We discovered a well-maintained log flume that spans over 4 kilometers in Southern Norway. Naturally, we had to explore it, so we brought along our hammocks and some chocolate for the adventure!
Given the log flume’s length and the presence of a decommissioned hydroelectric power plant, we decided to spend the night there in our hammocks. You can check out our journey in the video below:
We traveled to Vennesla, near Kristiansand, in the afternoon and began our hike before sunset. The log flume was under maintenance at the time, which made only three out of the four kilometers accessible.
On our first day, we hiked until we found a suitable spot to set up our hammocks, planning to explore the rest in the morning. After covering about half the flume and crossing an impressive suspension bridge (yes, a log flume suspension bridge!), we reached an area near the closed hydroelectric plant. The meltwater had caused the water levels to rise, submerging trees and parts of the path leading to the plant.
However, the night didn’t turn out to be as idyllic as we had hoped. It was peculiar how poorly prepared we were after spending so much time camping. We expected warm weather when we packed in June (yes, we’ve taken a while to share this!). First, the mosquitoes arrived, seemingly excited to see us, and of course, our mosquito repellent was safely back at home. Then came the cold—despite having some warm clothing, the bottoms of our hammocks were freezing. We had known it would be wise to bring sleeping mats but underestimated the need for them. Unfortunately, this led to little sleep and a night that was far from what we had envisioned.
The upside of getting barely two hours of sleep was the chance to rise early and explore in solitude. Around four in the morning, it was exceptionally quiet, and we even spotted a beaver swimming near the power plant. We tried to move closer for a photo, but it quickly dove and vanished.
Despite the challenging night, things quickly improved. With the sunrise came warmth, and the mosquitoes seemed to retreat to wherever they had come from.
The second suspension bridge was even larger and more impressive than the first, adding to the thrill of crossing it. On the far side, we found a bench and decided to stop for lunch.
Just beyond our lunch spot, the log flume suddenly ended or was closed off, marking the section currently under maintenance. Once completed, this will extend the hike by another kilometer. There was an intriguing low tunnel through the mountain here, which was disappointing not to explore, but it gives us a reason to return. Maintenance is expected to finish by the summer of 2021, and with a bit of luck, we’ll be able to visit the new section this season.
There is a parking area adjacent to the start of the log flume, and the hike is suitable for most people. You can find the starting point on Google Maps here. The parking lot is located just across the bridge next to the river.
