Hellersheia

How to get there

Parking: You can access the Hellersheia hike starting point by following RV 44 to Jøssingfjord. Park the car at the parking lot at Utsikten on the way down to the fjord. The trail is marked with red dots. Contact the Magma Geopark team to get the full experience with a professional guide.

Accessibility: Challenging. Marked trails.

Duration: 2 hours

Special conditions:

• Park at the parking place and show respect for private land.
• Show respect to animals along the trail.
• Don’t forget to close gates behind you so that animals would not get away.
• Dogs have to be on leash.
• Leave nothing but footprints!

Geology and nature

The Hellersheia plateau consists of massive anorthosite with visible signs of the effects of the Ice Age. The hike up to Hellersheai plateau includes some demanding parts, but the views are worth the effort. From the top you can appreciate the majestic rocky landscape as well as the beautiful view of Jøssingfjord and the sea beyond.

This area is part of the Åna-Sira anorthosite, one of several large anorthosite bodies in Rogaland. The landscape on the plateau is dominated by the majestic mountains, clear lakes and large blocks of rocks that are scattered about. These blocks of rock were suspended in glaciers that spread across the area and were left behind when the ice melted. You can also find circular potholes on the plateau, formed by the wearing effect of pebbles swirled around by running water at the end of the Ice Age about 10.000 years ago. You may notice that some of the rock surfaces have near-horizontal scratches known as glacial striations. These were made by blocks of rock as they were carried along by the flowing ice.