[7] The name "Gautefall" derives from Old Norse and translates to “the river which flows over.”[3] It may have referred to a local waterfall, the 20-metre (66 ft) high Kjerringfossen by Bjorvatnet.

[8] Near the lake Fiskevatnet, traces of ancient civilization dating back to the Iron Age or perhaps as early as Neolithic times, 4000–6000 years ago are visible.

[10][9]: 192–194 [11]: 186 The first cabin to be constructed at Gautefallheia was Reinsvasshytta, which was erected by Amboritius Olsen Lindvig by the year 1900 near Reinsvatn Lake.

In 2003, the artificial pond Nedre Langmyrtjenn was constructed adjacent to the church in order to provide water for the alpine center's snow canons.

[7] Gautefall is a small mountain village located in rural Tørdal in the western portion of Drangedal municipality in Telemark, Norway.

[12]: 158  Kjerringfossen has a 20-metre (66 ft) drop and can be reached by following the old road towards Bostrak (Gamlevegen) from Ski Lodge Gautefall.

This road, which leads to Gautefallgårdene and Gautefall Nature Preserve, traverses Fantemoen and Eikestøa before reaching Bjorvatnet Lake where Kjerringfossen is located.

The waterfall is also accessible by car and located roughly one kilometer northeast of Ski Lodge Gautefall.

[12]: 179 Rytterspranget is located immediately east of the top of the ski slopes at Gautefall Alpine Center.

[9]: 222 Immediately south of the county road (Gautefallvegen) and the ski center is the hilltop and hillside area Bleka.

From Blekavarden there are views as far as to the ocean outside Kragerø and Risør in the south, the mountain Lifjell in the north, and the Vealøs Tower (Vealøstårnet) in Skien in the east.

It is home to a variety of very large oak trees as well as species such as Common hazel, Rowan, and Small-leaved Lime.

It is located near Hellehei Hyttefelt, which is a neighborhood of cabins, in steep terrain roughly 400 metres (1,300 ft) north of county road 358.

These were designated nature preserves on 22 April 1983, and attracts wildlife such as moose, deer, and Black grouse.

They are of big importance for local avifauna and consists of bogland dominated by species such as Bog asphodel and Cross-leaved Heath.

It was established under Bamble prosti in 1997 but was expanded and completed in 2010, and consecrated on 20 June 2010, by bishop Olav Skjevesland.

Sputnik, a Norwegian country music singer from neighboring Bostrak, began his career at the hotel in Gautefall.

It is located midway between Bostrak and Treungen and is visited by thousands every winter including both domestic and international visitors.

It is one of the largest in Telemark with fifteen runs, one roll band, and seven chairlifts and surface lifts with a capacity of 7000 people per hour.

[12]: 141  It has 60 snow canons and is also home to a children's section with conveyor belts and a ski school with instructors speaking English, Swedish, Danish, among other languages.

[12]: 143 Gautefall Biathlon was launched in 2009, and numerous regional and international competitions take place at the center.

Several trailheads can be found by the Gautefall Skicenter, including the trail to Himmelriket (Jørundskarsvåene), which is marked by blue poles from the hotel.

[18] The 3.9-kilometre (2.4 mi) long trail to Himmelriket ("Heavenly Kingdom") takes about one hour and leads to a roche moutonnée rock formation created by a glacier during the last ice age.

[19][9]: 130–136  The trail to Himmelriket traverses vegetationless areas, mountains, pine tree groves, and heath oases before reaching large, smooth, glacial granite slopes.

[20] Additional trails include the 7-kilometre (4.3 mi) long Reinsvassnuten, a peak which offers panoramic views of Heimdalsheia, residential areas, wilderness, and as far as the ocean outside Kragerø.

The trail, which is maintained by the Norwegian Trekking Association, follows birch and pine tree forests and hikers swim and fish at the nearby Reinsvatn Lake.

The hike can be made shorter by accessing the trail from Bleka or Bjønntjønn ("Bear Lake") in neighboring Nissedal.

[9]: 216–219  The trailhead for the peak Nonsåsheivarden (Blekavarden) can be found at Rytterspranget, on top of the ski slope, reaching 678 metres (2,224 ft) above sea level.

[9]: 222–230 Gautefall Event is a company that offers snowmobile safari tours, guided ski trips, horseback riding, mountain hikes, and other recreational activities.

[11]: 205  In Gautefall proper, Jernveien (via ferrata) is a site by Hegneknuten where 165 iron steps have been bolted into the mountainside making a 170-metre (560 ft) climb to the peak.