Mardalsfossen

Yet even though the developers got their way, the administrators compromised by letting this waterfall flow from late June to late August, which is right in the midst of the tourist season. I guess this is an acceptable compromise considering this one could've gone the way of Mongefossen, Tyssestrengene, or Ringedalsfossen.

This waterfall sits deep in the Eikesdal Valley (Eikesdalen) at the southern end of the lake Eikesdalsvatnet. Access to the falls used to be only by boating across the lake until a county road was recently completed (finished in 1991) to allow vehicular traffic to go around the eastern shores of Eikesdalsvatnet and into the heart of Eikesdalen.

The nearest major towns are Sunndalsøra, Mølde, and Åndalsnes. The drive is at least 90 minutes from Sunndalsøra, which is the nearest of the major towns though we drove in from Åndalsnes (46km west of Eresfjord). Either way, you have to approach the village of Eresfjord on the Rv660 and then head south for some 27km along the country road. Near Eresfjord, watch out for Strandfossen on the east side of the valley. Once you're at the south end of the lake, Shortly after getting to the southern end of the lake, the road goes over a bridge where there’s a signed fork for the falls. Take the signed fork, which is an unpaved gravel road, to its end where there's a large car park.

From the car park for the falls, it's about a hike of 30-45 minutes each way to its base. You might also notice a separate and attractive waterfall nearby the main waterfall.

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Looking across Eikesdalsvatnet towards the towering waterfall

A separate waterfall seen near the end of the trail


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