Grinddalsfossen

(Grinddalseterfossen)

Grinddalsfossen is a long stretched waterfall in Geiranger, More og Romsdal, Norway.

When you arrive by boat in Geiranger you will notice a tall waterfall coming down from the mountain site at the left of Geiranger, Grinddalsfossen. The waterfall starts at an altitude of 660 meter with falling down into the valley.

From the boat you can see Grinddalsfossen from a distance but there is also a waterfall walk starting from the camp site in Geiranger center where you can walk up along a waterfall (Fossevandring) called Storfossen. A rusted staircase (nice design) leads up along Storfossen, the name of the lower part of Grinddalsfossen. Maybe this part don’t belong to Grinddalsfossen anymore. Near hotel Union and the visitors centre you have a clear view on the long stretched Grinddalsfossen.

Driving up the road to Hole hytter centre you will see the lower part of Grinddalsfossen falling down. You can’t walk up along the waterfall to check out the rest from nearby…but a walk to Grinddalssaetra is possible (see picture at the bottom of article).

Grinddalsfossen is an unofficial name of the waterfall but to my opinion it should be an official named waterfall. Flow of the river Grinddalselva is significant and flows probably most time of the year.

Geiranger is a perfect base for day trips, hikes or boat trips. I can recommend the ferry Geiranger-Hellesylt. It wasn’t cheap but again (fourth time) I enjoyed the boat trip. It can be cold because of the wind, so take a jacket with you. If you are with more then two people you also can rent a boat at Grande camping in Geiranger. In two hour time you can make your own trip and it really fun, certainly with children.

A lot of people take their fishing rod with them when renting a boat. It is allowed to fish freely on sea (fjord) and there is a lot of fish in the fjord. Nice for the bbq! I am not really fund of fishing so I bought Salmon in the supermarket (quit cheap in Norway).

It always nice to know which waterfalls there are in the Geirangerfjord. From Geiranger the first waterfall you see at the right side (after the camping site) is Gjerdefossen. If you drive up to Eidsdal there is a parking at the top of the waterfall. Actually the made a art piece going over the water flow.

A little bit further at the right side you will see Bringefossen. Here you already can see the famous Sju Systre (or Dei Sju Systrene also called seven sisters waterfall). Look at the right side of the top of the waterfalls. Here you see several farms.

On the other side of the Fjord you can see Friaren. The legend of the seven sisters is that the seven sisters dance playfully down the mountain, while the suitor, a single waterfall opposite the seven sisters (called Friaren), flirts playfully from across the fjord. The Suitor tried to propose to the seven sisters on the opposite side of the fjord but never succeeded. Nice story.

After the Sju Systre you will see a low volume waterfall at the right side called Brudesløret (Bridal veil) and on the opposite side of the Geirangefjord Ljosurfossen. There are still many named and unnamed waterfall in the Geirangerfjord but these are the significant ones.