Bakka (Nærøyfjord)
Bakka pier anchorage · Nærøyfjord mid-section · Dyrdal approaches
60°54.6'N 006°53.3'E
Depth
8–35m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
65m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m
65m in 8–30m on mud/silt. Excellent holding but the depth is significant — use generous scope (6:1 minimum) in 15–30m positions. Shore lines are mandatory due to limited swinging room and very rapid depth increase away from shore. The 65m radius is conservative for the extreme depth range here.
About This Anchorage
Bakka in the middle of Nærøyfjord is one of the most remote and dramatic anchorages in Norway. The tiny hamlet of Bakka — a cluster of farms and a historic stone church — is accessible only by boat (no road connection) and has been continuously inhabited for centuries by the families who work the steep farming terraces above the fjord. Anchoring here means spending the night in a world untouched by roads, a fjord so narrow (400m wide at Bakka) that the walls seem to lean over the mast-heads. The only sounds are waterfalls and the occasional cruise ferry. This is the Nærøyfjord experience that the cruise passengers only glimpse from their ship decks.
Protected From
N · NE · E · S · SW
Exposed To
NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: UNESCO World Heritage Site — no discharge of waste. The Bakka pier is a public landing — dinghy access to the old church and farm is welcomed but respect the private property. Allemannsretten applies. No camping within 150m of the farm buildings.
Hazards
- !Extreme depths: the mid-fjord channel drops to 350m within 30m of where you anchor — if the anchor drags you have no recovery position; shore lines are a survival necessity here
- !Ferry wash: cruise ferries pass through Nærøyfjord multiple times daily in summer; the wash in this narrow fjord is powerful and reaches distant anchored vessels
- !Katabatic winds at night: the steep walls funnel cold air down the fjord; 15–25 knots is possible at midnight even after a completely calm day
- !Very limited swinging room: the fjord is 400m wide at Bakka but the only anchoring zone is within 30–50m of shore; any dragging puts the boat immediately into deep water
Skipper's Tips
- →This is one of the most extraordinary overnight anchorages in European waters — book it as a high point of any Norwegian cruise
- →The old Bakka stone church (12th century, now a museum) is accessible by dinghy at the wooden pier — the farm families used this church for centuries without road access
- →Arrive before the last cruise ferry passes (approximately 18:00–19:00) — after the ferries stop, Nærøyfjord becomes perfectly silent and the mirror reflections of the 1,200m walls in the water are unforgettable
- →Carry a trip line: the silt bottom is deep and soft — a trip line makes anchor retrieval easier and confirms the anchor is properly set
Facilities
Nearest provisions: Flåm town (14nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
June–August only. A remote, self-sufficient anchorage — carry all provisions. The Nærøyfjord walls block direct sunlight until mid-morning even in midsummer — the extended Norwegian twilight means magical light conditions at 21:00–23:00.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 65m
In the narrow fjord arms of Sognefjord, katabatic winds can reach gale force suddenly. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position and shore-line swing continuously.
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