Norwegian Mountains

Hordaland Mountains: Ulvik

 ulvik.kommune.no
Ulvik herad is for the most part a high mountain region, with exception of the towns and villages down by Ulvikafjorden and Osafjorden. Ulvik is the main village in Ulvik herad, located at the north end of Ulvikafjorden - a fjord branch of Hardangerfjorden. Ulvik herad borders to Voss, Granvin, Eidfjord, Ullensvang, Aurland and Hol kommuner. 

The highest point in Ulvik herad is the Hardangerjøkulen glacier - 1863m. The highest point outside the glacier is point 1816m on the Hallingskarvet western plateau. The highest indepenent mountain (primary factor >= 100m) outside the glacier is Vargebreen - 1766m. 

The mountains facing towards the fjords have spectacular steep drops. Once on the high plateau, the mountains are fairly gentle, and no mountains are technically difficult on the easy routes. Still, you will find mountains with a distinct appearance, easily recognized from long distances. Vassfjøra above Ulvik is an example of this type of mountain.  

Ulvik connects to the high mountain regions in Hol and Aurland, and offers excellent opportunities for long hikes in summer/autumn and cross-country skiing in winter. The ski-trip between  Hardangerjøkulen and Osa is a classic. 


Map of Hordaland. Copyright Hordaland Fylkeskommune.
Map design by Geir Ketil Lien

The Mountains

General information:
Below is the list of independent mountains, sorted by various categories. Names and heights originate from Statens Kartverk (M711)/Norgesglasset (20m contours) or Økonomisk Kartverk (part of Norgesglasset, 5m contours). The height from Ø.K. override the M711 heights. A number of mountains may have a point higher than the M711 trig. point marked on the maps. Note also that if the high point of a mountain lies within another kommune, the mountain is listed under that specific kommune. If a mountain high point is shared by two kommuner, the mountain is listed under both kommuner. The asterix (*) means that the high point is (exactly) found on a kommune border.

Independent Mountains (elevation >= 300m, primary factor >= 100m) 

Rank Name Height PF Map
1. Hardangerjøkulen 1863m 553m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
2. Vargebreen 1766m 336m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
3. Flakavassnutane 1750m 255m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
4. Skomanosi ** 1637m 107m 1416-III Myrdal
5. Baksafjellet 1636m 458m 1416-III Myrdal
6. Vassfjøra 1633m 363m 1416-III Myrdal
7. Såtehjellane 1626m 116m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
8. Onen 1621m 462m 1416-III Myrdal
9. Øykjafonn 1604m 294m 1416-III Myrdal
10. Store Finsenuten 1599m 109m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
11. Ruvlenuten 1596m 106m 1416-III Myrdal
12. Skomahøgdene 1595m 105m 1416-III Myrdal
13. Skorafjellet 1583m 453m 1316-II Ulvik
14. Hestfossnuten 1544m 174m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
15. Bergsmulen 1516m 106m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
16. Skipanuten 1500m 150m 1416-III Myrdal
17. A. Låghellerhøgdene (east) 1492m 142m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
18. N. Midnuten 1492m 102m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
19. Osaskavlen 1480m 190m 1416-III Myrdal
20. Nordbotnnuten 1471m 221m 1316-II Ulvik
21. Mjølfjellet 1470m 240m 1316-II Ulvik
22. V. Låghellerhøgdene 1453m 143m 1416-III Myrdal
23. Storhaugane 1433m 103m 1416-III Myrdal
24. Reinskardnuten 1416m 106m 1416-III Myrdal
25. Kyrelvfjellet 1404m 114m 1416-III Myrdal
26. Grøndalsnuten 1384m 134m 1416-III Myrdal
27. Nipahøgdi 1375m 145m 1416-III Myrdal
28. Gruvlenuten 1351m 141m 1416-III Myrdal
29. Austdølnuten 1329m 129m 1416-III Myrdal
30. Midtfjell 1255m 912m 1316-II Ulvik
31. Ingebjørgfjellet 1210m 307m 1315-I Ullensvang
32. Kvasshovden 1065m 487m 1316-II Ulvik
33. Kjerringafjellet 1051m 187m 1316-II Ulvik
34. Kristinuten 901m 238m 1416-III Myrdal
35. Kongsberg 685m 247m 1316-II Ulvik

** Map high point in Sogn og Fjordane. Exception made here until we know there is no higher point on the Fylke border.

High Tops (elevation >= 300m, primary factor >= 90m)  

Sorted by primary factor

Rank Name Height PF Map
1. Storetunga 1509m 99m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
2. Inste Hansbunuten 1367m 97m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
3. Dyrhaugane 1583m 93m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
4. A. Låghellerhøgdene (west) 1491m 93m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen

Low Tops (elevation < 300m, primary factor >= 100m)  

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Misc tops w/Primary factor < 90m

I will only add tops with primary factor < 90m, upon having visited them. There are many named tops in this category.

Rank Name Height PF Map
1816 W on Hallingskarvet 1816m 86m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen
Kyrkjedørsnuten 1790m 60m 1416-II Hardangerjøkulen

 

The 5 highest based on primary factor

Rank Name PF Height
1. Midtfjell 912m 1255m
2. Hardangerjøkulen 553m 1863m
3. Kvasshovden 487m 1065m
4. Onen 462m 1621m
5. Baksafjellet 458m 1636m

Observations

In the introduction, I stated that Ulvik herad is for the most part a high mountain region. 33 of 35 independent mountains exceeding 1000m elevation should prove my point. Ulvik has also a few mountains with a good primary factor, with Midtfjell as the majesty - ranking as #4 on the Hordaland list. Hardangerjøkulen comes in as #24.

A more notable feature is that Ulvik has the three highest independent mountains (incl. glaciers) in Hordaland. Hardangerjøkulen is shared between Ulvik and Eidfjord, Vargebreen is shared between Ulvik and Aurland (Sogn og Fjordane), while Flakavassnutane high point only belongs to Ulvik.

Some may wonder what happened to well known points such as Sankt Pål, Store Hansbunuten, Bukkeskinnshjellane and Nordre Kongsnuten. Unfortunately, these named points do not have a sufficient primary factor to make it on the Ulvik mountain list.

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