Norwegian Mountains

Hordaland Mountains: Vaksdal

osterfjord.net
Vaksdal kommune rises from the fjords in the southwest to the high country in the northeast. Vaksdal is the 5th largest kommune in Hordaland, by sq.Km. (738), and spans a variety of mountain regions. The primary mountain region is of course Stølsheimen, and the kommune border stretches deep into Eksingadalen valley. Other significant mountain regions are Vaksdal-Bergsdalen, the northeast part of Osterøy island, Norafjella and Eksingadalen and the mountains around Eidsfjorden.

Vaksdal kommune spans the Eksingadalen, Evanger, Stanghelle and Matre maps and borders to Osterøy, Modalen, Voss, Kvam, Samnanger and Bergen kommuner. The small towns Dale and Vaksdal are the significant centras and Dale is also the kommune centre.

Skjerjavasshovden (1264m) is the highest mountain in Vaksdal kommune, and is located in the Stølsheimen region. No mountains are difficult on the easiest routes. When looking at the Vaksdal mountains from the air or from distance, few mountains really stand out. Dustingen above Dale is however quite characteristic, and can be identified from miles around, provided the view is not obscured. 


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. Skjerjavassshovden 1264m 314m 1216-I Eksingadalen
2. Askjellfjellet * 1201m 131m 1216-I Eksingadalen
3. Storliknausen * 1193m 405m 1216-II Evanger
4. Trollahorgi 1171m 181m 1216-I Eksingadalen
5. Bergsbukken 1162m 274m 1216-II Evanger
6. Belaskardhorgi 1160m 130m 1216-I Eksingadalen
7. Storfjelli 1115m 305m 1216-II Evanger
8. 1115m SW of Hundeggi 1115m 105m 1216-I Eksingadalen
9. Saudalsnovi 1110m 200m 1216-II Evanger
10. Kvanngrønavene 1103m 213m 1216-I Eksingadalen
11. Blåfjellet 1101m 131m 1216-I Eksingadalen
12. Gråsida 1098m 148m 1216-I Eksingadalen
13. Byvasshovden * 1080m 110m 1216-I Eksingadalen
14. Kjerringfjellet 1066m 216m 1216-II Evanger
15. Blåvasshorgi 1065m 115m 1216-I Eksingadalen
16. Gråfjellet 1054m 116m 1216-II Evanger
17. Storehaugen 1054m 104m 1216-I Eksingadalen
18. Kringdalsnipa * 1052m 117m 1216-II Evanger
19. Nonhaugen 1049m 139m 1216-I Eksingadalen
20. Nesheimsnipa 1035m 145m 1216-I Eksingadalen
21. Høgafjellet / Gjøttafjellet * 1020m 337m 1216-I Eksingadalen
22. S of Maraslottet 1015m 105m 1216-I Eksingadalen
23. Store Dustingen 999m 269m 1216-II Evanger
24. Storhaug 992m 162m 1216-I Eksingadalen
25. Navene 970m 100m 1216-I Eksingadalen
26. Slettefjellet 958m 390m 1216-IV Matre
27. Loneggi 955m 145m 1216-I Eksingadalen
28. Borninolten 955m 122m 1216-II Evanger
29. Storafjellet 950m 150m 1216-II Evanger
30. Gløvret 949m 106m 1216-III Stanghelle
31. Knuskedalsfjellet 930m 122m 1216-II Evanger
32. Eggane 921m 111m 1216-I Eksingadalen
33. Flatafjellet 916m 126m 1216-II Evanger
34. Såta * 890m 120m 1216-II Evanger
35. Joskardfjellet * 887m 117m 1216-I Eksingadalen
36. Høgenipa 877m 805m 1216-III Stanghelle 
37. Høgafjellet * 868m 868m 1216-III Stanghelle (Osterøy)
38. Illebruni / Brattanakken 864m 114m 1216-II Evanger
39. Kvamsnovi 856m 108m 1216-II Evanger
40. Hestafjellet 837m 174m 1216-III Stanghelle
41. Tofjellet * 836m 131m 1216-III Stanghelle
42. Midtnovi / Hesjedalsnovene 831m 141m 1216-III Stanghelle
43. Kvigedalseggi 813m 150m 1216-III Stanghelle
44. Geitafjelli 812m 102m 1216-III Stanghelle
45. Øyanovi 801m 113m 1216-III Stanghelle
46. Nipekråni 792m 144m 1216-IV Matre
47. Flatafjellet 785m 252m 1216-III Stanghelle
48. "Tungefjellet" 759m 109m 1216-II Evanger
49. Midtnakken / Salsfjellet * 723m 330m 1216-III Stanghelle
50. Hananipa 718m 285m 1215-IV Samnanger
51. Storenuten * 718m 112m 1215-IV Samnanger
52. Raudnipa * 710m 207m 1215-IV Samnanger
53. Snøya 704m 216m 1216-III Stanghelle
54. Kvamsfjellet * 694m 104m 1216-III Stanghelle (Osterøy)
55. Snjonipa  669m 171m 1216-III Stanghelle (Osterøy)
56. Kulten 639m 171m 1216-I Eksingadalen
57. Vestrefjellet 566m 343m 1216-III Stanghelle (Osterøy)
58. Vardafjellet  552m 259m 1216-III Stanghelle (Osterøy)
59. Hikletten 494m 136m 1216-III Stanghelle (Osterøy)
60. Kallvikanipa 490m 167m 1216-III Stanghelle (Osterøy)
61. Pina 487m 119m 1216-III Stanghelle (Osterøy)
62. Beitelen 417m 194m 1216-III Stanghelle
63. Storenipa 414m 196m 1216-III Stanghelle
64. Husafjellet 372m* 114m 1216-III Stanghelle
65. Middagshaugen 333m 175m 1216-III Stanghelle

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

Sorted by primary factor

Rank Name Height PF Map
1. Storafjellet 642m 94m 1216-III Stanghelle

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

None listed so far.

Other non-ranked tops w/separate pages  

Rank Name Height PF Map
Bergshorgi 982m 74m 1216-II Evanger
Berrfjellet 670m 37m 1216-III Stanghelle
Geitnipa * 501m 58m 1215-IV Samnanger

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

The 5 highest based on primary factor

Rank Name PF Height
1. Høgafjellet 868m 868m
2. Høgenipa 805m 877m
3. Storliknausen 405m 1193m
4. Rispingen 394m 742m
5. Slettefjellet 390m 958m

Observations

Vaksdal kommune has 22 mountains above 1000m elevation. The majority of these mountains belong to the Stølsheimen mountain region, and note that none of these mountains are found on the top 5 primary factor list. Storliknausen (#3 on that list, and also the 3rd highest in Vaksdal!) is located in Bergsdalen, completely disconnected from Stølsheimen. Høgafjellet (#5 in Hordaland based on primary factor) is the highest point on Osterøy island, and Høgenipa (#7 in Hordaland) is a very close neighbour, located just above Dale.

It can also be noted that Vaksdal kommune has only two independent mountains below 400m (of all ranked mountains higher than 300m). This is perhaps a narrow range, but noticeable when compared to other kommuner.

The mountains Blyfjell (Stølsheimen), Rispingen (Osterøy) and Småbrekkebukken + Kjerringafjellet (Bergsdalen) have their summits close to the Vaksdal kommune border, but not precisely ON the kommune border. These mountains have been listed on their respective kommune pages.

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