Enormous masses of water dropping 269 metres creating rainbows between towering cliffs and deep forests; a tour upriver the Mollisfossen waterfall is a meeting with sheer beauty.
Deep inside the boreal forests, far from any settlements, you find a place of sublime beauty, the waterfall of Mollisfossen, or Mollešgorži in Sami. The Mollešjohka river tumbles 269 metres, 140 of them in a vertical drop, from the endless mountain plains into the deep, forested, canyon-like valley of Reisadalen. The dark vertical rocks are shrouded in the mist from the waterfall, creating rainbows in the sunshine. The name Mollešgorži means “the roaring one” – and visitors are both muted by the thundering cascades and struck speechless by the breathtaking sight.
The riverboat ride takes you into the wild
From the innermost hamlets in the forested Reisadalen valley, you go by a long, slender, and yet sturdy riverboat upriver. No sign of civilisation is seen, instead pine trees with crooked, twisted shapes create an air of mystery, in contrast to the dense stands of tall, elegant aspens. Eagle nests, waterfowl and ripples from rising trout, there is always much to look at. The river is mostly calm, but there are rapids on the way that the experienced river guides tackle with expertise. As you go up, the dramatic, dark cliff sides come closer and closer to the river. And in less than an hour you see the waterfalls from a distance. Yet, nothing prepares you for the views you get after a few minutes’ walk from the riverbank to the waterfall.
The waterfall is at the gate to the national park
The Reisa Nasjonalpark – Reisa National Park – is a vast wilderness of pine and birch forests, of mighty mountains and endless plains. It is named after the Reisaelva – the Reisa River – one of Norway’s major salmon rivers, cutting a deep canyon into the landscape. Some points, like the old rock carcvings at Sieimma (dated to early metal age, around 1800 BC) are relatively easy to reach by riverboat. Much further into the park you will also find the Imofossen waterfall. To get there you have to walk for a couple of hours, but it's definitely worth the hike.
How do you see the Mollisfossen waterfall?
A couple of companies offer river boat tours from the uppermost settlements of Saraelv and Bilto in the Reisadalen Valley. A boat ride to Mollisfossen takes about 1 hour each way, and is easy to do, as there is little walking involved, meaning families and many seniors and mobility-impaired can do the tour.
In dry years, the water level in the Reisa River might be too low for the boat, and the tours can get cancelled. And unusually strong snow melting in June might also cause cancellations, due to the water level being too high.
Riverboat safaris must be ordered in advance.
