After six years we went to Norway together again – for a week (23–30 June 2023), as guests of Michał and Patrycja in Stavanger. Our first visit was in 2017 to Preikestolen, and I came back once more in 2021 (post about Stavanger). This time the main goal was Trolltunga – and with a night in a tent right next to it. We went to Trolltunga together with Jarek. What else we saw in the area that week (including Dalsnuten) I describe in the post about Stavanger.
Table of contents
- What is Trolltunga
- Getting there and the trail – 30 km and snow in June
- A night in a tent by Trolltunga
- On the Troll’s Tongue just before midnight
- Practical information
What is Trolltunga
Trolltunga (“the troll’s tongue”) is a tongue-shaped rock jutting out over a precipice at about 1100 m above sea level, high above Lake Ringedalsvatnet near the town of Odda. It is one of Norway’s main attractions and calling cards – photos from its edge are spectacular, although of course they look scarier than it really is. It’s also worth walking a little away from the crowd and simply enjoying the view of the lake surrounded by snowy mountains.
Getting there and the trail – 30 km and snow in June
We set off from Stavanger in a rented car at 10:00 in the morning and got back late in the evening the next day. We started the trail from the P2 car park. Right at the start you can see Lake Ringedalsvatnet below.
Most of the elevation gain comes on the shortest section – the climb is steep and with heavy backpacks it really takes it out of you. Higher up, despite it being the end of June, we often had to cross patches of snow. We did, however, get great weather: about 22°C, lots of sun and little wind – the next day it was already about 17°C with quite a bit of rain. The snow was very compacted, so it didn’t melt despite the warmth.
The return route came to about 30 km for us, with about 1200 m of elevation gain in total, so the hike took longer than we had expected. The views along the way make up for the effort, though.
A night in a tent by Trolltunga
By Trolltunga we slept in a tent. Norway is fairly liberal about wild camping (the right of public access to nature – allemannsretten), but it isn’t allowed everywhere – on the way we passed maps showing recommended camping spots. Right by our tents we had views like these:
The night was very cold, but during the day it was warm and sunny – up to 22 degrees. We were extremely lucky that the only really sunny days of the trip fell on exactly these two days of demanding hiking. A split light also appeared in the sky – a sun dog.
On the Troll’s Tongue just before midnight
We reached Trolltunga itself shortly before midnight. Thanks to that we could take photos on the rock tongue without a long wait in the queue, which can be very long during the day. At the end of June it is still light at that hour, and the sky above the mountains turns pink and orange.
The next day we went back the same way – in full sun, with views of the rocky plateau and snow-capped peaks.
Practical information
- Getting there: we drove from Stavanger in a rented car; we started the trail from the P2 car park.
- The trail: for us the return trip came to about 30 km and about 1200 m of elevation gain – be prepared for a long day or, like us, for a night on the way.
- Snow: at the end of June there were still patches of snow on the plateau and some lakes were partly frozen – hiking boots will come in handy.
- Camping: wild camping is generally allowed in Norway, but along the trail there are places where you can’t pitch a tent – stick to the spots marked on the maps. Nights in the mountains are very cold, even in summer.
- The photo queue: late in the evening it’s much quieter at Trolltunga than during the day.
