Ulriken Webcam – Vidden Mountain Plateau Above Bergen

The Ulriken Webcam streams from the top of Ulriken, the 643-meter (2,110-foot) mountain above Bergen, and looks out over Vidden, the open plateau that links Ulriken with Floyen. Rough grass and bare rock fill the foreground, a deep valley drops away through the middle of the frame with trees on its lower slopes, and a long rocky ridge climbs on the right toward a skyline where low cloud often rests. There are no streets or rooftops in this shot, only the high country that waits at the end of a five-minute cable car ride above the city. The operator offers it as a way to check conditions on the mountain, and the scene rarely sits still: sun and shadow move across the valley through the day, cloud can bury the plateau, and the grass turns golden in autumn before snow can cover it in winter.

About Ulriken

Ulriken is the highest of Bergen’s Seven Mountains, the ring of hills around the city center, and its summit carries the city’s tall TV mast as well as a restaurant. The Ulriksbanen cable car has carried passengers up from Haukelandsbakken, about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) southeast of the center, since 1961. The line closed after an accident in 1974 and again for long spells later on, reopening on May 1, 2009, and cabins now leave roughly every 5 minutes in high season and every 15 minutes in low season. Far below the northern part of the mountain, the 7.6-kilometer (4.7-mile) Ulriken Tunnel, opened in 1964, carries the Bergen Line railway between Bergen Station and Arna.

Vidden is the plateau behind the summit, and it is the subject the operator names for this stream. Hikers cross it on the classic route between Ulriken and Floyen, which the operator’s trail guide describes as exposed, rocky ground with boggy patches and red T markers. The land keeps rising beyond the Ulriken summit. The highest point of Bergen’s city mountains is Hauggjelsvarden, 674 meters (2,211 feet), out on the edge of Vidden where it faces the southern end of Arnadalen.

The summit itself is marked by a new cairn, Ulriksvarden, built by the city’s environment agency at 643 meters. A path of about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles), lined with 20 green marker posts and boardwalk over four muddy stretches, leads to it from behind the restaurant building at the top station. It takes about 20 minutes each way, and the operator describes a 360-degree view from the cairn over the city and the Vidden landscape behind it.

Weather and Climate on Ulriken

Bergen is often called the rainiest city in Europe. Its Florida weather station records about 2,495 millimeters (98 inches) of precipitation a year, with roughly 200 days reaching at least 1 millimeter, and the 1991 to 2020 averages run from highs of 4.7 C (40 F) in January to 19.6 C (67 F) in July. The top of Ulriken is colder and windier than the harbor. Model averages for the summit over the past decade suggest midwinter days around freezing, nights several degrees colder, and July afternoons of about 14 to 16 C (57 to 61 F). Fog and low cloud are common, and conditions change quickly at this altitude.

Around the June solstice the sun is up for about 19 hours at this latitude, so the plateau stays lit late into the evening, and June through September is the operator’s recommended window for the Vidden hike. Early October brings golden grass and long morning shadows across the valley. In winter, snow can turn the plateau white, and the operator recommends the route for skiing when there is enough of it, while warning that the crossing from November to March calls for winter mountain skills on icy sections. Around the December solstice the sun is up for only about 5 hours and 45 minutes, so the stream is dark for most of the day.

Things to Do Near Ulriken

At the top station, Skyskraperen Restaurant serves a seasonal menu, Ulriken Kafe sells coffee and buns, and the Ulriken Fjellplata terrace adds 250 seats and an outdoor bar. The zipline, run by Bergen Base Camp, starts just below the restaurant terrace and runs 300 meters (984 feet) toward Floyfjellet at up to 70 km/h (43 mph). The short walk to Ulriksvarden suits families, and anyone who would rather climb than ride can take Oppstemten via Skotbergskleiven, a signposted route from the lower station that follows the Sherpa stairs, with benches and viewpoints along the way.

The full Vidden crossing to Floyen takes four to six hours in the operator’s guide. Along the way it suggests stopping at Menneskerettighetsvarden, the human rights cairn on Storefjellet, and eating a packed lunch at Borgaskaret. Turnerhytten, a volunteer-run cabin 3.1 kilometers (1.9 miles) from Ulriken, serves waffles and hot drinks on weekends from 11:00 to 16:00 in summer (not in July), closing an hour earlier in winter. The route ends at Floyen, 320 meters (1,050 feet), where the Floibanen funicular takes 5 to 8 minutes down to the city.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More mountain country in Norway, and another city peak with its own cable car:

• Finse Railway Station Webcam
• Geiranger Webcam
• Grouse Mountain Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Ulriken located?

Ulriken is in Bergen, in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. The cable car’s lower station at Haukelandsbakken is about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) southeast of the city center.

What can you see on the Ulriken Webcam?

The camera looks over Vidden, the mountain plateau between Ulriken and Floyen. Grassy, rocky ground sits in the foreground, a deep valley with trees on its lower slopes runs through the middle, and a rocky ridge rises on the right under a skyline that often carries low cloud.

Does the Ulriken Webcam show Bergen city?

No. This stream is pointed over the Vidden plateau, so no streets, harbor or rooftops are in the frame. It is meant for checking mountain conditions before a hike.

What is the weather like on Ulriken?

Wet, windy and changeable. The summit runs several degrees colder than the city, with midwinter days around freezing and summer afternoons of about 14 to 16 C (57 to 61 F).

How do you get to the top of Ulriken?

Take the Ulriksbanen cable car, a ride of about five minutes. The Ulriken Express bus runs from the city center to the lower station every half hour in the main season, or take the Bybanen light rail to Haukeland and walk 10 to 15 minutes uphill. Walkers can climb the Sherpa stairs instead.

How long is the hike from Ulriken to Floyen?

The operator’s trail guide puts the Vidden crossing at four to six hours, and using the cable car at one end shortens the day.

Is the Ulriken cable car open in winter?

Yes, with reduced hours and closures when the weather is bad. The main season runs from April to October.

Source: Ulriken643