Voringsfossen waterfall is not only one of the most famous waterfalls in the south of Norway but also the third highest. Although the spectacular waterfall is one of the most visited, we hardly met other people during our visit. The Voringfossen can be visited in two different ways. On the one hand, you have the option to hike down along the river through the narrow and steep Måbødal to Voringsfossen and on the other hand, you can watch the spectacle from a viewing platform on the Hadangervidde plateau.
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We are Sabrina and Andreas, two adventurous travelers who never miss an opportunity to discover the world. Whether by plane to distant countries or with our campervan Bruno, we just love to travel. We hope to give you helpful tips for your next trip on our blog.
Sabrina & Andreas Globetrotters, Travelers, Adventurers
How to get to Voringsfossen Waterfall?
Voringfossen is located on the Norwegian Landscape Route Hadangervidda near Rv7, which connects Bergen and Oslo. A good view from the top as well as parking is available at Hotel Fossli as well as at the Voringfoss Cafeteria. If you want to spend the night at Voringsfossen and not just a short trip, you can rent a room at Fossli Hotel. An overnight stay here is a must for lovers of old hotels. You feel like you are in another time.
For the hike through the valley at Voringsfossen waterfall, you can find the right place to park your car coming from the east just behind the tunnel (see Streetview overlay below, Storegjel parking lot). Then either go directly across the road and follow the small path that lies ahead of you, or go along the slightly larger path on the right side of the road. This one is a bit longer because it still goes under the road, but you don’t have to cross the road.
Here at Google Streetview you can see the exact location of the parking lot.
The Voringsfossen Waterfall
Voringsfossen in the Hadangervidda region has a spectacular drop of 183 meters and is fed by the Bjoreio river. The inflow to the waterfall has been regulated for power generation since 1980. For this purpose, the river Bjoreio is dammed upstream of the waterfall by the Sysendamm, thus greatly reducing the amount of water. For tourist reasons, the water flow is increased to the natural flow in the period from early June to mid-September.
The Voringsfossen Hike
We were quite looking forward to visiting Voringfossen in advance. The hike to the foot of the waterfall is relatively short and if you have found the right parking lot you are also pretty quickly on site. The way to the waterfall is a little adventure, because even if the route is quite short, this is very uneven and sometimes large stones must be crossed. So you should wear good shoes and be careful, because the stones are partly very slippery due to the wetness.
The path is well marked and there are no alternatives. So you can’t get lost here. The highlight of the trail is certainly the small suspension bridge that you have to cross to get to the other side. After a few meters – the waterfall always in view – you are then finally in front of this impressive natural spectacle.
At the end of the path you can walk up a stony hill to get even closer to the waterfall. However, this climb is quite slippery due to the wetness and you should be very careful here. At the top, you can also really feel the spray whipping wetly in your face.
Facts about the Hike
- Length: 1.7 km each way from Storegjel parking lot; 3.7 km each way from Voringfoss cafeteria
- Circular route: No
- Duration: 1-1.5 hours from Storegjel; 2.5-3 hours from Voringfoss Cafeteria (round trip)
- Difficulty: medium
- Season: May/June – October (if snow-free)
You will not meet many people on the hike
We only met a small number of other hikers the whole way. So you usually have enough time to take your photos (and selfies on the suspension bridge). If you still want to see the Fossen (waterfall) from the top, you can (after the way back) drive a little further along the road to the signposted viewpoint or a little further to the Hotel Fossli, where there is another viewing platform with a slightly different angle.
Development as a Tourist Attraction
As Voringfossen has become more and more popular in recent years, the area around it has been expanded. In August 2020, a 47-meter-long stair bridge with a total of 99 steps over the valley was opened. In addition, new paths as well as a new lookout point were also created. In 2021, another construction phase will begin, which will include even more viewpoints and new trails. For more information, visit fjordnorway.com.
Have you visited Voringfossen? Which view did you like better? Leave us a comment with your experiences.