Lærdal (Sognefjord)
Lærdalselva river mouth · Lærdalsøyri · Old Lærdal
61°05.9'N 007°28.7'E
Depth
4–20m
Bottom
silt
Alarm Radius
90m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
90m
90m in 4–18m on deep glacial silt from the Lærdalselva. One of the deepest and most stable silt deposits in Sognefjord — anchor holding is exceptional. The river mouth shoals unpredictably — always verify depth with echo sounder before setting anchor. Allow extra scope for the soft silt bottom (6:1 minimum).
About This Anchorage
Lærdal is the most important historic town in the inner Sognefjord — a perfectly preserved 18th and 19th-century wooden town (Lærdalsøyri) with 161 heritage-listed buildings, one of the finest collections of traditional Norwegian architecture. The town was a key trading post on the Bergen-Oslo route through the mountains. The Lærdalselva is Norway's most celebrated Atlantic salmon river — the Royal Norwegian salmon fishing beats on this river are among the most prestigious in the country. The Laerdal Tunnel (world's longest road tunnel at 24.5km) connects the fjord to the Aurland plateau. The anchorage at the river delta gives excellent holding in the silt-rich water.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · W
Exposed To
S · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (anchoring); Guest quay fee for alongside berth
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Allemannsretten applies. Lærdalselva salmon fishing is strictly regulated — no fishing without a permit. The heritage town (Lærdalsøyri) is a protected cultural monument — do not camp near the buildings. Keep clear of the ferry quay approach. No waste discharge.
Hazards
- !River mouth shoaling: the Lærdalselva delta shoals change with each flooding event — never rely on previous soundings; always approach on the echo sounder
- !Katabatic winds from the Filefjell mountains above: can descend with sudden intensity overnight; 20–30 knot night gusts documented in summer
- !Salmon net licensing area near the river mouth: licensed salmon nets may be set close to the river mouth during the June–August salmon season — check for floats before anchoring
- !Main Sognefjord traffic: the main fjord channel (100m N of the delta) carries express boat, tanker and coastal traffic at all hours — maintain AIS and watch
Skipper's Tips
- →Lærdalsøyri heritage walk: the perfectly preserved 18th-century wooden town takes 90 minutes to walk thoroughly — the old pharmacy, merchant houses and church are remarkable
- →Wild salmon: Lærdalselva runs June–August — if you carry a permit you can fish one of Norway's most prestigious salmon rivers from the bank; daily permits sometimes available locally
- →Laerdal Tunnel: 24.5km, the world's longest road tunnel — a bus or hire car trip through it to the Aurland plateau is surreal and worth doing
- →Anchoring position: 200–400m south of the river mouth entrance in 6–12m gives the best balance of holding, depth and swinging room
Facilities
Lærdal village has a hotel/restaurant, supermarket and café. Water at the guest quay. Fuel by jerrycan from petrol station (0.5km). Express boat service connects to Flåm and Bergen.
Nearest provisions: Lærdal village supermarket (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
June–August. Lærdal is a gateway to mountain Norway — trails up to the Filefjell plateau start from the village. The town is quieter than Flåm and far more authentic. An excellent last stop before crossing Sognefjord to the north shore.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 90m
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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