The road known as Tusenmeteren (“The Thousand Metre Road”) was originally built in the 1930s and 1940s during the great era of hydroelectric development in Årdal. Carved into the mountainside with limited machinery, it was a vital link for workers and materials heading up to the dam installations on the high plateau. Its construction was a feat of engineering, with steep gradients and exposed corners that still testify to the determination of the time. Though it began as an industrial road for hydropower, today it stands as both a historic landmark and one of the most remarkable cycling routes in the region.

Starting near Øvre Årdal, the gravel road climbs relentlessly through 42 tight hairpin bends until it reaches roughly 1,000 meters above sea level. From the top, you’re rewarded with a dramatic view over the fjord, the village below, and the high peaks of Jotunheimen in the distance. The route then follows the edge of the mountain ridge before winding down through a remote valley to rejoin the main road, where you can either descend back to Øvre Årdal or continue eastward. With its history, scenery, and sheer sense of achievement, Tusenmeteren is often called the finest stretch of gravel in Norway, a ride that rewards every effort you put into it.