World’s Steepest Cable Car Yet To Open in Norway

A new cable car scheduled to open in Western Norway this spring will be the steepest yet built, the owners say. The Swiss lift company Garaventa AG are responsible for the 30.1 million Euro and are reported to have taken a stake in the buisiness.

The cable car in Loen has been christened the Loen Skylift and will transport visitors on the world’s steepest aerial ropeway, over 1,000 metres above the Nordfjord, and provide breathtaking panoramic views over the fjord landscape.

“Opening on May 20th, the Loen Skylift is the quickest and easiest way to explore the best of what Norwegian mountains have to offer. The trip from the fjord to the mountain only takes a few minutes. High, steep and safe, you are brought a thousand metres up to Mount Hoven,” says Richard Grov, general manager of Loen Skylift.

On its fastest the journey takes only five minutes, and the goal is that at least 40,000 visitors will take the journey up and down  this year. Loen Skylift will be available to the public all year round.

The view from the top station of the cable car is said to be breathtaking, with beautiful fjords in all directions, spectacular mountains and the Jostedalsbreen Glacier in the background.

Her Majesty Queen Sonja will perform the official opening of Loen Skylift on 20 May 2017.

“ We are deeply honoured that Her Majesty the Queen will be with us on this important day. There will be a grand event that we are really looking forward to,” said Richard Grov.

From Mount Hoven cable car users have access to several kilometres of signposted hiking trails and in winter you can go snowshoeing, cross country skiing and ski touring. The popular climbing route Via Ferrata Loen, with Gjølmunnebrua suspension bridge (the longest Via Ferrata Bridge in Europe), ends up at Mount Hoven.