Steinsdalsfossen

Norheimsund, Hordaland County, Norway

About Steinsdalsfossen


Hiking Distance: roadside; 600m round trip to backside
Suggested Time: 15-30 minutes

Date first visited: 2005-06-26
Date last visited: 2019-06-26

Waterfall Latitude: 60.37081
Waterfall Longitude: 6.10312

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Steinsdalsfossen (The Stone Valley Falls) was a waterfall that seemed to have a lot of fanfare and notoriety (at least that was our impression when we were researching for our trip).

When we visited the falls in June 2005, we certainly found it to be one of the more popular places in the country as it consistently received tour bus traffic and scores of people.

Steindalsfossen_062_06262019 - Profile view of Steinsdalsfossen as seen in late June 2019
Profile view of Steinsdalsfossen as seen in late June 2019

When we returned in June 2019, they seemed to have expanded the parking lot while also sporting a visitor center as well as a handful of souvenir shops.

Indeed, the waterfall was as popular as ever!

Although Steinsdalsfossen possessed a modest size (generously said to be 46m tall) and its roadside location ensured its popularity, it was also one of the few waterfalls in the country where we could go behind it.

In fact, we think that last attribute could very well be the main reason why this waterfall continues to be popular to this day!

Steinsdalsfossen_007_06262005 - Steinsdalsfossen when we first saw it back in June 2005, where the souvenir shop and small parking lot was actually on this side of the bridge spanning its stream!
Steinsdalsfossen when we first saw it back in June 2005, where the souvenir shop and small parking lot was actually on this side of the bridge spanning its stream!

In any case, I had read that this was Norway’s 5th most popular attraction in the country.

We’re not sure how accurate that statement was, but we definitely couldn’t deny its popularity in general so expect to share this place with many other people.

One of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Favorite Places

While doing a little research on this falls, I learned that apparently this waterfall was a favorite of Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.

It was said that he would frequently visit Steinsdalsfossen every Summer (except a couple of them) between 1889 and the start of World War I in 1914.

As a result of this, it was said that some people would refer to this waterfall as the “Kaiser Wilhelm Falls.”

Experiencing Steinsdalsfossen

Steindalsfossen_009_06262019 - About to cross the historical stone bridge to get even closer to Steinsdalsfossen
About to cross the historical stone bridge to get even closer to Steinsdalsfossen

When Julie and I first visited the falls back in late June 2005, we pretty much started our visit from right in front of the waterfall itself.

That was because both the busy car park area and the souvenir shops pretty much sat right before the bridge fronting the waterfall.

When we came back in late June 2019, we had to walk from the car park, which was a little further away (see directions below) before walking over a historical stone arched bridge towards what seemed to be relocated souvenir shops.

This commercialized area seemed to be on the opposite side of the bridges that still fronted Steinsdalsfossen.

Steindalsfossen_030_06262019 - Walking the wide and paved walkway behind Steinsdalsfossen
Walking the wide and paved walkway behind Steinsdalsfossen

Then, we saw that there was a well-developed sloping walkway that led up to the backside of the falls so naturally we did that.

While I’m generally not used to paved walkways going behind waterfalls, this one had enough of a setback that it seemed perfectly safe for them to do this.

The footpath ended on the other side of the waterfall, where there was a looking peering right back at the Steinsdalsfossen in profile as well as views of the valley in the general direction of Norheimsund.

There really wasn’t much more to this visit so after having our fill of this very easy-to-visit waterfall, we then returned the way we came.

Steindalsfossen_002_06262019 - Walking from the car park and visitor center towards the historical stone arch bridge and ultimately Steinsdalsfossen
Walking from the car park and visitor center towards the historical stone arch bridge and ultimately Steinsdalsfossen

It turned out that our visit took about an hour away from the car, but we very easily could have spent less time here if we didn’t browse around the souvenir shops.

Other Steinsdalsfossen Attributes

Steinsdalsfossen looked to be a permanent year-round waterfall sourced by the Mykla Lake (Myklavatnet) way up in the highlands before feeding into Steinsdalselva (Steinsdals River).

The river itself meandered through the valley Steinsdalen.

That said, I had read that the falls could freeze over in the Winter.

Steindalsfossen_051_06262019 - Looking down at Steinsdalsfossen during our 2019 visit from its backside. Notice on one of the photos in the photo gallery below how the car park and souvenir shop was on the opposite side of the bridge below than what's shown in this photo
Looking down at Steinsdalsfossen during our 2019 visit from its backside. Notice on one of the photos in the photo gallery below how the car park and souvenir shop was on the opposite side of the bridge below than what’s shown in this photo

From the presence of a couple of black poles with lights on them, it also occurred to me that they would floodlight Steinsdalsfossen at night.

Since Julie and I only visited on a cloudy afternoon in June 2005 and on a cloudy late morning in June 2019, we didn’t get to see it lit up at night nor frozen over.

Authorities

Steinsdalsfossen resides near the town of Norheimsund in the Kvam Municipality of Hordaland County, Norway. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website or their Facebook page.

Steindalsfossen_002_06262019 - Walking from the car park and visitor center towards the historical stone arch bridge and ultimately Steinsdalsfossen during our late June 2019 visit. This photo and the next several photos took place on this day
Steindalsfossen_005_06262019 - Continuing to approach Steinsdalsfossen and the historical stone arched bridge fronting it
Steindalsfossen_014_06262019 - Context of the Steinsdalsfossen.  But notice the lack of souvenir shops or even motorists to the left of the bridge fronting the falls as most visitors were all diverted to the right side of the bridge you see in this photo
Steindalsfossen_024_06262019 - Walking right up to the back side of Steinsdalsfossen during our 2019 experience
Steindalsfossen_028_06262019 - Noticing some upside down growing plants beneath the lip of Steinsdalsfossen
Steindalsfossen_033_06262019 - Looking downstream from somewhere near the backside of Steinsdalsfossen
Steindalsfossen_037_06262019 - View of Steinsdalsfossen from the furthest overlook of this waterfall just beyond its underside
Steindalsfossen_047_06262019 - Walking from the car park and visitor center towards the historical stone arch bridge and ultimately Steinsdalsfossen
Steindalsfossen_070_06262019 - Looking towards an area where there was a souvenir shop and car park back on our first visit in 2005, but this photo was taken in June 2019, which shows how much things have changed around Steinsdalsfossen
Steindalsfossen_073_06262019 - Frontal look at Steinsdalsfossen with someone providing a sense of scale. This was seen between the footbridges fronting Steinsdalsfossen
Steindalsfossen_080_06262019 - Another frontal view but this was taken from the east side of the pair of bridges before Steinsdalsfossen
Steindalsfossen_085_06262019 - Wildflowers blooming before the Steinsdalsfossen during our late June 2019 visit as they're clearly thriving in the waterfall's spray
Steindalsfossen_098_06262019 - Looking towards some farms a little more set back further away from the Mv7 compared to the souvenir shops and car parks around Steinsdalsfossen
Rv_7_002_jx_06262005 - On our way to Steinsdalsfossen, we noticed this waterfall near the egress of one of the last tunnels (one of several tunnels) on the Mv7. This was seen back in June 2005
Steinsdalsfossen_003_06262005 - As soon as we got out of the car, here was Julie checking out Steinsdalsfossen. This photo was taken in June 2005
Steinsdalsfossen_001_jx_06262005 - Contextual view of Steinsdalsfossen from the car park.  Notice the floodlight near its base as well as what appeared to be a hint of more of the falls further upstream (so maybe the 46m height figure might be more credible if those upper hidden tiers were accounted for)
Steinsdalsfossen_008_06262005 - We then walked more towards the bridge for this more frontal view of Steinsdalsfossen as of 2005
Steinsdalsfossen_010_06262005 - Angled view back towards Steinsdalsfossen as we were about to go up the sloping walking path to its backside as experienced back in 2005
Steinsdalsfossen_015_06262005 - The walkway going behind Steinsdalsfossen as of 2005
Steinsdalsfossen_017_06262005 - Looking out from behind Steinsdalsfossen down towards the tour buses and souvenir shops. Notice how the car park and souvenir shops were on the other side of the footbridge below as compared to our photos in 2019
Steinsdalsfossen_021_06262005 - On the other side of the backside of Steinsdalsfossen looking out towards the east of Steinsdalen
Steinsdalsfossen_023_06262005 - This was one of our last looks at Steinsdalsfossen in 2005 as we were about to head back to the E16 along the Mv7
Steinsdalsfossen_026_06262005 - Our second take on Steinsdalsfossen as we were headed west on the Mv7 towards the E16 (from our June 2005 visit)


The nearest town to the falls is Norheimsund, which is about 3km east along Mv7 on the western shores of the Hardanger Fjord (Hardangerfjorden).

In our first visit back in June 2005, Julie and I actually visited this waterfall immediately after making a brief visit to the city of Bergen.

Steindalsfossen_003_06262019 - Looking back at the new and more spacious car park for Steinsdalsfossen as seen in 2019, which definitely wasn't like this back in 2005
Looking back at the new and more spacious car park for Steinsdalsfossen as seen in 2019, which definitely wasn’t like this back in 2005

That required us to drive about 37km to the north and east along the E16.

Then, we left the E16 to continue onto the Mv7 for another 41km to the falls while passing by a few other waterfalls along the way including the impressive Fossen Bratte some 20km east of the E16 just before a tunnel.

This drive would take well over an hour to drive, and it might even take longer due to the high volume of traffic on this stretch of road.

On our second visit back in June 2019, we visited Steinsdalsfossen after making a long drive southwest of Granvin.

Steindalsfossen_001_06262019 - Looking towards the restroom and visitor center facility between the car park and Steinsdalsfossen
Looking towards the restroom and visitor center facility between the car park and Steinsdalsfossen

It took us over an hour to drive the 52km from Granvin to Steinsdalsfossen.

For geographical context, Norheimsund was about 50km (about an hour drive) southwest of Granvin, about 76km (about 90 minutes drive) south of Voss, 78km (about 90 minutes drive) west of Eidfjord, and 77km (under 90 minutes drive, typically) east of Bergen.

Find A Place To Stay

Sweep of the falls starting from a semi-direct view before climbing up the path to reveal other angles


Video showing the change in angles of the views of the falls from one side of the bridge to the other


Long video going from one side of the falls to the other while revealing upside down growing vegetation

Related Top 10 Lists

No Posts Found

Tagged with: kvam, norheimsund, bergen, hordaland, voss, vossevangen, hardanger, hardangerfjorden, hardangerfjord, kaiser wilhelm, myklavatnet, floodlit, night



Visitor Comments:

Got something you'd like to share or say to keep the conversation going? Feel free to leave a comment below...

No users have replied to the content on this page


Share your thoughts about what you've read on this page

You must be logged in to submit content. Refresh this page after you have logged in.

Visitor Reviews of this Waterfall:

If you have a waterfall story or write-up that you'd like to share, feel free to click the button below and fill out the form...

No users have submitted a write-up/review of this waterfall


Have you been to a waterfall? Submit a write-up/review and share your experiences or impressions

Review A Waterfall

Nearest Waterfalls

The Waterfaller Newsletter

The Waterfaller Newsletter is where we curate the wealth of information on the World of Waterfalls website and deliver it to you in bite-sized chunks in your email inbox. You'll also get exclusive content like...

  • Waterfall Wednesdays
  • Insider Tips
  • User-submitted Waterfall Write-up of the Month
  • and the latest news and updates both within the website as well as around the wonderful world of waterfalls


How To Build A Profitable Travel Blog In 4 Steps

Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.