A walk along the bottom of the Måbødalen valley
Looking from the edge of the cliff to the bottom of the Måbødalen Valley, it’s hard to understand that there is a path down there and that is possible to reach the foot of the waterfall in just 30 minutes’ walk. The only clue that the trail exists is the outline of the bridge crossing the Bjoreio River. In fact, there is a walking tail down there. And not only that, walking along a narrow, rocky path is not demanding at all. But finding a place from where to start this journey is not so obvious. When I searched the Internet for a place where I could stop the car and start hiking, I found this place, a small bay, right next to the road, between two tunnels. But a point on the map is one thing, and getting there was actually quite a difference. Especially since the road is winding, there are several tunnels on it and behind each of them there is a small parking lot in the bay. And driving a steep and winding route while looking at the screen of your cell phone can end badly.
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Therefore, to all those who, like me, are not sure about the place where they could leave the car, I suggest: anywhere.
Websites describing this route usually point to the first bay, just after the Storegjeltunnelen tunnel. This is the twisted tunnel, the first one if you go from the waterfall to the Eidfjord. Google maps indicate this parking lot as well.
But there are other options, hence my answer. When I was driving down the road no. 7 and left the tunnel, I missed the exit to this parking lot. I noticed that I probably wouldn’t fit on it anyway, because there were already a few cars there. So I drove on and after another tunnel (Måbøtunnelen) I found an exit and a place to leave the car. I set off on the route from there, but of course it was a bit longer and in the initial phase it led along the old road crossing the valley. On the map I noticed that I could go even further and park in a further parking lot, from where it is also possible to reach the Vøringfossen waterfall. So it doesn’t really matter where you leave the car or where you start off. Of course, the farther from this first place, the longer the hike will be, but it does not mean that it is much more tiring. I done my round trip in less than two hours, walking 5.5 km and stopping quite often to snap some photos.
As I mentioned, the first stage of the journey is a narrow asphalt road, an old Rv7, spectacularly goes over the edge of the cliff on one side and having a steep, sometimes quite vertical slope on the other. The road is currently closed to traffic and only pedestrians and cyclists can use it. An additional thrill appears when we come across piles of stones and rocks lying on the route. Many of them, falling from the slope, made large damages in the road surface, in places destroying it completely. I walked through such places with my heart on my shoulder, although my mind was telling me that nothing should fall on my head during such a quiet day. There was no strong wind, no heavy rain or other factors that could cause another avalanche of stones. But the anxiety remained.
The views of the almost vertical walls of the Måbødalen valley, passed by on the way, are amazing. Finally, I reached a narrow path that led sideways and down. This is where the right path started. At first among the trees, then more over the stones. Below, the Bjoreio River rustled. Soon I had to get close to it. I didn’t even notice how I got to the suspension bridge that I had seen from above. It rocked a bit as I walked over it, but it felt solidly constructed. Later, the increasingly wet path led me to the waterfall visible in the distance.
Just before the bridge, on a landslide of huge stones, you can see the bent and rust-covered remains of a vehicle. Rather, they did not belong to the bus that smashed against the tunnel end in 1988, which I wrote about earlier. It is more likely to be the remains of some other accident, as the road above, with such a steep gradient and numerous bends, poses a real challenge to downhill drivers and the brakes of their cars. Over the years, there have been numerous more or less serious accidents on this section of the RV7.
The trail ends on a several-meter ascent on the opposite wall, about one hundred meters from the Vøringfossen waterfall. You can’t get any closer. Or maybe you could, but it would rather be inadvisable because the safety. Anyway, the end of the path is in the perfect spot for a making few pics. The water mist in the air covers everything with moisture, so you have to wipe the lens glass if you want to stay her longer. After a few minutes I decided to go back.
The trail, as I already mentioned, is not demanding. You can often meet families with small children or pets there. Being nearby and stopping to admire the waterfall from Hotel Fossli, take some time to explore the valley bottom as well. The view of Vøringfossen from this perspective is no less impressive. Just remember to bring the right shoes and a raincoat 🙂
