Flørlitrappene 4444 - Norges lengste trappetur

For English see below

I Flørli ved Lysefjorden ligger Norges lengste trapp. Kjenner du det ikke i beina etter å ha gått opp og ned der, er du i god form.

Trappa går langs rørgaten fra Flørli kraftstasjon til Ternevatn, den er 740 meter lang og opptil 45 grader bratt. Trappa består av 4444 trinn og ble anlagt i 1918 i forbindelse med at rørgata ble bygget. Frem til 2003 var det stort sett bare kraftverkets folk som brukte trappa når de drev med vedlikeholdsarbeid. Fra 2003 har den vært åpen for allmennheten. Det er ikke veiforbindelse til Flørli, men anløp av rutebåtene som trafikkerer Lysefjorden. På Flørli har Stavanger Turistforening (STF) en ubetjent hytte og mange starter turen inn i Frafjordheiene herfra med en skikkelig trappetur. STF har merket ruter fra toppen av trappa og innover i heiene til blant annet Blåfjellenden og Lysebotn. Trappa er også en turistattraksjon i seg selv og mange kommer hit bare for å ta turen opp og ned. Det er en liten hvilebu midtveis i trappa.

Returen til Flørli tar du ned Rallarstien som ble gjennåpnet og merket av STF. Turen ned tar ca. 2 timer, og går går via Flørlistølen.

Vinteren: Du må ikke gå trappene om vinteren, Det er skredfare hele vinteren og du vil møte store snefenderi trappa.Snøen smelter normalt mai-juni Det er ikke anbefalt å gå ned trappene, hverken sommer eller vinter.

ENGLISH

Grading: Demanding

THE CHALLENGE:4444 STEPS TO HEAVEN

Climbing the 4444 steps of the Flørli stairs, is one of the highlights of any Lysefjord trip. The stairways will take you from sea-level to the hydropower reservoir lake Ternevatnet at 741 meters. Needless to say, a breathtaking experience in every meaning of the word. However, keep a pace that suits your level of fitness, and fix your view on the next step above you, you can make it!

The steps are narrow, and in a few steep sections the stairs rise a few meters above the ground, so watch your step. There is a wire that serves as a handrail, otherwise the stairs are unsecured and you enter at your own risk. Resting platforms along the steps are great for regaining your breath, and for letting those behind overtake you on the way up.

There are signs for every 500 steps, but count the steps yourself, there is some debate as to what is the exact number of steps.

There are several viewpoints on your way. Don't miss the cable house above step no 2000, where you can se the winch used to pull the wagon with bulding materials for the pipeline and other materials for the hydropower development.

Even though you get some good views during the short hike, you’re going to be amazed by what you see from the top. Enjoy the view, and for returning to the village and the quay, the easiest is to follow Rallarstien, the route followed by the construction workers during the initial works until the cableway was installed. Imagine the workers carrying loads of 80 kg up this route!

Rallarveien takes you over the dam, and follows a ridge from the mountain and down towards the fjord. Gradually the forest becomes thicker, you cross a few streams, and the main river on a suspension bridge, before reaching Flørlistølen and further a steep slope down to the village. Rallarstien is steep in some sections.

THE EASY WAY OUT:EXIT AFTER 700 STEPS

Out of breath? Lack of spirits? Had enough? If you want to bail out of the climb to the top, you may leave the stairs after approximately 700 steps. Follow the marked trail to your right, leading into the forrest right off the stairs. After som few minutes traversing, you cross the creek on a steel bridge, and enter charming Flørli tourist station. From here, you follow the narrow road that winds down through the picturesque village and end up right back at the dock. All in all, this short hike takes about an hour.

This exit is also useful if you stay overnight at the tourist cabin before climbing the stairs, and don't want to walk all the way down to the fjord in order to count all the steps from no. 1.

THE CAHELLENGE+

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LONG ROUNDTRIP

When you reach the end of the stairs, you follow the old construction road to the dam. As you head back for the dock on the marked trail, you have experienced several historic aspects of old Norwegian power development.