Loen: Wooden Church, Hoven and Water Activities

Loen combines culture, mountain trails and water activities, offering a range of reasons to stay. Loen Marina rents equipment for independent trips on the water, while Loen Active also offers guided activities.

Loen Church and its history

Loen Church is an octagonal wooden church on a hill above the village of Loen. It was built in 1837 and consecrated on 9 September 1838. The two years refer to different events: construction was followed by the consecration the following year. The church has 190 seats and an automatically registered protection status for the period 1650–1850. Its design, location above the village and history of construction make it a distinctive cultural landmark in Loen.

Hiking trails and via ferrata on Hoven

The Loen Via Ferrata is a climbing route secured with steel cables throughout. It runs from the fjord to the 1,011-metre-high summit of Hoven, is physically demanding and requires a normal level of fitness. The route includes Gjølmunnebrua: the bridge is 120 metres long and lies 750 metres above a 170-metre-deep gorge. This makes the via ferrata quite different from Loen’s easy hiking trails.

The Gjølrunden loop on Mount Hoven is an easy hike on a good trail with natural stone steps. The trail to Skredfjellet is also easy and well maintained, but has some steep sections; a stroller can be taken along the route. Trail conditions may vary. The two routes therefore have different features, even though both are described as easy hikes.

The Loen Skylift takes visitors almost 1,000 metres up to a restaurant on the edge of Mount Hoven. The hiking trails on Hoven, which can be reached by Skylift, are marked and signposted to international standards. From there, they offer views of the fjord landscape and Jostedalsbreen National Park. Alongside the demanding via ferrata, there are also marked trails offering a different perspective on the mountain landscape.

Water activities in Loen

Loen Marina is located in the heart of Loen and serves as a starting point for small and large activities on the water. You can rent kayaks, SUP boards and pedal boats there to explore the Nordfjord on your own. Loen Active offers guided double-kayak tours on Lovatnet or the Nordfjord; you can combine one of these tours with a hike. Loen Active’s activities are adapted to different experience levels and preferences; the specific offerings may vary by season.

Another activity in the centre of Loen is Loen Play, an area for younger visitors with a range of physical and mental challenges.

Stryn as the wider destination

In the wider destination of Stryn, Lodalen lies west of Jostedalsbreen. The valley is characterised by high mountains, dramatic waterfalls, the intensely green Lovatnet and the glacier in the background; hiking and canoeing are possible there. Oldedalen also has hikes ranging from easy walks to more challenging mountain routes. These regional opportunities are part of the Stryn destination and complement Loen’s own attractions with further landscape and hiking experiences.

Choose your hotel based on your travel interests

When planning, you can compare the options by activity and level of difficulty: Gjølrunden and Skredfjellet are easy hikes, while the Via Ferrata requires physical fitness. On the water, you can choose between renting equipment to explore independently and guided double-kayak tours.

Discover more destinations: Utvik, Blaksæter, Stryn, Olden, Hjelle, Briksdalsbre, Oppstryn, Innvik

Back to the wider travel overview: Stryn.