Destination
Gressdalen
A canyon river, waterfalls and a trip to Gressvatnet
Vassdalen · Bjerkvik · Northern Norway
On a trip to Gressdalen it is worth setting aside time for the way there as well. The river running through the canyon and two waterfalls give you a reason to stop long before Gressvatnet. The route follows the river from Vassdalen into the valley, and on the southern shore of the lake stands the old log cabin Slottet.
You can head there on foot or by mountain bike. The length of the trip, the steep climbs and the partly wet terrain are worth taking into account when planning the day.
- ~15–16 km
- Round trip
- ~3 h
- By e-mountain bike
- ~6 h
- On foot (my estimate)
- Tie ja polku
- Terrain
About 3 hours is my own actual round-trip time on an e-mountain bike, including short breaks. About 6 hours is my own estimate on foot.
Along the river towards Gressdalen
The summer route starts at the end of the road in Vassdalen and continues on forest and tractor track on the western side of the river. The first four kilometres or so lead to the memorial site near Storfossen.
At the waterfall the valleys divide: Bukkedalen to the right and Gressdalen to the left. From there the route continues on a path towards Gressvatnet. This description is a general overview of the route; bring a topographic map.
A canyon river and two waterfalls
Along the way, the river running through the canyon and two waterfalls are worth a stop. The lake is the destination, but the scenery is worth taking in on the way as well.
Allow time for breaks and choose your stopping places safely away from cliff edges and strong currents.
My own experience on an e-mountain bike
I visited Gressdalen on an electric-assist mountain bike. You can ride all the way, but there were steep climbs where I chose to push the bike. The electric assist made riding easier, but in places the route called for a calm pace.
On my trip the terrain was very wet and some sections muddy. This is not a light bike ride on even road. Anyone on a mountain bike should be prepared to push when needed.
The round trip took me about three hours, including short breaks and stops to take in the scenery.
A full day out on foot
On foot I would set aside about six hours for the same trip. This is my own estimate based on the bike trip, not a time measured on foot.
Your own pace, breaks and how wet the terrain is all affect the duration. Allow a full day for hiking and check the hours of daylight, especially in autumn.
Fishing at Gressvatnet
At Gressvatnet you can combine the trip with fishing. The lake holds trout, and the caretaker of Slottet says the lake offers good trout fishing. If you bring a rod, allow time at the lake on top of the walking.
The cabin caretaker directs you to buy a fishing licence from Statskog. Statskog's Norgeskort inland fishing licences are sold on Inatur. Check the licence area map and the local fishing rules before buying.
Fishing licences and licence areas on InaturSlottet – a night by the lake
Slottet, on the southern shore of Gressvatnet, can be rented separately if you want to continue the trip into the next day. The log cabin, built in 1936, belongs to Narvik Jeger- og Fiskerforening and sleeps six.
Non-members can book it too. Slottet is not an open day shelter: the overnight stay and the key are arranged in advance with the booking. The cabin is rented out by a separate operator and is not part of a stay at Villa Sjøsiden.
Slottet prices, availability and bookingThe canyon river
The waterfall up close
Getting there
Drive the Vassdalen road to its end. According to the caretaker of Slottet, the parking area is on the left side of the road about 50 metres before the road ends. The walk starts on the tractor track continuing from the road end.
The summer route is given as roughly 7.5–8 kilometres each way.
- Vassdalen
- Bjerkvik
- Northern Norway
Good to know
- This page describes the summer route starting from Vassdalen
- On a bike you may have to push on steep or difficult sections
- Bring food, drinking water, weather-appropriate gear and a topographic map
- Check the weather and the hours of daylight
- Slottet is a rental cabin that must be booked, not an open shelter
- The winter route is a different route; do not use this summer description for a winter trip
A day out from Villa Sjøsiden
Gressdalen adds a longer day out to your holiday, combining a river valley, waterfalls and a mountain lake. Afterwards you can return to Villa Sjøsiden and spend the evening by the fjord.