The Story of Kjeragbolten
A journey through time and nature
100 Years of Kjeragbolten
In 2025, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the very first known photograph of Kjeragbolten. Back in 1925, this iconic stone was immortalized by Thomas Peter Randulff, a bank manager and keen member of the local trekking association. Kjeragbolten is a five-cubic-meter boulder wedged in a crevice nearly 984 meters (3,228 ft) above Lysefjorden, drawing thousands of visitors from all over the world each year.
But did you know that Nesatindane, just a few hundred meters from Kjeragbolten, was the original destination for many of the earliest visitors? For those traveling by boat on the Lysefjord, the mighty Kjerag massif—often referred to as the “Majesty of the Lysefjord”—was the main attraction at the innermost part of the fjord. Standing atop the dramatic landscape at Nesatindane, visitors enjoyed spectacular panoramic views over the Lysefjord. Today, this remains a perfect spot for anyone seeking a safer but equally impressive perspective.
In 2025, we invite you to mark the centennial by visiting both Kjerag and Nesatindane—experience the magic, history, and natural beauty that have enchanted generations.
Kjerag: From Hidden Gem to Global Icon
National-romantic Influences Early Explorers
Kjerag’s story stretches far back in time, and its powerful presence has always captivated those who live around it. The name Kjerag (originally “Kiragg”) is said to stem from the small streams tumbling down the cliff face, which resemble the scruffy hair of a young goat when the waterfall disperses.
During Norway’s nation-building era in the 19th century—often called the Romantic period—artists and writers portrayed Kjerag and Lysefjorden as dramatic landscapes brimming with both aesthetic and mystical value. One of the earliest artistic depictions is a painting by Lehmann from the early 1820s. In 1866, the French author Victor Hugo wrote of Lysefjorden:
“Lysefjorden is the most terrifying of all the sea’s corridor-like cliffs. (…) At times one hears thunder without a cloud in the sky; a beam of light bursts from the cliff face at a thousand or fifteen hundred feet above the sea. This lightning flashes forth and draws back like a boomerang.”
The phenomenon known locally as “Kjeragsmellet” (the Kjerag bang) is a blast of water vapor from the cliff face, reported to be especially visible in easterly winds of a particular strength.
With the arrival of steamships in the late 1800s, the fjord became accessible to a wider audience, and places like Kjerag and Nesatindane began attracting greater attention.
“Kjerag i Lysefjorden”, painted by Carl Peter Lehmann between 1820 and 1825
source: Nasjonalmuseet/Høstland, Børre
source: Stavanger Turistforening, årbok 1925
The First Photo of Kjeragbolten
In 1925, Thomas Peter Randulff took the first known photograph of Kjeragbolten. Randulff, an avid hiker and member of the Stavanger Trekking Association, had already helped putting Preikestolen on the map about 25 years earlier.
In the early 1900s, he was a driving force behind plans for a tourist road that would connect Lysebotn to Telemark—a project he believed would open the region to an entirely new kind of tourism. Though it was never realized due to funding and political challenges, his visions and his work establishing trails and hiking cabins in the area laid the groundwork for future tourism development.
He discovered the boulder during a family trip in 1925, describing it as a “small pea” wedged in a crack some 700 meters (2,300 ft) above the fjord. The photograph—showing his brother Bernhard Randulff and a local guide—was published in the Stavanger Trekking Association’s yearbook that same year, sparking interest in Kjeragbolten among local mountain enthusiasts. Although the boulder did not immediately become a popular hiking destination, this photo would ultimately set the stage for its later fame.
source: Photo album of the Randulff Family
The Impact of Hydropower
From the 1950s onward, hydropower projects had a significant impact on the growth of Lysebotn and the Lysefjord region as a whole. New power stations built inside the mountains were crucial to supplying the region with electricity and helped establish Lysebotn as a thriving community. Later, in 1984, Lysevegen was opened as part of the Tjodan power plant project. With its breathtaking 27 hairpin turns stretching between Lysebotn and Øygardstøl, Lysevegen made it possible to drive from Sirdal to Lysefjorden—revolutionizing access to the Kjerag Plateau and the surrounding mountain areas.
The “Lyse” hairpins up Øygardsbrekkå, between Lysebotn and Øygardstøl.
Kjerag as a Hub for Climbing, BASE Jumping, and Hiking
Rock climbing in the Lysefjord steadily grew in popularity, with the sheer Kjerag wall ranking among Norway’s most challenging climbs. In the summer of 1980, four climbers—Mike Blenkinsop, Richard Thomas, Nils Engelstad, and Bjarne Schmidt—achieved the first recorded ascent of Kjerag. Today, there are well over 30 established routes on Kjerag, each at least 500 meters high. The best climbing season is July and August.
Organized tourism took off in the late 1980s. After seeing Randulff’s 1925 photograph, Kjell Helle Olsen and Leif Solheim from the Stavanger Trekking Association headed to Kjerag and “rediscovered” Kjeragbolten. In 1990, a photo of Leif standing on the boulder appeared as a centerfold in the outdoor magazine Fjell og Vidde, capturing attention worldwide. The Stavanger Trekking Association soon built and marked a new trail to the Kjerag massif, Nesatindane, and Kjeragbolten, and visitors began flocking to the area.
Thanks to its towering cliffs and dramatic drop-offs, Kjerag also emerged as a premier spot for BASE jumpers, attracting adrenaline seekers from across the globe. Known as the “Majesty of the Lysefjord,” this mighty mountain quickly became an exciting, more adventurous alternative to the already well-visited Preikestolen farther out in the fjord.
In 1994, Stein Edvardsen became the first BASE jumper to leap from the Kjerag wall. Kjerag quickly gained a reputation as one of the world’s premier destinations for BASE jumping, thanks to its spectacular and challenging vertical cliffs. Despite the risks of the sport, BASE jumping—especially the legendary annual event known as “Heliboogi”—has helped put Kjerag firmly on the international map.
A local legend claims that a massive rockslide from the Kjerag massif created Geitaneset, a point of land jutting into the fjord at the foot of the mountain. In earlier times, this headland served as a spring and summer pasture for goats and cows, but today it’s used as a landing spot for BASE jumpers, who then get picked up by boat to return to Lysebotn.
Meanwhile, Nesatindane, once the main destination on the Kjerag plateau, has been somewhat overshadowed by the boulder. This spectacular viewpoint offers a more traditional nature experience and is ideal for those who prefer not to venture onto the Kjerag boulder itself or participate in more extreme sports.
Tourism Development in Lysebotn
With the construction of Lysevegen in 1984, Lysebotn grew into a key tourist hub. A ferry service on the Lysefjord, the building of the Ørneredet restaurant near Kjerag, and the expansion of local accommodations in Lysebotn—including a campground, a hikers’ lodge, and a bed & breakfast—are just a few of the initiatives that have helped make Lysebotn and the Lysefjord as a whole more accessible for unforgettable nature experiences.
source: Stavanger Aftenblad, 26. mai 1995
However, increased tourism also brings increased wear and tear. Stiftelsen Kjerag, established in 2001, took charge of parking, facilities, and visitor information—work that was later continued by Lysefjorden Utvikling in 2005. In 2003, Frafjordheiane was designated a protected landscape area, and its managing body, SVR, identified Kjerag as a crucial gateway. The Stavanger Trekking Association is responsible for maintaining the trail to ensure safe travel and minimize erosion. Over the years, the trail has undergone multiple upgrades, including the addition of stone steps built by Sherpas from Nepal.
In 2020, Kjerag became one of the first hiking destinations in Norway to earn the Norwegian Scenic Hike status, with support from the Norwegian Environment Agency. Multiple stakeholders continue working together to balance tourism and nature conservation in the Kjerag area, ensuring that future generations can experience and appreciate this remarkable mountain.
Kjerag: a Journey Through Time and Nature
This year’s anniversary is the perfect opportunity to celebrate Kjerag’s rich history and showcase the many adventures it offers. Whether you want to hike to Nesatindane for panoramic views of Lysefjorden, stand on the iconic boulder, or simply soak in the grandeur of the fjord landscape with an overnight stay in Lysebotn, 2025 is the year to discover all that Kjerag and Lysefjorden have in store. Let’s mark a hundred years of history, nature, and adventure!
The 100 Years of Kjerag project is supported by Sandnes Municipality.
Partners and Key Sources:
- Stavanger Trekking Association
- Thomas Peter Randulff, grandson of bank manager Thomas Peter Randulff
- Kjell Helle-Olsen, former general manager of the Stavanger Trekking Association
- Stavanger Aftenblad (journalist Tor Inge Jøssang, among others)
- Per Arne Svanes
- …and many more
