The Nordfjord, lying almost exactly on the 62nd degree of northern latitude, extends, parallel with the Sognefjord to the south, for a distance of more than 90km/55mi from Maløy to Olden, with a depth of up to 565m/1,850ft. The various parts of the fjord have different names, though in the past the name of Nordfjord was applied to the whole area. The juxtaposition of wide expanses of water, mighty mountains and glaciers gives the inner branches of the fjord their particular charm.
From Maurstad a rewarding side trip can be made (north on Road 620) to the Stadlandet promontory, at the end of which is the West Cape, with the crag known as the Old Woman (Kjerringa) and a superb view of the open North Sea. With its shifting currents the West Cape is a notorious hazard for shipping.
From Olden a road runs 4.5km/3mi south through the beautiful Older valley to Eide, on the northern shore of the Oldenvann (alt. 37m/120ft; area 8.4sq.km/3sq.mi; length 11km/7mi; up to 90m/295ft deep), and continues along the lake (motorboat services), passing several waterfalls, with snow-covered hills to right and left, to Rustøy (13km/8mi), at the south end of the lake.
A boat can be taken from Hagens Hotell to Vingen (opposite Hornelen), with the largest group of rock carvings in the north, the Helleristningsfelt (2,000 figures, mostly of deer).
Road 15 continues west to Almenningen, with a view of Hornelen, Europe's highest cliff, rising vertically from the sea to a height of 860m/2,820ft. In popular legend this was the place where witches and trolls held their revels.
From Rustøy it is 5.5km/3.5mi (narrow road, with passing places) to Briksdal (alt. 150m/490ft), from which it is an hour's walk to the Briksdalsbre, an offshoot of the Jostedalsbre rearing its blue masses of ice above the scrub forest.
Beyond Stårheim, birthplace of the folk poet Mathias Orheim (1884-1958; hut with relics and mementos), the road comes to the main arm of the fjord system, the Nordfjord proper. The route continues along the north side of the fjord on Road 15.
Road 60 continues along the south side of the fjord from Olden to Innvik (17km/10mi), with a view to the south of the snow-covered Storlaugpik (1,556m/5,105ft) and Ceciliekruna (1,775m/5,824ft).
The Nordfjord is reached from the south on E6, which runs via Lillehammer to Otta, from which Road 15 leads west by way of Lom to Stryn on the north side of the Innvikfjord, the most easterly ramification of the Nordfjord.
After crossing the Strynselv the route continues on Road 60 along the steep north side of the fjord to Loen, at the mouth of the beautiful Loendal, with a small octagonal wooden church (1937). From here Skåla (1,937m/6,355ft) can be climbed (six hours; guide required).
Soon after Almeningen a 1,224m/1,339yd-long bridge crosses the Ulvesund to the port of Måløy on the island of Vagsøy. Features of interest here are the Kannesten, a rock eroded into hourglass shape on the beach 11km/7mi from Måløy, and the old trading station on the Vagsberg, with seven historic buildings.
From Lote Road 1 runs northwest to Nordfjordeid (pop. 1,700), crossing the tongue of land between the Hundvikfjord and the Eidsfjord, and then continues west along the north side of the Eidsfjord.
Due to its location, Nordfjordeid has numerous tourist attractions including the Geiranger Fjord and the famous glacier at Briksdalen. Hiking trails surround the village.
The road now follows the east side of the Gloppenfjord to its junction with the Utfjord, another section of the Nordfjord. To the right is Sandane's little airstrip. From Anda, on the point between the two fjords, there is a car ferry to Lote (10minutes), on the north side of the fjord.
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Loenvatn
Briksdal
Briksdal
Briksdal
Briksdal
Briksdal
