A Complete Guide to the Trollpikken Hike in Norway

Are you planning on doing the Trollpikken hike in Norway? We really enjoyed this hike during our time in Stavanger and here’s everything you need to know.

We did this trip during a trip to Stavanger in southern Norway and it was one of the easiest hikes we did during our time there. But, just because it wasn’t hiking up a huge mountain doesn’t mean it wasn’t enjoyable. 

The flatter terrain was actually a relaxing break and we had a great time ambling through the countryside admiring the magnificent landscapes. 

As well as being one of the flatter hikes we did, it was also one of the quietest and we saw very few other tourists here. We saw plenty of sheep though!

So, if you’re after a less challenging and unique hike in south Norway, here’s everything you need to know to reach Trollpikken. 

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How to get to the Trollpikken Hike

Trollpikken is in Magma Geopark, a beautiful area located south of Stavanger. The easiest way to get there is by hiring a car and driving yourself and, like many of the drives in Norway, it’s pretty scenic. 

The journey takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes and you’ll pass through some very impressive landscapes on the way. You’ll go past lakes, little villages, and past forests and mountains. 

It’s not quite as impressive as the drive to the Kjerag hike, but it’s still very beautiful. 

Parking

The car park is next to a lake and the views across the water are very pretty. Parking is chargeable and costs 100 NOK per car. This works out at around £7.15 or $9.40. 

There aren’t any facilities at the car park, so you’ll need to prepare to be out in nature for several hours without access to a toilet. I recommend going off before you leave Stavanger and bringing toilet roll with you. You’ll also need to bring a packed lunch.

Public Transport

Getting to Trollpikken from Stavanger via public transport is possible, but it’s more complicated than driving. 

You’ll need to take the bus from Stavanger bus Station to Egersund, which is around an hour’s journey. From there, walk to Sjukehusveien, then get another 10-minute bus to Sletteid. Then, it’s just a 5-minute walk to the trailhead.

If you opt for this method, I highly recommend making a note of the bus departure times back to Stavanger. You don’t want to end up stranded and taxis aren’t cheap in Norway!

Hiking Trollpikken: What to expect

Once you’ve arrived at the trailhead, grab your hiking bag and your packed lunch, and hit the trail. There are several different ways to reach Trollpikken. The Geopark is huge and there are loads of different trails interlinking with each other. 

However, I’m going to show you the route we took which was an out-and-back hike.

The stats

Trollpikken is an out-and-back hike which begins at the Trollpikken Parking. It’s around a 1-hour and 20-minute drive from Stavanger.

I’ve included some of the statistics above, along with a photo of the route below.

The hike

The hike begins along the road. Once you leave the car pack, you have to walk about 5 minutes down the side of the main road to reach the trailhead. 

Then, turn right onto the trail and it begins with a steady uphill climb. It’s not a challenging hill though and you may even pass a few locals (sheep) on your way. 

At the end of the hill, you’ll find a river with a small waterfall and a bridge that you’ll need to cross. This was really pretty and we stopped here for a while to take some photos.

After this point, is where it gets really interesting. The landscape here is insane. It’s all rocky with marshland, and boggy sections, along with lakes and rivers dotted around.

It’s a very unique part of Norway, and you’ll start to see the true extent of the landscape as you continue along the trail. 

Reaching Trollpikken

Walk through this valley, and then you’ll see Trollpikken in front of you!

You can admire the rock formation from underneath and then climb up the boulder to the right to view it from above. From underneath, you can see where it has been fixed from when vandals broke it back in 2017.

From the top, the views are magnificent. They stretch for miles over the Geopark and you can see the true extent of the landscape from above. It’s so unique and beautiful. 

Once you’ve spent some time admiring Trollpikken, you have two options. You can either turn the hike into a loop and circle back around or turn back the way you came and head back to the car park. 

We ended up doing a loop around the lake nearby before heading back to grab some lunch.

Facilities on the trail

As mentioned, there are absolutely no facilities on this trail or in the whole of the Geopark. The area is protected and very very open, so it’s so important to practise ‘leave no trace’ and protect the environment.

This includes taking all rubbish with you – including toilet paper if you need to go in nature – and sticking to the designated trail paths, so as not to disturb the wildlife.

🍃 Please take everything with you. It’s so important to leave no trace as it keeps these magnificent landscapes looking beautiful and helps to protect wildlife and nature. Leave nothing on the trails, take nothing with you, and stick to the designated trail paths.

The best time to hike Trollpikken

We did this hike in late May and the conditions were perfect. We had blue skies all day, the weather was pleasant, and the trail wasn’t crowded at all. In fact, we barely saw anyone else on the entire hike. 

Because of the nature of this hike, it can be done all year round. It’s not technical and doesn’t involve any climbing, so, if you decide to visit Stavanger in winter, this is a great one to add to your list. Plus, the surroundings look really cool covered in snow. 

You can also visit in the springtime, however, be careful. Because of the snow melting, the paths can get really muddy in early spring and in November when it starts to get rainier. And this mud can get very slippery. 

In my opinion, the best time to hike Trollpikken is between May and October when the weather is more reliable and the surroundings are green.

What to wear on the Trollpikken hike

As with any hike in Norway, layers are essential. You’ll need to prepare for the weather to change in an instant and also for the wind to pick up. Trollpikken is a very open landscape, so you really need to wrap up warm, especially if it’s windy or rainy. 

I recommend a pair of sturdy, waterproof walking boots as parts of the trail can get boggy underfoot. A hiking bag with a water bladder is also going to come in very handy and a packed lunch. 

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