Hike to Sognskaret
Grading: Medium difficulty.
Length: 2.2 km one way. (From Sunndalssetra)
Elevation gain: 210
Time required: 2 hours round trip.
Season: Summer and autumn
Toll road: Payment at the cash register or Vipps
Parking: You can park at the starting point right by the gate/trail or in the parking lot between Haraldsfallet and the Sundal farm. At this parking lot there is also an information sign for Jostedalsbreen National Park.
Note: This hike starts at Sunndalssetra, and has a shared path 600m into the valley towards Sognskarhynna. Here you come to a fork in the trail, where you should take the path to the right.
Hike description
The section of the trail east of Sunndalsetra towards Sognskaret is located about 600m east of the setra. Towards Sognskaret the trail then continues on flat terrain for a few hundred meters including crossing a bridge and some streams, before the climb up towards Sognskaret. Once up at the height you will see idyllic riverbeds and waterfalls. The valley lies in a south/southeasterly direction.
In this side valley there are also two reasonably large lakes located at 662 and 667 m.a.s.l. with a river of about 350m between the lakes. There are also good fishing opportunities here.
It is 2.2 km to walk along the trail – from Sunndalsetra to the private cabin in Sognskaret. The Oppstryn Idrettslag's tour book hangs on the wall of this cabin.
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Tor Guddal
Bear hunting in Sunndalen
In earlier times, there were two large families living on the farm Sundal. There were many of them in the household, and in the valley inland there was plenty of game. In the book “In those days” by Sverre Sundal (1906 – 1998) there is reference to stories from his father. He was an avid hunter, and hunting was part of the struggle for existence. He often used to go inland towards Sognskaret. There the valley widened out, and there he also found game. Wolverine, fox, lynx, wild reindeer and bear. The latter in particular did great damage to the sheep population. He never got to shoot a bear himself, but his neighbors in Nilsestova shot many over the years. But he was often close to bears.
In 1912, the last known bear hunt in Sunndalen took place. The hunt lasted for many days, but in the end the bear was shot in Sognskaret.
This bear was stuffed, and today stands on a plaque under the roof of Oppstryn Idrettshus in Hjelle.
Beautiful pine forest in the valley
Beautiful pine trees on the way up to Sognskaret
From Djupehola
River culverts
Large fish
Cloudberries
Nice catch
Evening stroll at sunset
The Bear – Shot in Sognskaret 1912