In June 2019, Ben and I spent two weeks in Norway. At that point, we were barely hikers. But when we started researching things to do, we quickly realized that Norway’s biggest flex is its mind-blowing nature and epic hikes. So, we did what any totally unprepared people would do—we planned our entire trip around hiking.

And what better way to kick off our trip than with Kjeragbolten — a casual (lol) little trek that involves standing on a boulder 3,228 feet above a fjord? Seemed reasonable.

We woke up early, drove 3.5 hours from Stavanger, and let me tell you—the drive alone was unreal. I knew from that moment I was going to fall head over heels for Norway.

Quick Overview:

Why do this hike? To stand on a massive boulder wedged between two cliffs, suspended over 984 meters (3,228 feet) of nothingness.
Distance: 5.8 - 6.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,912 - 2,600 ft
Duration: 6 - 10 hours
Difficulty: Hard (obviously)

Now, there are plenty of in-depth blogs about this hike that cover all the logistics—how to get there, where to park, etc. And honestly, I did this hike five years ago, so some of the finer details are a little fuzzy. But what I can tell you about is what it felt like—because I will never forget that.

What It’s Like to Hike to Kjeragbolten

It’s completely normal to voluntarily hike for miles across rocky terrain, scaling steep inclines under zero shade, just to stand on a boulder lodged between two cliffs thousands of feet above the ground. Totally normal. Right?! RIGHT?!

I sometimes don’t know what gets into me. I am, at heart, a huge scaredy cat. But every once in a while, I get just brave enough (or stupid enough) to try something terrifying.

Some people walked onto the boulder like it was nothing—casually striking yoga poses and even doing handstands (??!!). Others took a slightly more cautious approach. Me? I was shaking like a leaf.

In theory, it’s not that scary. No one has died doing it. The walkway onto the boulder is wide enough, and the rock itself is pretty solid. But when you’re standing alone on a floating rock above a fjord, your brain starts playing tricks on you. Suddenly, walking feels like a skill you might forget at any moment.

When it was my turn, I handed my phone to a kind stranger to snap a photo. She, however, was in absolutely no rush. While she tried to wave some random guy out of my shot, I was screaming, “I DO NOT CARE IF THE JOLLY GREEN GIANT PHOTO BOMBS ME, JUST TAKE THE PICTURE!!”

As soon as she got a few photos, I was out of there. But... turns out, I actually did forget how to walk. Instead of confidently stepping off the boulder, I crawled my way back to safety (zero stars, do not recommend).

Was It Worth It?

Absolutely.

After we both safely stood on Kjeragbolten, we felt invincible. It was one of those moments where you realize:

✔️ You can do things you never thought you could.
✔️ The best adventures happen when you push past your fear.
✔️ Experiencing something incredible with your person makes it even better.

I will never forget this day. It was the perfect start to an unforgettable trip.

Would I do it again? Absolutely not. My palms are still sweating just thinking about it.

More Info

If you’re planning to do this hike, I’ll link to some detailed guides at the end of this post so you can get all the practical info you need. But if you’re just here for the thrill of it, know this: Kjeragbolten is one of the most insane, exhilarating, and slightly terrifying hikes out there. And if I could do it—you can too. *** don’t let my sarcasm and scaredy cat tendencies scare you away, there are a lot of people do this hike. Just hike prepared and you’ll have an amazing time!

Would you stand on Kjeragbolten? Or would you just watch from the sidelines? Let me know!