The 1000meter (Tusenmeteren)

The old road between Sletterust and Øvre (upper) Årdal is a lovely road for a bike ride. Its twisting incline brings you 1000 metres above sea level. The road does include a tunnel, so it would be beneficial for the bike to have a light. The road offers a panoramic view towards the mountain range of Hurrungane and a good view towards the valley of Utladalen, Øvre Årdal, the mountain of Bøttejuvet and the Årdalsvatnet Lake. More than 20 hairpin turns bring you from the highest point to where the gravel road meets RV (highway) 53, a few kilometres from the centre of Øvre Årdal.

Video of the 1000-meter journey on bike:

 Cycling in Årdal.

Conditions on the Tunnel road:

Parts of the road are narrow and unsafe with a rough and uneven surface. You must therefore go slower than on a modern cycle path, and the trip is not suitable for inexperienced cyclists. The most demanding sections can be found just before and inside the tunnel about 5.5 km into the cycle route and from there it can be challenging from the viewpoint at 1000m and down to FV53 (long descent and sharp bends).

Hold to the left side of the road going from Sletterust towards the viewpoint, and get off the bike in those parts of the road you are not comfortable cycling.

The road is prone to rock falls, especially during heavy rainfall, and it is not cleared/maintained by anyone. You cycle here at your own risk.