Historical biking to 1000 masl

Have you heard about the most beautiful cycle tour in the country?

In Årdal, we find long traditions of hydropower as an energy source, but this development did not come about by itself. Early in the 20th century, work began on the road that connected Årdal with Valdres, which had to be built in connection with the development of hydropower in the Tyin lake - and therefore the road is called the Tunnel Road. The road is a piece of art, built by hand with simple tools and machinery. Today, the road is accessible to all of us, as a bike or hike-adventure - and it is perhaps the most beautiful bike tour in the country.

Facts:

Sletterust - Tusenmeteren (viewpoint): 12 km

Tusenmeteren (viewpoint) - Øvre Årdal: 12 km

Total length: 24 km

Option 1: You can choose to cycle Sletterust-Tusenmeteren as a roundtrip, if you want to avoid the descent of approx. 900 hight metres from the viewpoint down to Øvre Årdal. We organize transport and collection if you wish. We transport the bikes to the starting point for the tour on Sletterust.

Option 2: You can choose to cycle all the way from Sletterust down to Øvre Årdal. Then you get to experience the spectacular hairpin turns from Tusenmeteren and down the mountainside. At about 400 masl, you will reach the main road FV 53, and you must follow this down to the village. The road goes through 3 short, but dark, tunnels - so keep the lights on your bike turned on, keep to your side of the road and slow down.

Contact us for mountain bike rental and possibly help with organizing transport to Sletterust.

Check out the experience by looking at this movie made by Falkeblikk/Visit Sognefjord

Conditions on the Tunnel road:

Parts of the road are narrow and unsafe with a rough and uneven surface. You must therefore go slower than on a modern cycle path, and the trip is not suitable for inexperienced cyclists. The most demanding sections can be found just before and inside the tunnel about 5.5 km into the cycle route and from there it can be challenging from the viewpoint at 1000m and down to FV53 (long descent and sharp bends).

Hold to the left side of the road going from Sletterust towards the viewpoint, and get off the bike in those parts of the road you are not comfortable cycling.

The road is prone to rock falls, especially during heavy rainfall, and it is not cleared/maintained by anyone. You cycle here at your own risk.