Norwegian Mountains, Sogn og Fjordane

Smørhovden, 704m

Smørhovden seen from Slakkafjellet
(Click for larger image)

Introduction

Smørhovden is a hill in the forest region between Øvstedalen and Sogndalsdalen. The closest mountain tops are Slakkafjellet (2,2km to the northwest) and Stedjeåsen (2km to the east). Smørhovden can be reached from many directions, but the route from Fardal (via Alpastølen) is most likely the shortest and easiest route. This is also the route described on this page.

The area located directly above Fardal is called Øyrafjellet on some maps. The locals say Øyranobbi. A forest path runs from Smørhovden to Øyrafjellet. An extension to the route described below would be to continue (off-trail) towards Stedjeåsen and descend to Sogndal along the path to Stedje.

Smørhovden seen from Storehogen
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Primary factor:

Smørhovden (Norge 1:50,000: 705m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 704m, UTM 32 V 394413 6787912) has a primary factor of 61m towards the higher parent Slakkafjellet (855m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 394659 6788155) is found between Smørhovden and Skardsbøfjellet. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 640-645, interpolated to 643m.

GPS measurement read 712m (on the ground), averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin +/- 1,8m).

Øyrafjellet seen from Fardal
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Google map

Google's interactive map. You can zoom, pan and click on the markers.
 

Trail descriptions

Route 1: Fardal - Smørhovden (summer/autumn) Difficulty : YDS Class 1 Exposure : No Distance : Approx. 2m to the top (2D distance) Time : Approx. 1 hour to the top Starting Elev.: Approx. 255m Vertical Gain : Approx. 450m

Map of the area (No Javascript) Detailed map (No Javascript)

This route description is valid per Nov 2010

Access

(all distances are approx. distances)

The nearest bigger town is Sogndal (has an airport). From the RV5/RV55 roundabout in Sogndal, follow RV55 towards Hella/Balestrand for approx. 7km. At Fardal, turn right onto the Øvstedalen road - signposted Raunehaug  (N61.19179 E7.02314). Follow the main road upwards for 1,7km, then turn right at a fork (N61.20041 E7.01481). Continue 600 meters until you see a road leading up to a house on your left-hand side (N61.19868 E7.02485). Find parking to your right (without blocking for local traffic).   

The route

Walk up to the house, turn left and follow a tractor road upwards. The road ends at 340m. Locate a forest path (N61.20103 E7.02632) that runs upwards (northwest) and follow it until it joins another tractor road. Follow this road all the way to Alpastølen (N61.20904 E7.02859).

From Alpastølen, locate the path that takes you up on the forest ridge. Once there, turn left and proceed up to Smørhovden (N61.21131 E7.03451). There is no cairn or trigonometric point that marks this top.

If you also want to visit the trigonometric point on Øyrafjellet, then follow the forest path (vague at times) 1km to the southwest from Smørhovden. The trigonometric point is found at N61.20407 E7.02683. You have a good view towards Skriki and Øvstedalen from here.

Øyrafjellet
(Click for larger image)

Pictures and Trip reports:

• Smørhovden roundtrip, May 17 2023
• Smørhovden & Øyrafjellet, Nov 13 2010

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