A Complete Guide to the Månafossen Hike, Norway

Are you considering hiking Månafossen in Norway? This is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in southern Norway and here’s everything you need to know!

Månafossen was pretty high on my bucket list when we visited Stavanger and I’m so glad we didn’t skip it because it was so beautiful. 

The actual hike itself was really fun. It wasn’t the longest hike we’ve done in Norway – in fact, it was the shortest! But it was very enjoyable and the views from the top were worth it. 

If you’re considering hiking to Månafossen, here’s everything you need to know.

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How to Get to Månafossen

If you are exploring southern Norway, it’s often easier to hire a car and drive yourself. The easiest way to get to Manafossen is by car. 

We were staying in Stavanger when we visited Månafossen and if you’re staying longer than 3 days in the city, I highly recommend this hike. The drive initially takes you along the same route you’d take to hike Kjeragbolten but then branches off the main road to the trailhead. 

Parking

Once you arrive, you will have to pay for parking. Parking is a very reasonable 50 NOK which is around £3.50 or $4.70. 

Public Transport

It is possible to get to Manafossen by public transport, but it’s complicated and time-consuming. 

You’ll need to take the bus from the Stavanger bus terminal to Ålgård which takes around 40 minutes. From there, catch another bus to Dirdal skule which takes another 30 minutes, and then finally, a third bus to Eikjeskog. 

Hiking Månafossen: What to expect

Once you’ve reached the trailhead and parked up, you can begin the hike. As I mentioned, this hike is so much fun. It’s a little challenging at times, but nothing most hikers shouldn’t be able to handle. Here’s what you can expect.

The stats

Månafossen is an out-and-back hike which begins at the Eikeskog Parking. It’s around a 1-hour drive from Stavanger in South Norway.

I’ve included some of the statistics above, along with a photo of the route and map below.

The hike

The Manafossen hike begins at the Eikeskog car park. It starts with a gently uphill path but quickly gets much steeper. Within minutes, you’ll come across some very steep stone steps and you have to pull yourself up with chains.

The hike is short and user-friendly, but a little challenging. There are chains in place to help with the more challenging sections. You’ll need to be careful with these parts, especially in wet conditions as the rocks can become slippery. 

Nonetheless, this hike can be done by all the family. When we did this, we were travelling with my parents so I was purposefully looking for easy hikes in Norway that they could do with us. 

Although she had struggled a little with the Pulpit Rock hike the day before, my mum managed this much easier. She actually found going down easier than I did as my knees aren’t great with steep descents!

The entire hike to the top should take around 20 minutes although it could take longer during the summer months. 

If the trails are particularly busy, you may end up waiting a little. The path isn’t very wide, so it can be tricky if you’re going up at the same time as others are coming down.

But remember, hikers going uphill have right of way, so people should let you pass. 

Once you reach the waterfall, it’s time for a lot of photographs! As one of the tallest and most powerful waterfalls in Norway, Månafossen is a very impressive sight. 

It’s quite rocky at the top but we saw a lot of people stopping here for a picnic before heading back down. We stayed up here for a good 15-20 minutes taking photos and admiring the falls. 

Beyond the waterfall

Once we’d taken enough photos of Manafossen, we decided to continue the hike a little bit to the top of the waterfalls. Not many people do this and we saw only a couple of others continuing on this route. Most either head back down or continue to the farm, Mån. 

The top of the waterfall isn’t too hard to reach. I think it took us an extra 15 minutes to get there from Månafossen. We hiked along a rocky path for most of it although we did have to cross a small stream at one point!

The views from the top of the waterfall were also quite impressive. The water swirls around in a huge whirlpool-like pit of water before it plunges out of the rock face. From our view, we could see the pure power of the water. It was captivating. 

Once we’d spent some time at the top, we decided to head back down instead of carrying on to the farm. My parents had turned back after the waterfalls and we didn’t want to leave them for too long. But, it was definitely worth seeing the top of the falls as well.

The hike down is along the same route as the hike up. It’s very steep in sections, so not the easiest on your knees. I recommend knee supports if you struggle with descents. 

But, around 30 minutes later, we were back in the car park.

Facilities on the trail

There are no facilities along the Månafossen trail – it would be impossible to add any facilities because it’s so steep! However, there are some (rather stinky) toilets in the car park.

You’ll also find some rubbish bins here although there are no shops, so I highly recommend bringing a picnic with you. But do NOT leave rubbish in the car park or along the trail.

🍃 Please take everything with you. It’s so important to leave no trace as it keeps these magnificent landscapes looking beautiful and helps to protect wildlife and nature. Leave nothing on the trails, take nothing with you, and stick to the designated trail paths.

The best time to hike Månafossen

The best time to hike Månafossen is during the spring through autumn months between mid-May and October. Outside of these months, the area can be very cold and snow on the trail can make it dangerous as it’s so steep. 

We did this hike in the last week of May and conditions couldn’t have been better. It wasn’t too hot, the trail wasn’t too busy, and the waterfall was still gushing water from the melting snow from winter.

I actually think spring and early summer are the best times for this hike because the waterfall is more impressive. It tends to be less full later in the summer. 

What to bring

As with all hikes in Norway, you’ll need to prepare for all weather. The weather can change at the drop of a hat and go from sun to rain. So, it’s important to bring waterproofs, even during the summer. 

I also suggest knee supports if you struggle with steep descents and sturdy walking shoes with good grip. If you want to eat lunch here, you’ll need to bring a picnic too, as there are no cafes in the car park. 

Who is this hike suitable for?

This hike is suitable for all the family so long as you have an okay level of fitness. It’s a very steep hike, so it’s challenging in sections, but it’s not very long and can be completed in 20 minutes each way. 

My 60-year-old parents managed it and we also saw several children on the trail. So, as long as you’re okay with steep sections and using chains, you should be able to hike Månafossen. 

👉 If you want another hike that’s suitable for all the family, we loved Trollpikken.

Is the Månafossen hike worth it?

100% yes, Manafossen is worth it! This a fantastic hike to do near Stavanger and one of the best hikes in the south. It’s also one of the most impressive waterfalls to visit in Norway.

We had a wonderful time here; the trail was so much fun and the views from the top truly were spectacular. If you’re after a challenging but short hike in southern Norway, and you’re spending longer than a weekend in Stavanger, we cannot recommend Månafossen enough!

👉 Haven’t decided where to stay, yet? Check out our 12 favourite hotels in Stavanger!

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