Oltedal: Hiking Trails, Uburhellaren and Culture

Oltedal brings together several different themes to consider when planning your trip: hiking trails by Oltedalsvatnet, the rock formation Uburhellaren and the history of the area. The starting points and highlights can be easily organized according to your interests. For getting there, the directions to Moen and the Uburhedlaren car park are useful; check timetables and route descriptions before your trip.

Hiking Trails and Views in Oltedal

The hike to Hågå starts at the old power station at Moen in Oltedal. There is a viewpoint at the top. The Vassbotn circular trail offers a different kind of scenery: it follows a nature trail along Oltedalsvatnet to Glåneberget. This gives you two different types of hike to choose from—the route to Hågå with its viewpoint and the loop by the lake.

Those interested in traces of earlier settlement will also find historical points of interest along the Vassbotn circular trail. Vassbotn was a croft, and the foundations of its buildings are still visible. A detour leads to a well-preserved bomb crater from the Second World War. These stops add tangible local history to the route by the lake, without requiring you to take an additional hiking route.

Uburhellaren: Rock Formation and Place of Refuge

Uburhellaren was formed when a huge boulder slid down the mountain and came to rest on other rocks. This created a large chamber beneath the boulder. Its weight is estimated at 70 to 80 million kilograms—a scale that brings the unusual formation of the rock feature to life.

The history of the area is also connected with Uburhellaren: During the April days of 1940, the chamber served as a place of refuge for some of Oltedal’s population. Up to 80 people sheltered there. The marked and signposted hiking trail to the site passes through rough, rocky terrain, with steps in some places. Take these trail conditions into account when planning your visit.

Vassbotn and Local Tradition

Since 1991, the beach below Vassbotn has been the destination of a local Good Friday outing. Together with the visible foundations of the former croft and the bomb crater, this area offers several historical points of interest. The Vassbotn circular trail thus brings together a nature trail, traces of settlement and a reminder of the Second World War—different reasons to explore the surroundings of Oltedalsvatnet.

Oltedal Church

Oltedal Church, also called Oltedal kyrkje, is a multi-purpose church with a Y-shaped floor plan and masonry construction. It was designed by Olav Urstad and consecrated on 10 February 2002. As a parish church, it replaced Oltedal Chapel. Alongside its hiking destinations, Oltedal therefore also offers a tangible point of interest in architecture and church history.

More to Explore in the Wider Gjesdal Destination

The Frafjordheiane Protected Landscape Area covers large parts of the mountain regions in the wider Gjesdal destination. Limagarden offers another cultural-history experience: the farm dates back to 1600, and sheep have always been an important source of income there. A small exhibition of wool-processing tools is located on the house’s second floor. These themes broaden the picture of Gjesdal to include mountain scenery and rural history.

Getting to the Hiking Trail Starting Points

By car, you can reach the starting point of the Hågå hike via the RV-45. Take the turnoff at Lafthuset (Coop / Viking of Norway), drive along Bygdaveien and then through Moen to the old power station. The turnoff to Moen is about 400 to 500 metres after leaving the RV-45. Check these directions before setting off.

For the Vassbotn circular trail, bus route 48 goes to the Moen Oltedal stop. From there, walk towards Oltedal power station and continue to the Uburhedlaren car park. Public transport routes can change, so check the timetable before your trip. These directions are for different hiking trail starting points, so plan according to whether you want to hike to Hågå or take the Vassbotn circular trail.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Gjesdal, Ålgård, Dirdal.

Back to the main travel guide: Gjesdal.