Lyse Road, also known as Lysevegen in Forsand, Norway is a curvy mountainous road going from Lysebotn innermost in the Lysefjord to Sirdal. It’s one of the most famous hairpinned roads in the world.
The Lyse Road was constructed in connection with the development of Tjodan hydro-electric power station in 1984. Located in Rogaland county in the southwest of Norway, its highest point is the Andersvatn lake, at an elevation of 932 m. (3057 ft.) above the sea level. At the top of the turns is Øygardstølen, that has a parking lot, service building for trips to Kjerag, and food services. The road is dangerous because its 32 sharp bends, an average gradient of 9.4% and twists and turns on a single track road.
How many kilometres is it / How long does it take to ride it? The Lyse Road going from Lysebotn innermost in the Lysefjord to Sirdal is 29 km (18 mi.) long and it will take 1-2 hours (including stops) to drive.
Are there any accommodation or camping options along the way? Lysefjorden in Forsand is an extremely popular tourist attraction thus the area offers plenty of accommodations to choose from. Nearest campsites are Kjerag Lysebotn Camping Resort and Lysebotn Turistsenter.
Interesting sights on the route? One of the highlights is the hike to Pulpit Rock (rock of Preikestolen) – with its views high above the famous Lysefjord that lies the village of Lysebotn, the perfect base for exploring the fjord and nearby mountains. Lysebotn power station, experience at close hand how Lysefjord´s waterfalls are turned into electrical energy.
At the end of the fjord lies the Kjerag mountain, a popular hiking destination with even more spectacular drops. Kjeragbolten is a boulder located on the mountain Kjerag. The rock itself is a glacial deposit wedged in the mountain´s crevasse. It is a popular tourist destination and is accessible without any climbing equipment.
What is the best time of year to travel the route? This narrow road is only open during during summer (5 months of the year) when it is ice free and safe. It opens in May and closes in October/November. It can also be closed anytime when the access is not cleared of snow.
Where are people able to get fuel when they are riding the route? Please note that there is no gas station in Lysebotn but in Forsand Municipality, nearby petrol stations can be found in Jørpeland, Tau, Tjørhom, Ålgård.
Photo credit: denisbin / CC BY Photo credit: Arno Hoyer / CC BY Photo credit: TimOve / CC BY