Guide To Skageflå – The Best Hiking Trail To View The Geiranger Fjord From Above

The Geiranger Fjord is Norway’s most famous Fjord and one of its most visited tourist destinations. In the summer, cruise ships dock in the little village of Geiranger, turning the sleepy little town into a buzzing community for a few hours each day. If you want to escape the cruise ship crowd, there is no better way to see the Geiranger Fjord than on a day hike to Skageflå farm.

10-step guide to hiking to the Skageflå farm

If you are interested in hiking to Skageflå and are wondering how to incorporate it into your Norway travel itinerary, you should look into my following road trip plans:

• Oslo to Oslo in 14 days across the fjord and mountains of Norway
• Bergen to Bergen in 7-10 days for hiking enthusiasts
• Ålesund to Ålesund in 10 days for adventure seekers

The story behind the Skageflå farm

From the Middle Ages until 1918, Skageflå was a working farm. It is very isolated from the rest of the area, and even though it operated year-round, it was impossible to get to it in the winter.

Local rumour has it that one of the last owners who ran the farm removed ladders from the rockfaces, which were used to get to the farm, blocking a way for the taxman. This was his way of avoiding paying taxes. Today, Skageflå is just a few old historic buildings and a rest stop for hikers.

1. Skageflå hike: the stats

• Distance: 8 km / 5 mi
• Walking Time: 4 hours
• Total Ascent: 550 m / 1800 ft
• Type of hike: One-way
• When to go: May-October
• Parking: 62.100727, 7.204873

2. The map of the Skageflå hike

Above, you can see my path from the car park in Geiranger to the boat terminal. I measured the distance, elevation gain, and route with my Garmin Fenix 6S pro watch. The colours indicate elevation, with blue being the lowest and red being the highest hike points.

3. How challenging is the Skageflå hike?

Although this hike only gains around 550 meters of elevation over 8 kilometres, you should not underestimate it.

The terrain is uneven; plenty of wet and slippery rocks and roots are sticking out of the ground. Both my partner and I stumbled and fell on our bums at least once. To add insult to injury, I was also stung by a wasp.

The very sharp descent at the end of the hike, between Skageflå and the boat terminal, was also challenging. Luckily, railings and chains have been installed in the steepest sections to help hikers maintain balance.

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

4. The best time of year to hike Skageflå

Since you never reach altitudes above 550 meters above sea level, hiking to Skageflå outside the official summer hiking season is possible. May-October is a good time to plan your trip.

5. In which direction to hike to Skageflå?

Since it’s a one-way hike, meaning it starts and ends in two different locations, you will have to make a choice and book your boat transfer accordingly.

Geiranger to Skagehola

You can hike from Geiranger village to Skageflå and descend to the Skagehola boat pick-up point. This is a good choice if you prefer a gentler ascent, which I chose for myself.

This option is also better if you want to finish the hike earlier in the day and continue your journey. The first boat journey from Geiranger to Skagehola is at 10 AM, which is quite late to start the hike.

Skagehola to Geiranger

A sharp descent is probably not your favourite hiking activity if you have bad knees. In this case, you can use the boat transfer, then hike to Skageflå and finish in Geiranger.

Skagehola to Skagehola

If you are short on time or don’t care about completing the whole route, you can also book a boat transfer in both directions and visit the farm.

This means that you will only have to gain approximately 250 meters of elevation and walk for 1.8 kilometres in total. You can complete this version in less than 2 hours.

6. How to get to the trailhead

Even though I listed a few ways to get to Skageflå for this blog, I will describe the route from Geiranger to the Skagehola boat ramp, which is how I went.

The trailhead is located in Homlung, the next village from Geiranger. A wide gravel road connects the two villages.

Unless your accommodation is in Homlung or you are staying at a campsite, you must walk from Geiranger to Homlung (ca. 2.35 kilometres). I already included this distance in the total length of the hike in the stats above.

Follow the road from the Geiranger parking lot. Once you reach Homlung, you will see the sign (pictured above) pointing to Skageflå.

7. The highlights of the hike

Whilst the farm and the area around it are interesting to see, the views of the Geiranger Fjord make this hike so unique.

The Seven Sisters’ Waterfall is particularly beautiful, and several viewpoints and outcrops along the hike offer opportunities to photograph it.

8. Facilities along the trail

There are paid and well-maintained public toilet facilities near the Joker food store in the centre of Geiranger and the parking lot.

There is also an outhouse at the Skageflå farm, but the smell kept me far away. A small outdoor tap allows you to fill up your water at the farm. A picnic area with benches and a firepit has been set up close to the buildings at Skageflå.

9. Skageflå trail description

As mentioned, the first 2.4 kilometres of the hike are very easy. You follow a flat road to Homlung before veering off on the path.

Once on the path, you must follow the red-painted T-marks to the farm. If you are hiking in or after it rains, expect the route to be slippery in some places.

After 5.4 kilometres and 2 hours of hiking, you will reach Homlungsætra at 475 m a.s.l. It’s another small and abandoned farm with views over the Fjord. This is a great spot for a short break to replenish some calories.

After Homlungsætrea, you will continue slightly uphill before descending sharply to Skageflå. The last 900 meters between Skageflå and the boat terminal are brutal and include what feels like 1 million stone steps built at a 60-degree angle.

Luckily, this part can be done in as little as 20 minutes. Having my dog Jasper with me made it a bit more challenging as I had to keep reminding him to stay behind to avoid him pulling me.

10. Getting back to Geiranger after hiking to Skageflå

In the summer season, the first boat from the Skagehola going back to Geiranger leaves at 10:50 AM, which means if you start your hike as early as 6 AM, you can be back by midday and still have a lot of time to enjoy the area or continue with your journey. You will also meet very few people on the hike at this time.

Don’t worry; you don’t have to be an early riser to hike to Skageflå. Boats travel all day long at one-hour intervals. The hike does get quite busy later in the day, though.

The journey, including loading and unloading the passengers, takes around 30 minutes. Make sure to bring sunglasses to protect your eyes from the water spray.

The company operating the boat transfer is called Fjord Guiding. Current prices for the one-way trip are 249 NOK/person and 498 NOK both ways. Dogs are welcomed on board, and Jasper took the boat ride very well, even if it was rough.

11. What to bring and wear on the Skageflå hike

12. Where to stay in Geiranger

Geiranger is a trendy tourist destination with plenty of hotel choices. If you found this post helpful and would like to support me, use the affiliate links below to book your accommodation. There will be no additional cost to you, and I will receive a small commission for your booking.

Other locations and activities to experience nearby

Ørnesvingen viewpoint

If you are travelling to Valldal or Åndalsness after visiting Geiranger, you will drive by the famous viewpoint of the Geiranger Fjord. Time it well (usually around sunset), and you will coincide your visit with a cruise ship departure. It’s a classic postcard view from Norway.

Kayaking on the Geiranger Fjord

There is hardly a better spot in Norway to kayak on the Fjord than Geiranger. On this guided kayak tour, you will go as far as the Seven Sisters Waterfall and enjoy the Fjord from a different viewpoint. Check the availability below.

Downhill bike tour

Isn’t kayaking your thing? How about downhill biking? You won’t get tired of this one. On this tour, you will be driven up the Geiranger scenic road and dropped off at the Djupvatnet scenic lake, where you can start your 2.5-hour self-guided bike tour, stopping at many scenic stops along the way. Check the availability.

Geiranger Scenic Road and Mount Dalsnibba Viewpoint

The Geiranger scenic road is a part of the National Scenic Routes network, and it was added to the list thanks to its breathtaking scenery. There is only one way in and one way out of Geiranger, so if you follow my itinerary, you will have a chance to drive this road.