[1] The steep forest and mountain slopes on both sides of the valley have peaks reaching up to 1,284 metres (4,213 ft) above sea level at Sørbølfjellet in Flå municipality in the furthest southwest part of Vassfaret.

[2] The valley includes several nature conservation areas:[2] Vassfaret is characterized by low alpine coniferous forests, heather, and bogs.

[5] By royal decree on 28 June 1985, the Vassfaret and Vidalen valleys were made into a protected area.

The intention was to preserve the characteristic flora and fauna of eastern Norway, especially as an area for bears, and for the cultural remains from logging and floating.

[6][7][2] At the northern end of the Nevlingen river, there are the remains of a farm called Vassfarplassen, where the farmer owned a gun that was nicknamed Vassfarloven, which means "The Law of Vassfaret".

The saying was that in the middle of river there was a shallow area; you could row to that point, but if you got any closer, then you were within range of "The Law of Vassfaret" and the owner of that rifle was an excellent marksman, so fishermen had to be wary that they did not got too close.