Steindalsfossen with Kids: The Waterfall You Can Walk Behind

If you are driving the classic route between Eidfjord and Bergen with young children, you need stops that require minimal effort but deliver maximum impact. Steindalsfossen is exactly that. It is a spectacular 50 metre waterfall that you can walk directly behind without getting wet. It is completely free, open year round, just a five minute walk from the car park, and the main path is pram friendly.

While Vøringsfossen might be the more famous waterfall on this route, Steindalsfossen was actually the stop our daughter talked about the longest. The magical moment she realised she was standing directly behind a massive wall of falling water, looking out through it while staying completely dry, was the absolute highlight of her day.

For families looking for the perfect halfway stop to break up the drive to Bergen, here is what you need to know when visiting with a toddler.

Finding Steindalsfossen

Steindalsfossen is located 2km west of Norheimsund in the Hardanger region, right on Route 7, which forms part of the spectacular Norwegian Scenic Route Hardanger. It is about an hour and twenty minutes drive from Bergen. The car park is right off the main road and incredibly well signposted. You really cannot miss the waterfall itself as it is clearly visible from the road.

On the classic Oslo to Bergen road trip, Steindalsfossen sits perfectly as the second waterfall stop on day 9, just after Vøringsfossen. From Eidfjord you drive to Vøringsfossen first (which is 15 to 20 minutes in the opposite direction), then simply take the Scenic Route west towards Bergen and stop at Steindalsfossen on the way. From Steindalsfossen it is about an hour drive into Bergen. The timing works beautifully for a morning of exploring that ends with arriving in Bergen just in time for a late lunch.

Google Maps will likely offer you a faster route from Eidfjord to Bergen that bypasses Norheimsund entirely. Do not take it! The Scenic Route adds very little time, and the breathtaking drive along the fjord edge is a huge part of the point.

When to go: The waterfall is at its most powerful in May and June when the huge snowmelt from the mountain plateau above is at its highest. July and August are busy but perfectly good. September is a quieter and genuinely beautiful time to visit, with all the apple orchards in the surrounding farmland coming into season and cute fruit stands along the road selling fresh Hardanger apples and juice. In winter the path can get icy, particularly on the section directly behind the fall, so winter footwear with strong grip matters much more than in summer.

Navigating Steindalsfossen with a Toddler

The Walk from the Car Park The path from the car park to the waterfall is a short, very well maintained track that takes just 5 to 10 minutes at a gentle toddler walking pace. It follows the pretty river before curving up and around to the falls. The lower sections are perfectly wide enough for a pram and the ground surface is excellent. There is a great lower bridge over the river that gives you a perfect face on view of the full drop, with the surrounding green hills acting as a gorgeous frame.

The path that takes you behind the waterfall itself has a slightly steeper section near the top. It is totally manageable with a confident walking toddler, and it is short enough that you can easily carry a smaller child for this specific section without any difficulty. Prams reach the lower viewpoints very comfortably. For the actual path behind the falls, there are a few steps so putting a baby in a carrier or having your hands free to hold a toddler is definitely easier.

Walking Behind the Waterfall The path curves smoothly around the rock face and leads you directly behind the cascade. The heavy falling water is just a metre or two in front of you. The sound from inside is considerably louder than it was on the approach! On breezy days there is some light spray, but the massive rock overhang above the path keeps most visitors dry. On a still, sunny day it is almost entirely dry behind the falls.

Our daughter found this fascinating. She stood there for quite a long time just looking out through the water at the trees and the bright daylight beyond, turning around constantly to check we were still there, and then looking back through the falls.

How Long to Allow Thirty to forty five minutes works perfectly for most families with young children. This is plenty of time to walk up from the car park at a slow pace, stop at the lower bridge for family photographs, walk right behind the falls, and have a proper look around before heading back. If you want to add a snack stop at the car park or a short riverside walk, allow a full hour.

There is a small tourist information office located in the unusual building by the car park which is open during the summer, alongside a handy kiosk for cold drinks and basic snacks. Clean toilets are also available at the car park in peak season.

Combining Steindalsfossen with Other Stops

• With Vøringsfossen: This is the most natural pairing on the road trip route. Vøringsfossen is dramatic, roaring and massive; Steindalsfossen is intimate, accessible and highly interactive. They are different enough that doing both in the exact same morning is genuinely satisfying rather than feeling repetitive. Do Vøringsfossen first, then hit Steindalsfossen on your way to Bergen.

• Norheimsund village: Just a short 2km drive or walk from the waterfall. The brilliant Hardanger Maritime Museum is located here, featuring traditional boat building and local history that younger children engage with much more than you might expect. There are lovely waterfront cafes and a very pleasant harbour to stretch your legs.

• Hardanger Feriesenter: Located between Norheimsund and Øystese, about 5 minutes drive from Steindalsfossen. These are beautiful cabins right on the fjord with direct access to the water, making it a great place for a quick wild swimming stop before or after the waterfall if weather conditions allow!

• Lofthus Sideri: About 45 minutes drive from Steindalsfossen heading towards Odda. In Norway Road Trip: The Perfect Scandinavian Adventure with Kids, I describe stopping here after the Trolltunga descent for a brilliant cider tasting with a delicious cheese and charcuterie board. It is well worth keeping in mind if you are approaching from the Odda direction rather than coming from Bergen.

• Bergen: About an hour drive from Steindalsfossen on the Scenic Route. A stop at the waterfall works perfectly as a fun late morning activity before finally arriving in Bergen for lunch. For absolutely everything to do in the city with young children, read our Top Things to Do in Bergen with Kids.

Practical Tips for Families

• The pram is completely fine for the main approach path and the lovely lower river viewpoints. The section directly behind the falls has a few steps but you can easily lift the pram or leave the pram there.

• Bring a light waterproof layer even on a dry day! The spray from the falls is definitely present on breezy days and the path gets quite damp. Our daughter's rain jacket was highly useful when we were standing directly behind the water.

• The car park fills up rapidly by mid morning in July and August, particularly when the big tour coaches are out on the route. Arriving before 10am or waiting until after 4pm makes a highly significant difference to the crowds. The waterfall is open 24 hours, and visits in the golden hour just before heading to Bergen have a much quieter, more peaceful feel than the busy midday rush.

• Wear footwear with good grip for the section behind the falls, particularly in spring and autumn when the wet rock can be very slick. Summer visits with dry weather are much more forgiving.

Where to Stay Near Steindalsfossen

If you are making Steindalsfossen a centrepiece of your day rather than a quick roadside stop, Norheimsund is the absolute most practical base. The waterfall is just 2km from the village centre and the beautiful surrounding area has fantastic options across all price points. These three completely cover the main choices for families.

1. Thon Hotel Sandven (prices from around £120 per night)

Best for: Families who want a proper hotel with deep history, a beautiful private beach, and the most central location in Norheimsund.

The wonderful Thon Hotel Sandven has been standing proudly by the Hardangerfjord in Norheimsund since 1857. The hotel is positioned directly on the fjord with a fantastic private beach where guests can safely swim, and the gorgeous waterfront terrace is easily one of the nicer places to have breakfast in the whole region. The location puts you just ten minutes from Steindalsfossen by car and within very easy walking distance of the maritime museum, the harbour and the village centre. This is a very well run historic hotel where the true character of the building has been lovingly preserved rather than renovated away. The rooms are spacious so perfect for families and cots are readily available at this property.

2. Hardanger Feriesenter Nesvika (prices from around £130 per night)

Best for: Families who want a gorgeous cabin right on the fjord, with a private terrace and direct water access, situated perfectly between Norheimsund and Øystese.

These are three completely unique cabins positioned directly on the Hardangerfjord shoreline, each featuring its own private terrace, stunning fjord views and dedicated private parking. The cabins feature very distinct and incredibly fun interiors inspired by different continents (the American house, the Japanese house, the classic house)! You have amazing direct fjord access for wild swimming straight from your front door.

Note: no cots are available and bedlinen is not included and a standard cleaning fee applies, both of which are highly typical for Norwegian cabins and worth factoring in.

3. Hardangerfjord Hotel (prices from around £160 per night)

Best for: Families who want a brilliant four star hotel with a fun waterpark, a dedicated children's pool, a great restaurant and the most complete family facilities in the entire area.

Located in Øystese, about 15 minutes drive east of Steindalsfossen, this brilliant four star hotel sits directly on the Hardangerfjord with stunning mountain views from the rooms. The fun indoor waterpark and dedicated children's pool are the absolute standout features that completely differentiate it from everything else in the area for families. A rainy afternoon at the indoor pool entirely removes the stressful dependency on Norwegian summer weather, and the children's pool means young kids are not sharing space with serious adult swimmers. The great hotel restaurant, huge breakfast buffet and lounge bar beautifully round out a property where you could arrive completely tired from the long road trip and not need to go anywhere else for the rest of the evening. Excellent family rooms are available here and cots are available on request at this hotel.

Why You Should Stop Here

Steindalsfossen is a perfect stop off with a unique viewing experience. It only takes half an hour, is completely free, and the pure magic of standing behind a massive curtain of falling water and looking out through it onto a beautiful Norwegian valley is not something you can easily replicate anywhere else on the route.

For the full Oslo to Bergen road trip itinerary including absolutely all of our family stops, read our Norway Road Trip with Kids. For our complete guide to the much bigger waterfall stop earlier on the exact same route, read Vøringsfossen with Kids. And for what to do once you finally reach the city, our Top Things to Do in Bergen with Kids covers everything from Mount Fløyen to the fantastic fjord cruise!