Trollpikken

About

Trollpikken is a phenomenon created by the ice during the last ice age which ended about 10,000 years ago. The formation is located in a beautiful cultural landscape and the rock in the area is called anorthosite. Anorthosite is a deep rock species formed by magma (melted stone) deep below a huge mountain range approximately 1 billion years ago. Long before we knew that anorthosite is the same rock species as the one on the surface of the moon, the area here was called a landscape of the moon because it had sparse vegetation and was little fertile. The area is characterised by the fact that it was formed by moving ice and you can find several marks showing the progress of it. Some distinctive marks are rock blocks that have been moved around by ice and are now located all over the landscape.

Trollpikken is also one of these moved anorthosite blocks, but it has been moved very little and never came right out of the place; instead, it got stuck, fell out and was left in its position once the ice melted.

Trollpikken has its own website where you can read the fairy tale about the stone.

Directions: From the parking place on fv. 62, follow Kjervallveien up Kjervallbakken 900 meters. On the way up the hill, you can see a lot of boulders. Once you reach the directional sign, take left down to the Opplev Dalane path that comes from Ørsdalen and goes further towards Vannbassengan. Follow the path through the gate and over the hill and take left right after the bridge. Follow the path marked as blue up to Trollpikken. The path passes under the power lines and goes around the pond to the right just before you arrive. Out on the edge you will have a view towards Egersund. When you go up from the pond, Trollpikken will come to your view. Take the same way back. There are grazing animals - make sure you close the gates along the way.