Trolltunga ("the troll tongue") is a rock formation situated about 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) above sea level in Ullensvang Municipality in Vestland county, Norway.

The cliff juts horizontally out from the mountain, about 700 metres (2,300 ft) above the north side of the lake Ringedalsvatnet.

The increased popularity has turned Trolltunga into a national icon and a major tourist attraction for the region.

The trail to Trolltunga also passes through the bedrock and washed slippery hillsides in the background also containing gneiss.

The trailhead is located by a small parking area with toilet facilities at Skjeggedal, about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from Norwegian National Road 13 in Tyssedalen, near the dam at the end of Ringedalsvatnet.

[5][8] The hike from the parking area to Trolltunga and back again is a 27-kilometre (17 mi) round-trip distance with a 1,100-metre (3,600 ft) gain in elevation, and it takes approximately 10–12 hours, including breaks.

The route to Trolltunga goes through high mountain terrain with creeks, streams, boulders, mud puddles, marshes, and water at several spots on the hike.

Trolltunga is accessible for experienced hikers and guided groups from mid-June to mid-September, depending on when the snow melts in the Spring.

During summer and autumn the weather conditions often change quickly – from blue sky to wind, rain and dense fog.

Due to the long distance, hikers to Trolltunga need to start before 10:00 AM in the summer season[2] to get home before it gets dark and cold.

Thousands of tourists visit Trolltunga during the four summer months, a number which has greatly increased from 500 per year to 80,000 between 2009 and 2016.

The elite climber Magnus Midtbø suspended himself from Trolltunga wearing a safety harness, but a version where the rope was erased has been spread in media.

[14] There are mountain guards that offer guidance to tourists on how to prepare and dress for the hike at Skjeggedal.

Due to heavy use by tourists, the trail to Trolltunga quickly turns to mud after a rain in the summer.