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Although the citiziens of Bergen might strongly disagree, I hereby declare that Damsgårdsfjellet is not a mountain. It really isn't. You only descend 21m on the way from Damsgårdsfjellet to Olsokfjellet. This web page will describe how to get to Olsokfjellet and Gravdalsfjellet, each independent forest hills or coastal mountains. I am describing both mountains on the same web page as the mountains share a few common trailheads.
Olsokfjellet and Gravdalsfjellet are the lowest of the independent Bergen mountains, exceeding 300m elevation. What they may lack in elevation, they compensate through their central location in the city of Bergen. The location has two aspects; the views from the tops and - my friend David C. Pugh said it well in the middle of the forest on Gravdalsfjellet; "would you believe you are in the middle of a city?" The second largest city in Norway, I might add.
On one side, you have the established trails. On the other side, you have all the smaller paths and shortcuts that you won't find on any maps. As such, understanding the Olsokfjellet/Gravdalsfjellet area in depth, is an activity that can keep you busy for a long time. Here within lies my fascination about the Bergen city mountains. You start off by following the "trade routes". You visit them in winter, spring, summer and autumn, and the characteristics are different. You may visit them in the morning in the evening or after dark. You may go off-trail and explore the "secret" caves, marvel over the steep cliffs (wishing you were a climber, or just happy that you're not), and from time to time wonder "perhaps no one has been on this very spot before?". And you end up "falling in love" with one specific trail - a trail that never gets boring. In any case, these mountains are popular for all the reasons.
Source: M711 map 1115-I Bergen (1977), Økonomisk Kartverk (Norgesglasset), other local maps.
Olsokfjellet (M711: -, Ø.K: highest contour is 300m, other maps: 353m) has a primary factor of 205m towards the higher Løvstakken (477m). The saddle is found in a pass just N of Lake Storavatnet. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), you cross the 150m contours on the high route, but not 145m. The saddle height has been interpolated to 148m.
Gravdalsfjellet (M711: 351m, Ø.K: highest contour is 350m) has a primary factor of 108m towards the higher Olsokfjellet (353m). The saddle is found on a meadow between the two mountains. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk map (5m contours), you cross the 245m contours on the high route, but not 240m. The saddle height has been interpolated to 243m.
Damsgårdsfjellet (M711: -, Ø.K: highest contour is 340m, other maps: 344m) has a primary factor of 21m towards the higher Olsokfjellet (353m). The saddle is found between the two tops. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk map (5m contours), you cross the 325m contours on the high route, but not 320m. The saddle height has been interpolated to 323m.
Below is a listing of trailheads (w/some trail comments). After all, locating the trailheads is the important thing. All trails on these mountains are easy (family hikes) unless stated otherwise. I will add more trailheads as I continue to explore this area. The trailheads refer to the detail map:
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From the centre of Bergen, follow highway RV555 towards Sotra. After the Puddefjordsbroen bridge, follow signs towards "Fyllingsdalen" (highway RV540). After you exit Løvstakktunnelen, drive 1,1Km and turn right onto "Løvåsveien". Drive to the end of this road (700m) and park by the uppermost towerblock.
The trail:
Two trails begin here. Follow the leftmost trail heading westbound to the start of the Eikelifjellet south ridge. Turn right onto the ridge in a trail junction at 140m elev. and follow the ridge across Eikelifjellet northbound towards Lake Nipetjørna. Eikelifjellet has two distinct humps. On the way up the first, you pass a very characteristic rock - Eikelisteinen. Try to climb it. It's not trivial, is it? On the way across the second hump (before you descend towards Lake Nipetjørna), stay left in the trail forks. The trail across Eikelifjellet is a dry trail and very enjoyable to walk.
From lake Nipetjørni, you have two options: a) Go around the lake and follow a forest path up the mountain, or b) scramble directly up from the west side of the lake. It is possible to see where the scramble route goes, but it can hardly be called "the public path". Once above the cliffs, follow the terrain to the high point. Be very careful with the scramble route when the mountain is icy.
From the centre of Bergen, follow highway RV555 towards Sotra. After the Puddefjordsbroen bridge, follow signs towards "Fyllingsdalen" (highway RV540). After you exit Løvstakktunnelen, drive 1,1Km and turn right onto "Løvåsveien". Drive 400m and turn right onto Vestlundvegen. Continue 700m on this road and locate the "Gravdalsfjellet" / "Nipetjern" / "Viggohytten" trailsigns on the left hand side of the road.
The trail:
After 150m, the trail merges with another trail coming from your right. This trail also begins by Vestlundvegen but runs between houses and the homeowners want you to stay away from there. This trail runs across boggy ground low in the forest. Less than 100m after the trail merge, the trail forks. Go right. The trail runs northwest (and later turns towards the north) all the way to the MAIN trail junction below Viggohytten. Walk up a ladder, pass Viggohytten and follow the path towards the top of Gravdalsfjellet.
From the centre of Bergen, follow highway RV555 towards Sotra. After the Puddefjordsbroen bridge, follow signs towards "Fyllingsdalen" (highway RV540). After you exit Løvstakktunnelen, drive 400m and turn right in a roundabout. Continue yet another 400m (follow signs towards "Betanien") and turn right. Drive 200m and find parking near Betanien.
The trail:
Go left of the main Betanien entrance and trough a gate (may be open). The trail begins here. When the trail meets a road, cross the road. The trail continues on the other side. 200m later (160m elevation), turn left towards Viggohytten (trailsign). The trail that runs straight ahead will take you towards the valley between Gravdalsfjellet and Olsokfjellet.
You're now heading westbound on a visible trail. After 400m, the trail forks. Follow the main trail until you reach the MAIN trail junction below Viggohytten. Walk up a ladder, pass Viggohytten and follow the path towards the top of Gravdalsfjellet. This is possibly the most traveled trail on Gravdalsfjellet.
From the centre of Bergen, follow highway RV555 towards Sotra. Follow signs towards Sotra (two left lanes across Puddefjordsbroen bridge) Immediately after you exit Damsgårdsfjellet tunnel, turn right towards Lyngbø. Follow the Lynbøveien road alongside lake Lyngbøvatnet. As the road turns towards the left (north), turn to the right (south) towards Nipedalen. A couple of hundred meters later, notice a road going to the left, in front of a series of apartments. Find parking on the right-hand side 50 meters up the Nipedalen road.
The trail:
The trail begins close to the nearest houses on the road going to the left. Look for the trail which runs parallel to a backyard. The trail climbs immediately up towards Lyngbønipa (273m). You pass this cliff on the left-hand side and end up at lake Nipetjørn.
Either scramble up an interesting route at the west end of the lake (see TH1), or follow the lake on the right-hand side. Immediately after the lake, just on the eastern end, look for a trail going up into the forest. Follow this trail upwards. I took an off-trail shortcut to Viggohytten from this trail, and I am not sure if it continues directly towards the summit.
From the center of Bergen, follow signs towards Fyllingsdalen. When you pass Oasen (shopping centre), turn right in the main roundabout. Turn right again at the next roundabout followed by another right-hand turn when you see the "Spelhaugen" sign. Drive to road end and find plenty of parking.
The trail:
From the parking, follow the lit trail towards Lake Tenebbektjørna. At the first major trail junction (after 550m), turn right and follow a forest path up to Eikelifjellet. Follow signs to "Viggohytten" all the way. This hut is located just south of the top of Gravdalsfjellet.
I'm not sure how to get here (as I only came down this way). But at the end of the public road (just before the lake), a forest path runs (eastbound) up to Lake Nipetjørna. At this lake, follow a vague path along the lake's south shore to the east side of the lake (or follow a wider path just a bit further south of the lake). Follow signs to "Viggohytten" located just south of the top of Gravdalsfjellet.
From the centre of Bergen, follow highway RV555 towards Sotra. On your way across Puddefjordsbroen bridge, stay in the rightmost lane. Turn right onto highway RV582 (Damsgård) before the tunnels. Drive 150m down to a traffic light. Stay in either lane, as the lanes merge. From the traffic light, continue on RV582 500m until you arrive by another traffic light. Turn left here (towards Fyllingsdalen).
Drive 250m up the road and turn right onto Herman Grans vei. Follow this road (which turns quite narrow) for 600m. You will see a very wide forest trail begin on your left-hand side. Find parking nearby.
The trail:
Follow the trail up the forest, which curves slightly to the right before climbing up to the Damsgårdsfjellet north ridge. The route up to Damsgårdsfjellet is quite obvious, although the trail is unmarked. The trail passes by point 317m which is a good viewpoint. The top of Damsgårdsfjellet is not marked by any marker or cairn.
From Damsgårdsfjellet, desend a little bit before you walk up towards Olsokfjellet and the red/white summit marker. Descend your ascent route, but instead of following the route down the forest (where you came up), stay on the ridge until it takes you down to a small sportsfield 300m from where you parked. Follow the paved road back to your car.
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