Avdalsfossen

Avdalsfossen is the first waterfall encountered along the Vetti trail in Utladalen. Take Route 53 to Øvre Årdal, then turn north onto Route 301, following signs pointing to Vettisfossen. The trailhead is found at the end of the road about 7-1/2 km from Route 53. There is room for maybe 20 cars at the end of the road, while a larger parking area is found just before Hjellefossen further back down the road if the smaller one is full. Hike the easy trail (actually a one-lane gravel road) for just under a kilometer to where the falls are visible and cannot be missed.Avdalsfossen is the first waterfall encountered when hiking up Utladalen from the trailhead at Hjelle. The falls are commonly said to drop 165 meters (540 feet), and at cursory glance this appears to be generally accurate. One-meter contour topographic maps suggest the drop is actually a little higher than that - closer to 175 meters (575 feet) instead. Additionally the course of the Gravdøla above the falls is fairly steep, and there is a distinct possibility that there are additional upper tiers to the falls which cannot be seen from the trail along the bottom of the valley. The trail which climbs to the Avdal Gard farm and further to Gravdalen may pass near these potential upper sections of the falls.