Rjukandefossen

Rjukandefossen splits around a rock buttress into two falls that drop into a shared pool in a gorge, and a suspension footbridge crosses just above them, so the walk out puts you over the water with the drop directly below. The name comes from rjuke, to smoke, describing the mist that rises from the gorge in high water. A short path of a few minutes leads from a small car park through birch to the bridge and viewpoints on both sides. It is at its most powerful during the June snowmelt, when the noise carries a long way, and can shrink to a modest pair of streams in a dry September. In winter it partly freezes into columns.

What you'll find

• The twin falls - water split around a rock buttress into two drops.
• The suspension bridge - a footbridge crossing directly above the gorge.
• The mist - spray rising from the pool in high water.
• The gorge walls - smooth rock carved by the river below the bridge.

When to go

Late May to early July for peak flow; the falls thin considerably by late summer. Winter can be spectacular when the water partly freezes, but the path and bridge become icy and are not maintained.

Good to know

The bridge is narrow, sways underfoot and is not for anyone uneasy with heights. Rocks around the viewpoints are wet and slippery, with no railings in places. Parking is a small gravel area that fills in season.

Nearby

Hemsedal ski resort and its summer trails are close; the Hallingdal valley runs southeast toward Gol.

Key facts