When does Sognefjellet open?

Opening history year by year

Sognefjellet is cleared from both sides — Lom in the east and Fortun in the west. In recent years the eastern side has opened first, up to Sognefjellshytta, before the full pass becomes passable. In extreme winters the snow walls reach up to 14 metres high.

Sources: Vestland County Council, Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Fri Flyt. History will be expanded as data is verified.

Why does the opening date vary?

Sognefjellet sits high. Mefjellet, the highest point on the pass, reaches 1,434 metres above sea level — Norway's highest mountain road crossing. Clearing starts early in spring when snow and weather conditions allow, but progress is often interrupted by fresh snowfall and strong winds that quickly make the road impassable again.

Even after official opening, the road can close on short notice during severe weather. The 20:00–08:00 night closure continues for weeks into the opening period, precisely because drifting snow in darkness is unpredictable and dangerous.

From our ride over Sognefjellet

The last time I rode Sognefjellet was 31 May 2022. I climbed from Lom up to Sognefjellshytta. Down in the valley everything was bare and green, and you almost forget where you're headed. But after a few hundred metres of climbing the landscape shifts abruptly: the snow walls rise 2–3 metres, the air gets colder with every kilometre, and suddenly you're surrounded by white.

The tarmac was dry the whole way up, but the cold catches you. I rode in leg warmers and a jacket — just enough.

The most surreal moment was rolling up to Sognefjellshytta and seeing skiers outside. At the summit it's still winter, even when the valley floor at Lom is in full summer. That's the real feeling of having crossed a season in one ride.

We set off from Lom at 14:00, and there was surprisingly little traffic — far less than I'd expected. Afternoons and early evenings are underrated times to ride Sognefjellet, especially during the opening period.

Planning your ride

Pack for the summit, not the valley

It can be 20°C in Lom and 5°C at Sognefjellshytta. You'll be grateful for:

• Leg warmers or long tights
• Windproof jacket — essential for the descent
• Arm warmers and a neck gaiter
• Gloves, even in June

Sweat from the climb combined with wind on the descent is a bad mix. Always keep an extra layer in your back pocket.

Food and water

Sognefjellshytta and Turtagrø hotel both offer service and bottle refills, but these are few stops along a long route. Always carry enough water for the full loop.

Traffic timing

Afternoons and early evenings are low-traffic windows. Early mornings are quiet too, but colder. Avoid midday in July and August if you want the road to yourself.

Night closure

During the opening period, the entry gates close at 20:00 and reopen at 08:00. If you're already on the mountain you can descend, but no one is let in after 20:00. Plan your start so you cover most of the ride in daylight.

The climbs

From Lom, you climb 1,238 metres over 45 km to Sognefjellshytta — a long, moderate ascent averaging 2.7%. From Fortun, where the western climb starts, it's 1,464 metres over 21 km — averaging 6.5% with sections reaching 10%. Considerably harder.

Can I ride Sognefjellet before the official opening?

No. The road is physically blocked by barriers and flanked by snow walls that make passage impossible and dangerous in bad weather.

The one exception is early spring when the eastern side opens before the west. You can ride from Lom up to Sognefjellshytta as an out-and-back — a fine experience, especially combined with lunch at the cabin among the skiers, and 1,238 metres of climbing in guaranteed snowy scenery.

Frequently asked questions