Trollhattan Falls
A dry river gorge that fills on scheduled days each summer when water is released through the old falls.
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The Gota river dropped some thirty-two metres through a rock gorge at Trollhattan, and the falls were a serious obstacle to navigation until locks were cut round them, first in 1800 and then twice more at larger scale. Hydroelectric power took the water in the twentieth century, and the gorge is now normally dry, walkable at the bottom, with the bare rock and potholes exposed. On scheduled days through July and August the gates are opened and the full flow goes back down the old channel for a set period - several hundred cubic metres a second, loud and violent - and the town gathers on the bridges to watch. The lock staircases are alongside.
What you actually see
- A gorge that is normally dry - bare rock and potholes.
- Scheduled water releases - full flow through the old channel.
- Three generations of locks - from 1800 onward.
- Bridges over the channel - where people watch.
When to go
July and August, on the published release days only. Two hours.
Honest expectations
Outside release days the gorge is dry and the point is largely lost. Release dates and times are fixed and published - check before travelling. Release days draw crowds. The rock is slippery.
Nearby
The Saab museum is in the town; Vanern is north.
What to pack for Trollhattan Falls
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
