Kjeragbolten
A Boulder Wedged In A Crevice About 1,000 M Above The Lysefjord, Reached By A Steep, Chain Assisted Mountain Hike · Lysebotn, Rogaland
Kjeragbolten is a round boulder of roughly 5 cubic metres wedged in a crack on the Kjerag massif, with about 1,000 m of air beneath it and the Lysefjord far below. Stepping onto the rock for a photo has become one of Norway's most famous mountain rituals, and the hike to reach it is a real adventure: roughly 11-12 km return from Oygardstol above Lysebotn, with about 800 m of climbing over three steep humps, much of it on bare granite slabs with fixed chains. The Kjerag plateau also has big views over the Lysefjord, the Nesatindane viewpoint, and cliffs used by BASE jumpers. Getting there is part of the trip: the Lysevegen road drops to Lysebotn through 27 hairpins, and in summer car ferries sail the length of the Lysefjord from the Stavanger area. The honest caveats: this is a harder hike than Preikestolen, the season is short because snow closes the road roughly November to mid May, queues form at the boulder in summer, and standing on it is optional - many people wisely skip it.
Kjerag above the inner Lysefjord; trailhead at Oygardstol on the Lysevegen road above Lysebotn, Sirdal municipality, Lysebotn, Rogaland, Norway
The trail is open around the clock in season, roughly June to September, when the Lysevegen road to Oygardstol is open and the chains are on the trail; the road usually opens around mid May to June and closes by snow around November. Outside that, the chains are removed and the hike is for experienced winter mountaineers only. Drive from Stavanger in about 2.5-3 hours via Sirdal, or take the summer car ferry up the Lysefjord to Lysebotn (book ahead), then climb the hairpins. Parking at Oygardstol is paid and sleeping in cars there is not allowed. Summer buses from Stavanger run on selected days only - book ahead.