Trolltunga (Norwegian for “the troll tongue”) is a rock formation that juts horizontally out of a mountainside about 700 metres above the lake Ringedalsvatnet, at 1,126 metres above sea level in Ullensvang Municipality, Vestland county, Norway. Reaching it is a long, demanding day hike, and its rise from a few hundred visitors a year to tens of thousands brought a matching rise in rescues.
Safety First
- A fatal fall has happened. On 5 September 2015 a 24-year-old Australian woman fell to her death off Trolltunga; Wikipedia says it is believed to be the first recorded death from a fall there. The Local reported that she was having her photo taken with a university group when she slipped. There is no railing at the edge.
- Most rescues are not about the cliff. Wikipedia notes that rescues happen mainly because of the demanding hike back: people get lost in fog, get injured, or lack the endurance.
- Start early. Wikipedia advises starting before 10:00 in summer, and by 8:00 in September, to get back before dark.
- Season: the official site says experienced hikers can go on their own from June 1 to September 30; for the rest of the year it recommends a guided hike.
Visitors vs Rescues by Year
| Year | Visitors | Rescues | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | about 500 | — | The Local, Jun 2017 |
| 2010 | about 800 | — | The Local, Oct 2017 |
| 2013 | around 20,000 | — | The Local, Aug 2016 |
| 2014 | 40,000 | — | The Local, Jun 2017 |
| 2016 | more than an estimated 80,000 | 40 (Red Cross, via NRK); 42 (Trolltunga AS) | Wikipedia; The Local, Oct 2017; Trolltunga AS |
| 2017 | 81,655 by October 20 (up 19% on 2016) | 21 by October 20 | The Local, Oct 2017 |
Notes on the data: figures for each year come from the source named in that row and were reported, not audited. The 2016 rescue count differs slightly between the Red Cross (40) and the site operator (42). In late August 2016, The Local reported that emergency services had been called to Trolltunga ten times in nine days, and that the Red Cross was so stretched it told one hiking couple to make their own way down.
What Changed After 2016
- 2016: Trolltunga AS says two emergency shelters were built on the trail.
- 2017: a mountain patrol system was introduced. The Local reported in October 2017 that the drop in rescues was partly due to 24-hour monitoring on the trail introduced that summer.
- 2023: a third emergency shelter opened near Trolltunga. The three shelters are at Floren, Endåen and Tyssehøl.
Wikipedia also notes that the number of rescue missions decreased drastically after mountain guards were added at Skjeggedal.
The Hike as of 2026
| Start | Round trip | Time | Parking (same day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 Tyssedal | 38 km | about 15 hours | NOK 330, 227 spaces |
| P2 Skjeggedal | 27 km | 8–12 hours | NOK 550, 229 spaces |
| P3 Mågelitopp | 20 km | 7–10 hours | NOK 600 plus NOK 220 road toll, 30 spaces |
Times and distances are from the official hike page; prices and capacities are from the official parking page, both read in October 2026. P3 is pre-booked parking only from 8 June to 31 August, with pre-booking and drop-in in September. Prices change, so check before you go.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolltunga
- https://www.thelocal.no/20150907/tourist-falls-to-death
- https://www.thelocal.no/20160831/norways-mountain-rescue-services-stretched-too-thin
- https://www.thelocal.no/20170614/norwegian-red-cross-calls-for-security-patrols-at-trolltunga
- https://www.thelocal.no/20171020/norways-troll-tongue-sees-record-year-with-drop-in-rescues
- https://www.trolltunga.com/en/plan-your-hike/the-hike-to-trolltunga
- https://www.trolltunga.com/en/plan-your-hike/mountain-rangers-and-emergency-shelters
- https://www.trolltunga.com/en/parking-and-transport/parking