Hellesylt (Geirangerfjord)
Hellesylt ferry terminal · Sunnylvsfjord entrance · Hellesylt waterfall
62°05.4'N 006°53.8'E
Depth
5–25m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m in 5–20m on mud/silt. Excellent holding. N/NE exposure along Sunnylvsfjord. The ferry shuttle runs hourly in summer — ferry wake is moderate but frequent. Shore lines recommended for overnight stay.
About This Anchorage
Hellesylt is the western terminus of the Geiranger ferry and the gateway to the Geirangerfjord UNESCO World Heritage area. The village is dominated by the dramatic Hellesylt waterfall (31m) which plunges directly into the fjord beside the quay — one of the most accessible and dramatic waterfall-to-water drops in Norway. The anchorage is a useful staging point for boats entering or leaving Geirangerfjord, offering better facilities and somewhat less tourist pressure than Geiranger itself. The hillside above Hellesylt gives a classic view of the Sunnylvsfjord approach to Geirangerfjord.
Protected From
E · SE · S · W · NW
Exposed To
N · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (anchoring); Ferry quay fee for alongside berth
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Allemannsretten applies. Keep clear of the ferry quay approach lane — the Geiranger ferry operates hourly in peak season. No discharge of waste. UNESCO approach zone rules apply. Waterfall area: do not anchor within 30m of the waterfall base where underwater rock debris is present.
Hazards
- !Ferry wash: the Geiranger-Hellesylt ferry runs hourly in summer and the wake in the enclosed bay is significant — ensure anchor is deeply set
- !Waterfall rocks: the Hellesylt waterfall deposits rock debris in the bay near the base — anchor minimum 50m from the waterfall; rocky bottom here
- !Katabatic night winds from the Sunnylvsfjord walls: 15–25 knots possible overnight even in calm summer conditions
- !Sunnylvsfjord shipping: the fjord arm sees both ferry traffic and the occasional cargo ship — maintain AIS and watch when transiting
Skipper's Tips
- →Peer Gynt Gallery: a surprisingly good art gallery celebrating the Henrik Ibsen folk tale character — the connection to the local landscape is explained
- →Morning transit: depart Hellesylt early (07:00–08:00) for Geiranger to arrive before the cruise ships and day tourists — the fjord is near-empty at dawn
- →The waterfall swim: the pool at the base of the Hellesylt waterfall is accessible by dinghy — cold but extraordinary to swim near a 31m waterfall
- →Ørnesvingen road: reachable from either Hellesylt or Geiranger — the famous 11-hairpin switchback road to the Eagles View viewpoint above the fjord
Facilities
Hellesylt has a café/restaurant, small shop and the Peer Gynt Gallery. Water at the quay. Fuel by jerrycan from petrol station (0.5km). Better provisioning in Stranda (10nm NW).
Nearest provisions: Hellesylt village shop (0.2nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
June–August. Hellesylt is quieter than Geiranger itself but still busy with the ferry operation. A good base if Geiranger is completely crowded with cruise ships.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
In Geirangerfjord, cruise ship wash and katabatic gusts can displace anchors rapidly. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
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