monolith at the top of the road
Sheep greeted us right away as we started our walk down Stalheimskleiva
Stalheimsfossen
Looking down into Nærøydalen
More sheep on a farm down in the valley seen from on high
These sheep were in a big hurry to get away from us and loped up into the brush
Sivlesfossen
A very interesting bare rock that, as we approached from another angle in our car on our way to Stalheimskleiva, I was vaguely reminded of the Devils Tower seen in Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Looking up at some of the 13 hairpins after we made it down to the valley (side note, about 20 years ago, we actually drove down this road, when that crazy nonsense was still allowed — nowadays it is closed to vehicular traffic)
I am a photography enthusiast living in Oslo, Norway. My favourite subjects tend to be landscapes and nature - but I enjoy photographing urban scenes, architecture, abstract shapes and street images as well. Welcome! View all posts by kewtiebird
6 thoughts on “Fall Break – Stalheimskleiva”
WOW! What an idyllic setting. Fabulous images Kewtie!
Thank you! Ah, yes, hairpins. It’s been a long time since I’ve driven on the CA coast. I do remember the scenic route taking a LOT longer than the regular highway, but very worth it!
I was so pleased to see your photos. Some of my favourite holiday camera snaps are of the view down that valley.
I am sad to read that Stalheimskleiva is closed but can understand why. I travelled up in a bus 21 years ago. Glad I did it then – I hear it is unsafe from landslides now? Does that mean the Stalheim hotel is closed to guests?
I can see what you mean about that mountain. You are right it looks similar to the Close Encounters movie.
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WOW! What an idyllic setting. Fabulous images Kewtie!
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Thanks so much!
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Loved the images of the two waterfalls and the domed rock. The hairpins remind me of coastal driving in Northern California.
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Thank you! Ah, yes, hairpins. It’s been a long time since I’ve driven on the CA coast. I do remember the scenic route taking a LOT longer than the regular highway, but very worth it!
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I was so pleased to see your photos. Some of my favourite holiday camera snaps are of the view down that valley.
I am sad to read that Stalheimskleiva is closed but can understand why. I travelled up in a bus 21 years ago. Glad I did it then – I hear it is unsafe from landslides now? Does that mean the Stalheim hotel is closed to guests?
I can see what you mean about that mountain. You are right it looks similar to the Close Encounters movie.
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Thanks! It’s only the hairpin road itself that is closed (there is a highway in a tunnel these days), the hotel is still there and open.
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