By Danielle James
Our journey began at the Sweden/Norway border. We were welcomed with the beauty of Elgafossen waterfall. Actually, we had to walk for around 5–10 minutes to see it. It came down cascading in a zig-zag form. I could imagine how it would look after a hard rain. All of the crevices would be gushing with the water in such a force. Water can have such massive power.
As we ventured into Norway, we stopped at Kurefjordens naturreservat (nature reserve). I was blown away by the beauty it held. The birch with its silver bark stood tall with their wide bases. Scattered across the area were Scot’s pines and Norway spruces mixed in the terrain. Since we were traveling in March, the wind had a cold bite. Around this time is Norway’s rainy season, so as we explored, the sky looked ominous with the sun unable to peek through the clouds. Some of the days, the sun could overthrow the clouds and bring warmth to the land as we wandered on many different hikes on our road trip.
Hike up Fladen
Our first hike on the trip was up a rusty old train track. An old timey caboose sat at the bottom of the track, as if welcoming us to begin our climb. It took about two hours to hike up and down, and the view at the top was worthwhile. The sight from the top was filled with mountains and a lake. There was even a notebook safely tucked in a plastic box where people would sign.
Oh so famous, Preikistolen (Pulpit Rock)
All over Norway, they have photos of this picturesque rock protruding from the side of a mountain, so this hike is a famous one. We began our journey up a little late, but it worked out. The trail was nice, and the farther up we went, the more stone took over our path and the greenery became sparse. I was amazed once we saw what lay at the top. The big rock hung over a large lake, and as we enjoyed the view, a sailboat floated by. It looked as though I had gone back in time. On our way back down, the sun began to set and the sky filled with color!
Himakana, aka The Troll Tongue’s Little Sister
Locals have known about it a long time, but just recently, it has been up on all the hikers’ radars. When we did this hike, dew was on the ground, and rain would sporadically sprinkle. Many trails were connected, so our hike lasted twice as long, but we eventually found the right way. For part of it, we had to walk through farmer’s fields with sheep and goats.
Bondhusdalen (The Farmer House Valley)
Once we made it to this place, it felt like we just walked into a fairytale. The whole hike was a breathtaking scene with its bright teal water and tree-covered mountains. This land is owned by farmers, and they have it open to the public, as long as you’re respectful. They let their sheep and goats roam on the property. We decided to even climb one of the mountains for a bit and reached the glacier water.
Trolltunga (The Troll Tongue) Hike
We found out that this trail is considered an extreme hike because it takes around 8 hours to hike there and back down. Plus, parts of it get a bit steep, so that can deter some people. When we went, the main road to the higher parking area was closed due to weather, so we needed to go up a curvy road about a mile or two before we were even at the beginning of the trail. Everything in my view was incredible as we walked. Once we accomplished the hike, the Troll Tongue waited for us. Around 30 people were up there, but in the summer, there’s a huge line to get your picture on the Troll Tongue.
Our two-week road trip in Norway was amazing, and I plan on having a few more trips there in the future. There’s just so much to see there, and nature’s my favorite! If you love hikes and the wilderness, then Norway is definitely one to see!
Dani is from the U.S. Midwest and now lives in Sweden. Her passion is for traveling and writing. Her outgoing look at life helps others enjoy the places she travels to. She has a quirky way of telling her tales and has a travel blog at misfitwanders.com.
