Kvinnefossen drops about 120 metres in a single veil off the cliff face on the north side of Sognefjorden, between Leikanger and the Hella ferry terminal. The total height from top to fjord is over 200 metres, but it's that main free-falling section that catches your eye. The waterfall is right next to the road, so you don't need to hike anywhere. Pull over, look up, get misted on, and drive on.
The name translates roughly to "the woman's waterfall." The old story says it looks like a woman with her hair flowing down. You can see it if you squint. On a calm day the water fans out like a bridal veil. On a windy day, the whole thing blows sideways and barely reaches the bottom. That's the problem with waterfalls that rely on a single narrow stream: they are entirely at the mercy of the wind and season. In late summer, Kvinnefossen can shrink to almost nothing. In spring, after snowmelt, it is spectacular.
Cruise ships often slow down here so passengers can photograph it. If you're driving, the small parking area fills up quickly when a bus arrives. Best viewed from the road or from a boat on the fjord.
The name translates roughly to "the woman's waterfall." The old story says it looks like a woman with her hair flowing down. You can see it if you squint. On a calm day the water fans out like a bridal veil. On a windy day, the whole thing blows sideways and barely reaches the bottom. That's the problem with waterfalls that rely on a single narrow stream: they are entirely at the mercy of the wind and season. In late summer, Kvinnefossen can shrink to almost nothing. In spring, after snowmelt, it is spectacular.
Cruise ships often slow down here so passengers can photograph it. If you're driving, the small parking area fills up quickly when a bus arrives. Best viewed from the road or from a boat on the fjord.