Eidfjord (Hardangerfjord Head)
Sima fjord · Hardangerjøkulen approaches · Vøringsfossen area
60°27.8'N 007°04.1'E
Depth
5–22m
Bottom
silt
Alarm Radius
90m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
90m
90m in 5–20m on deep glacial silt. Outstanding holding in the thick, fine sediment deposited by multiple glacier-fed rivers. The fjord head is enclosed on three sides by 1,000m+ mountains — almost completely sheltered. SW is the only significant exposure along the main fjord axis.
About This Anchorage
Eidfjord is the navigational head of the inner Hardangerfjord — the most remote and spectacular anchorage accessible by sailing boat in this great fjord system. The village of Eidfjord sits at the confluence where the Eid river pours out of the Hardangerjøkulen glacier plateau above. The fjord walls here are 1,000–1,200m high on both sides, cascading with multiple waterfalls including the legendary Vøringsfossen (183m free fall, accessible by road), one of Norway's most famous waterfalls. Anchoring at Eidfjord is a profound experience — lying at anchor beneath vertical cliff walls with waterfalls on all sides is unlike anything in European sailing. The Hardangervidda National Park and Hardangerjøkulen glacier (Norway's third largest ice cap) are directly accessible from here.
Protected From
N · NE · E · S · SE · W
Exposed To
SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (anchoring); Guest harbour fee for marina berths
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Allemannsretten applies. Eidfjord guest harbour (VHF Ch. 16) — contact for berth availability. Hardangervidda National Park rules apply for shore excursions. Hydroelectric power station at Sima: large pipe installations cross the fjord floor — do not anchor on the marked submarine cable areas (clearly marked on Sjøkart chart).
Hazards
- !Strong katabatic winds at night: the 1,000m mountain walls funnel cold air down the fjord at night — can reach 25–30 knots; shore lines are essential
- !Hydroelectric cable crossing: submarine cables marked on chart cross the fjord floor — anchor only in clearly unmarked areas and use Sjøkart chart
- !Depths increase to 200–300m in the mid-fjord section just outside the head bay — anchoring is only possible within 200m of the shore where river silt deposits have built up
- !Waterfall spray: in high-water season (June–July snowmelt) waterfalls can wet the decks from considerable distance — close the hatches
Skipper's Tips
- →Vøringsfossen: rent a car or take the tourist bus from Eidfjord up the hairpin road — the 183m free-fall waterfall is one of Europe's most spectacular; book ahead in July
- →Hardangerjøkulen glacier: the ice cap that inspired the fictional 'Jotunheim' glacier in Frozen (Disney) — guided glacier walks depart from Finse (accessible by train from Eidfjord area)
- →Anchor in 8–14m in the outer section of the head bay — closer to the river mouth the silt shoals unpredictably and depths change year to year with sediment deposition
- →The silence and grandeur of this anchorage at midnight in the extended Norwegian summer twilight (still light at 23:00 in June) is extraordinary — one of Norway's finest experiences afloat
Facilities
Eidfjord village has a hotel/restaurant, small shop and tourist centre. Water at the guest harbour. Fuel by jerrycan from petrol station (1km walk). Full provisioning requires the 3-hour drive or 6-hour ferry journey to Bergen.
Nearest provisions: Eidfjord village shop (1nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
June–August. June has the most impressive waterfalls as snowmelt peaks. July is the warmest and most popular. August is quieter and the mountain colours begin to turn. This is a dead-end fjord — allow time for the return journey to the outer coast.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 90m
In Hardangerfjord, katabatic winds can arrive at 30 knots in minutes. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — alerting you the moment your anchor starts to drag.
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