Guidebook
Lonely Planet Norway
Lonely Planet · 2024
Current Lonely Planet covering the western fjords, Hardanger, Geiranger and Telemark roads past Norway's big falls.
Norway · Hemsedal Municipality
Rjukandefossen
Rjukandefossen is a double waterfall of approximately 18 metres located in the vicinity of the village Tuv in the municipality of Hemsedal in Buskerud, Norway. The Rjukandefoss receives water from Mørkedøla which is a catchment for much of the melting snow in the Hemsedal fell.
Essentials guide
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Rjukandefossen drops 18 metres (59 ft). It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Hemsedal, Norway. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Rjukandefossen itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Hemsedal are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Snowmelt feeds the falls from late May; June to August is the short, bright season, and many access roads close in winter.
Getting there
- Base town Hemsedal, Norway
- Country Norway
- Region Hemsedal Municipality, Nordics & Baltics, Europe
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Rjukandefossen
Norway
Height18 mWidth—
Most similar
Staburags
Latvia
Height18 mWidth—
Also a cascade waterfall, of similar height and in Latvia
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
18 m
18 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
RjukandefossenStaburagsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 54× taller than Rjukandefossen. Victoria Falls is 6.0× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Rjukandefossen yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Books worth packing
Guidebook
DK Eyewitness Norway
DK Eyewitness · 2024
Illustrated Norway guide, good for planning fjord drives such as Geiranger and Hardanger.
On the map
60.87526, 8.46419
Quick answers
Where is Rjukandefossen?
Rjukandefossen is in Norway (Hemsedal Municipality). The nearest base is Hemsedal, Norway. Its coordinates are 60.8753, 8.4642.
How tall is Rjukandefossen?
Rjukandefossen drops 18 metres (59 feet). It is a cascade-type waterfall.
When is the best time to visit Rjukandefossen?
Peak flow is June to August. Snowmelt feeds the falls from late May; June to August is the short, bright season, and many access roads close in winter.
What can you do at Rjukandefossen?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Rjukandefossen?
The usual base is Hemsedal, Norway. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Rjukandefossen
Vettisfossen
Norway · 275 m · 60 km away
Norway's tallest completely unregulated waterfall
Kjosfossen
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Rjoandefossen
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Feigefossen
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