Husedalen is a valley of stunning waterfalls in Hardangervidda National Park and one of the most beautiful valleys in Norway. The four waterfalls hike leads to breathtaking viewpoints and close to the roaring water.

The Husedalen hiking trail has long been known as one of the most beautiful hikes in Norway. The starting point of the trail, Kinsarvik, is about a 2.5-hour drive from Bergen.

Hardangerfjord region

Hardangerfjord is a region of majestic fjords in western Norway. It is about an hour's drive from Bergen to Hardanger.

The Hardanger region is home to many of Norway's most popular natural attractions. The most famous tourist destinations are Trolltunga and the Vøringsfossen waterfall.

The easiest way to reach the beautiful hiking trails and waterfalls is by car. At the same time, it is worth visiting the affordable, high-quality and well-stocked sports and outdoor equipment stores found even in small villages.

Hardangervidda National Park

Hardangervidda National Park is Norway's largest national park, covering an area of 3,422 square kilometers (1,321 sq mi). The national park was established in 1981. Hardangervidda is home to Northern Europe's largest herd of wild reindeer, 12,000 individuals.

The vast mountain plateau has an extensive network of cabins and many hiking trails above 1,000 meters above sea level. Hiking trails can be reached from different parts of the national park. The most popular route is from Kinsarvik along the Husedalen valley, with an ascent of about a thousand meters to the mountain plateau.

Hardangervidda is a popular hiking area all year round. The actual hiking season usually starts only closer to July.

Arrival and parking in Husedalen

From Bergen, you can drive by car on road E16 and Rv13 over the Hardangerbrua bridge. After the bridge, turn towards Odda, Kinsarvik is on the way.

In Kinsarvik, you can park for example at Mikkelparken. A walking path "Fossastien" leads from the center of the village to Husedalen, which adds a couple of kilometers to the hike.

Husedalen is reached by road Fv108. The Husedalen parking area is located near the karting track and shooting area just before the river Vivippo. Parking is free.

Some maps show a parking area near Tveitafossen waterfall. This is a power plant area, do not drive this far. There is also a shuttle service to Husedalen.

Husedalen Trail

The rugged and lush landscapes of the Husedalen valley are breathtakingly beautiful. In the heart of the mountains, magnificent waterfalls cascade down hundreds of meters, foaming white. The trail takes you in places right to the water's edge and so close to the waterfalls that the water from the falls, carried as a fine mist, will wet your clothes.

The five-kilometer (3.1 miles) Husedalen hiking trail includes four incredibly beautiful waterfalls. The waterfalls are, in order from Kinsarvik:

• Tveitafossen 200 masl
• Nyastølfossen 400 masl
• Nykkjesøyfossen 600 masl
• Søtefossen 900 masl.

The border of Hardangervidda National Park falls between the first two waterfalls.

The Husedalen hiking trail to the waterfalls is a one-way trail, so the return trip is along the same path. From Nyastølfossen, you can alternatively hike an easy and quick gravel road in both directions.

The waterfall trail is marked in red, which means it is classified as challenging. However, walking along the gravel road and visiting only 1-2 waterfalls is easy to medium difficulty.

The Husedalen trail is also popular for longer hikes. The distance to Stavali mountain hut from Kinsarvik is 13 km (8 miles). A classic two-day hike from Kinsarvik via Stavali ends in Lofthus.

Trail description

The Husedalen trail begins by crossing the river Vivippo over a beautiful bridge. The Nykkjesøyvegen gravel road dives into a coniferous forest after a short meadow section. The stunning green and turquoise river Kinso meanders along the bottom of the valley on the right, the gravel road runs higher on the slope.

Along the way, there are several information boards and a map showing the history, nature and trails of the area. You can easily reach the first waterfall in less than an hour, even if you take pictures of every bush.

Below Tveitafossen stands a white hydroelectric power plant. The waterfall is outside the national park area, so protection does not extend to Tveitafossen. The power lines do not really beautify the landscape, but the view of the waterfall from the platform built right on the edge of the rapids is magnificent.

The white water mass of Tveitafossen plunges about a hundred meters down against dark rock. A fine mist of water floats far to the road. The sight is captivating.

From Tveitafossen, you can continue hiking on the gravel road or on a nature trail marked with a T. The path starting behind the power plant runs next to a large pipe up a steep slope. The path is rocky and can be quite slippery in some places when it rains.

After climbing the slope, you reach a flatter area. The river forms a large pool before plunging down from the mountains. There is a concrete platform and a small cabin on the shore. A sign prohibits swimming in the pool - the current would quickly carry you away.

Behind the treetops, the next waterfall, Nyastølfossen, is already roaring white. The next stage is through a lush forest and on rocks that grow ferns and blueberries.

Sometimes the trail is flatter, sometimes it is full of roots and stones. There is also some mud in the rain, but the wet spots can be bypassed. As you climb higher, the pines are replaced by twisted birches.

In a few places you can admire the views down into the valley as the path runs right next to a steep wall. You don't have to walk very long before the roar of Nyastølfossen can already be heard.

Nyastølfossen can be admired from a great spot by turning off the trail to the edge of the cliffs. The platform is quite steep, and the walls drop vertically towards the bottom of the valley. Don't go too close to the edge, especially in the rain.

Nyastølfossen is even more impressive than Tveitafossen and almost twice as high. The waterfall starts with a gentler flow along a rock face and finally steepens into a vertical drop. The roar is incredibly loud, and the waterfall is such a magical sight that it's hard to leave the sight.

The trail continues rocky and runs along a large treeless cliff face. In the rain, you have to walk carefully on the mossy rocks so as not to slip. Above the treetops, the view opens up to the lush valley.

Along the way you walk through a shady forest where deep green moss carpets cover the ground. Caves are left between the huge boulders, as if they were the homes of mountain trolls.

The last section goes up a steep cliff with dense pine trees. The route arrives at a crossroads: straight ahead and to the right you could go above the Nyastølfossen waterfall and continue to the Nykkjesøyfossen and Søtefossen waterfalls. To the left, a shortcut leads to the gravel road.

From the junction leading to the gravel road, it would have been only a short distance to visit the top of the waterfall and the path to the next Nykkjesøyfossen waterfall would also have been almost flat.

Originally the plan was to see all the waterfalls, but the increasing rain and the breaking of my zoom lens at the beginning of the Norway trip made me turn back already after Nyastølfossen. With the 50mm lens, the waterfalls couldn't even be fitted into the picture properly.

The gravel road offers beautiful views of the valley above the treetops. There are no views to the bottom of the valley, but you can admire the waterfalls and the rugged mountains.

The road first descends straight for a long distance before turning into a serpentine road above Tveitafossen. The final part is along the same path back to the river Vivippo and the parking lot.

Practical tips for Husedalen valley hike

Parking:

• Paid toilets are available next to the parking area.
• The parking area is located next to a beautiful river. There is a table and bench group by the river where you can enjoy your lunch.

Trail conditions:

• In wet weather, the trail can be very slippery in places, which will slow you down.
• The first and second waterfalls can be easily reached via a gravel road with beautiful scenery.
• If the weather is bad, you have little time, or you are just looking for an easy hike, I recommend the first stage of the trail.

Wildlife and nature:

• Reindeer calving takes place from early May to mid-June. To protect reindeer calves, many DNT cabins are closed and you should move very carefully in the wilderness.
• The views only get better a waterfall by a waterfall – if you are lucky with the weather, visit all four waterfalls.

Other attractions in the area:

• Just over a quarter of an hour's drive away awaits the stunning Hardangerbrua bridge. The bridge over the fjord is a beautiful sight and an exciting crossing on the way to Bergen.
• The beautiful town of Odda with the famous hikes is a 45-minute drive away.
• In less than an hour you can drive to one of Norway's most popular natural attractions, the Vøringsfossen waterfall.
• An hour's drive to Sunndal is Hardanger's most popular Insta photo spot, Bondhusvatnet.
• The stunning Vettisfossen waterfall and the best hikes in Jotunheimen await just three hours away.