Ulriken, 643m

Bjørndalen - Ulriken - Isdalen - Svartediket - Bjørndalen (summer/winter) Introduction The route up/down Ulriken through Isdalen valley is a well-known route, but far less traveled than the popular routes leading up from the city. One reason is that one have to go all the way around the Svartediket dam in order to get to the Isdalen trailhead. The trail's difficulty changes with the season. In summer, the trail is just a little steep in a few places (but not dangerous). In winter, when the trail can be icy and the creek is roaring, Isdalen (ice valley) becomes all the sudden much more dramatic. Difficulty : Medium Risk : Low Distance : Time : 3-5 hours round-trip Starting Elev.: Approx. 100m Click for detail map Access: For those with a car, Bjørndalen is the best access point. Locate highway 585. Exit right onto Svartediksvegen road 1000m from the north side of the tunnel under Haukeland Sykehus (hospital). Follow Svartediksveien road approx. 250m and exit right onto Nordbøveien. Follow this road for another 350m and exit left up a road that takes you to the Bjørndalen trailhead. You will find parking here. The trail: After you've parked on the obvious parking at (almost) the end of the road, walk past the two upper houses, and locate the trail next to a stream coming down. Follow the highly visible trail all the way up to Ulriken. This trail begins rather steep, before it turns into a more gentle angle, leading to a viewpoint where you can study Bergen. At this viewpoint, you will see another trail coming up from your right. This trail leads to the Ulriken cable car station. The trail continues further on a rocky (and often wet) trail that leads up to the Langrinden trail junction. Up this trail you will cross the bike trail down the mountain, here and there. Stay on the hiking trail. From the Langrinden junction, you have a clear view of Ulriken. Follow the Langrinden trail towards Ulriken tower. Go around the tower and pick up the main trail towards Vidden/Turnerhytten. This trail is marked with green poles all the way to Turnerhytten hut. From the tower, you see the Ulriken high point at 643m just down the trail. The main trail does not take you over the high point, but a trip up to the high point shouldn't take long. Follow the trail until you have a red cabin on your left. The trail forks here. Go left, which is the Vidden/Turnerhytten trail. Follow the trail until you're near a large hut (Turnerhytten) with a flag pole. The trail forks before you reach the hut. Go left and follow the Vidden trail. Follow the Vidden trail, marked by large cairns, until you reach the first trailsign (can't remember what it says). Follow a much smaller trail down to the left, and you're at the upper part of Isdalen valley. Follow this trail all the way down to the Tarlebøveien road. In the upper parts of the valley, the trail is somewhat steep, but not dangerous (in dry conditions) at times. In the lower parts, the trail runs through the forest. Once down on the Tarlebøveien road, follow the road all the way around lake Svartediket. The road ends in the Svartediksveien/ Nordbøveien trail junction, and you will find your way back to the car at the Bjørndalen parking.

Pictures from the trail (June 2002):

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Trip report June 06 2002

This trip report is a "celebration" of my friend Lars Egil Vik's (LEV) first hike (ever) to Ulriken.

One day, LEV gave a vague signal about the possibility for joining me on a hike. When I detect these vague signals, I immediately put the idea into action, and a hike to Ulriken on June 6th was settled. We had never hiked together before, and I'm sure LEV had all sorts of concerns about his hiking condition. I'm sure it had been a while, so Ulriken was a good place to start. Besides, the (very abnormal) heatwave had to be taken into consideration. Joining us on the hike was my dog, who had recently returned from a 45 day vacation. His condition was also a matter of question, so I brought the backpack just in case.

I chose Bjørndalen as the trailhead. Just in case he wasn't in all that bad shape, we could hike down Isdalen and have the car in close proximity. As we reached Ulriken my optimism about the original plan grew. LEV surely "noticed" the steep hike, but obviously able to continue after a short break. Troll was in worse shape. His tongue was collecting ground dust, and he was obviously ready for the backpack.

The break did wonders and LEV, happy with Ulriken on his "list", kept speed like any seasoned hiker on the way towards Isdalen. We also stopped by the Ulriken high point (643m), just to make sure Ulriken "was in the bag". After the high point visit, Troll was communicating that the back ride was over. At the Isdalen trail junction, LEV willingly agreed to a visit to the Byfjellene high point at Haugsvarde (673m). Now the massif was "really in the bag". After enjoying the great views towards Gullfjellet, we headed back to the trail and hiked down Isdalen.

Isdalen was somewhat disappointing. My last hike was in winter, and I remembered the scenery to be quite dramatic. With a raging creek coming down the valley. There was hardly any water left in the creek, and due to the dry trail, hiking was ridiculously easy. As we reached the cars, 4 hours later, LEV surely noticed that we had "been out", but he did very well. He's now qualified for a much tougher hike, and I'm sure he can't wait ...

Pictures from our June 06 hike: