Norway…the land of fjords, Vikings, epic hiking trails, the midnight sun, and those glorious Northern Lights. Visit charming coastal cities, cruise the fjords, and put one foot in front of another on some of the best hiking trails in the world. Here are 8 amazing experiences to have in Norway.

In our opinion, there is no better way to experience Norway than from a hiking trail. Ranging from easy, family-friendly hikes to full day hikes, there is something here for everyone.

In southern Norway, hike to iconic Pulpit Rock, test your nerve and stand on top of Kjeragbolten, and pose for photos on Trolltunga. Up north, go hiking in the Lofoten Islands and hike Reinebringen, Munken, Ryten, and more. Or, go off-the-beaten path and hike on Senja and the Vesteralen Islands.

Road Trip through Norway

Driving through Norway is different than many other countries. Here, you drive on narrow, two-lane roads and cruise across fjords on car ferries. It seems like there is another gorgeous view around every bend.

Norway really keeps things interesting by throwing in some amazing short stretches of road. Here are some great spots to add to your Norwegian road trip.

Laerdalstunnelen. This is the world’s longest tunnel at 24.5 km (15.2 miles) in length. There are even roundabouts inside of the tunnel.

The Atlantic Road.  Touted as one of the most beautiful road trips in the world, this short but incredibly scenic drive takes you over eight bridges that connect a series of islands near the Atlantic coast.

Trollstigen. Also called the Troll’s Ladder, this winding road is one of the most photographed roads in Norway.

Aurlandsvegen Snow Road. This high mountain road is only open during the summer months. It closes in winter because it receives an enormous amount of snow. Come here early in the summer to see the walls of snow lining the sides of the road.

Stalheimskleiva.  Located near Gudvangen, this is one of the steepest roads in Europe, featuring tight, hairpin turns and beautiful views of Naeroyfjord.

Lysevegen Road.  Located just outside of Lysebotn, this very steep road features 27 hairpin turns and an average gradient of 9.4%.

Enjoy the View over some of the Most Beautiful Towns in Norway

Norway is dotted with picturesque coastal towns that are a joy to wander and explore. To make your visit even better, you can hike, walk, or ride a cable car to a viewpoint that offers stunning views over several of these towns.

In Bergen, take the Floibanen funicular for one of the best views of the city. In the Lofoten Islands, look out over Reine from the top of Reinebringen and peer down at Svolvaer from Svolvaer Floya. Alesund is a picture-perfect town and it’s just a short walk up to a gorgeous viewpoint. And one of the best things to do in Tromso is to ride the Fjellheisen cable car for panoramic views of the city.

Count how many trolls you can find

Norwegians are fascinated with trolls. You can find these mythical creatures everywhere…on the roadside, on street signs, in souvenir shops, and on city streets. They are fun to take photos with, especially if you are traveling with kids.

Cruise or Kayak the Fjords

The fjords are what make Norway so uniquely beautiful. A fjord is a U-shaped valley that was formed by a glacier and is now filled with water. If you are road tripping through Norway, most likely you cross several fjords on car ferries.

If you go on the Norway in a Nutshell tour, you will cruise Naeroyfjord, one of the narrowest and most scenic fjords in Norway.

Geirangerfjord is a UNESCO-protected fjord and another spectacular place to visit in Norway. Rent kayaks in the town of Geiranger, explore the fjord, and if you are lucky, you might even get up close with a dolphin!

Explore the Fishing Villages in the Lofoten Islands

Scattered across the Lofoten Islands are charming fishing villages. In these small coastal towns, red and white fishing cabins line the rocky shore, creating the iconic village scenes of the Lofoten Islands.

Some of the most popular fishing villages to visit in the Lofoten Islands are Reine and Nusfjord.

Visitors to the Lofoten Islands have the option to stay in a fishing cabin. Called a “rorbu,” these cabins have been refurbished into small, cozy apartments and they are one of the most unique accommodations in Norway.

Go on an Arctic Adventure in Svalbard

Journey north to Svalbard, an island where there are more polar bears than people. Offering activities year round, you can see the northern lights and the midnight sun, kayak in front of a glacier, go snowmobiling and dog sledding, hike to the top of a mountain peak, and go on multi-day arctic expeditions. Search for arctic wildlife like walrus, polar bears, and reindeer, explore the tiny town of Longyearbyen, and tour Pyramiden, an arctic ghost town.

Go Rock Climbing

When you think of Norway, rock climbing may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But one of our best experiences in Norway was climbing Svolvaergeita in the Lofoten Islands.

Located near the town of Svolvaer, this pinnacle of rock, also called “The Goat,” is a popular rock climbing destination. From the top of the rock, you get a spectacular view across the islands, and if you are a little bit crazy, you can jump from one horn to the other. Do you dare?

How to do this: If you are an experienced rock climber and have your own gear, you can do this on your own. Otherwise, consider hiring a guide. We used Northern Alpine Guides and had a fantastic experience. If you are new to rock climbing and have a good sense of adventure and a good head for heights, you can climb Svolvaergeita.

About the Earth Trekkers

Julie, Tim, Tyler, and Kara share a passion for travel, adventure, and living life to the fullest. In 2014 and 2015 they spent 13 months traveling around the world. Even though they now own a home and the kids are in school, they still manage to fill their lives with travel and adventure. Their mission, through their website Earth Trekkers, is to inspire others to go outside of their comfort zones and realize their dreams of faraway places.

Do you have a place that you keep going back to, again and again? For us, it’s the Hawaiian Islands. Over the last five years we’ve take four separate trips, visiting Maui, Kauai, and Oahu. Of these, Kauai is our favorite. It’s small, but diverse, and has some of the best hiking, swimming and snorkeling we’ve ever experienced. 

We planned a trip back to Kauai this summer with the hopes of hiking the Kalalau trail, the 22-mile roundtrip trail along the stunning cliffs of the Na Pali Coast. Unfortunately, these dreams were quashed when Kauai experienced intense rain and massive flooding in April of this year, resulting in most of Kauai’s north shore being shut down.

The Kalalau trail has been indefinitely closed since April, so instead of doing one long hike, we opted to do a lot of short hikes in Kauai. Kauai feels like hiking heaven, where there is often a huge reward for not much effort. Even on these short and easy hikes, we enjoyed epic views, amazing waterfalls and fun swimming holes. These 6 amazing short hikes to do in Kauai are all kid-friendly and a great way to experience some of the best parts of the Emerald Island!

1. Queen’s Bath 

It’s kind of a stretch to call the trail down to Queen’s Bath an official hike because it’s so short, but it can be pretty tricky to get down when it’s muddy. If it’s been raining at all (which it does pretty often, hence Kauai’s nickname of Emerald Island), then expect the red dirt path from the parking spots in a Princeville neighborhood down to the rocky shoreline to be almost like a slip n’ slide.  

Queen’s Bath is like a natural seaside swimming pool, protected from the rough seas by the large lava rocks. The pool is deep enough for jumping in, and there’s actually quite a few fish, so bring some goggles!  

A word of caution – do not swim if the waves are too high and there is a risk of being swept out to sea. While this place is often safe to swim and the water inside this large tide pool is calm, it’s a different story if it is stormy or high surf (usually in winter). 

Map to parking area

2. Kuilau Ridge Trail 

The Kuilau Ridge trail was originally a fire road, so it’s a wide, well-maintained trail that follows a gentle incline. We had to scramble over a large, fallen tree a few minutes in, and it can be very muddy in spots (you’ll see start seeing this mud is a bit of a theme – just be prepared for a lot of mud), but other than these few obstacles it is a fairly easy trail. It’s two miles out-and-back through wild, green jungle and ends with a view of the Makaleha mountains.  

Right before the end of the trail, there’s an open area with a few picnic tables. It’s a great place to bring a packed lunch and let those kids with crazy amounts of energy run around. We hiked a few minutes past this area out onto the ridge, where the roots beneath our feet were so thick it felt like we were walking on a springboard.  

Map to parking area

3. Waipo’o Falls Trail 

Get ready to cue the Jurassic Park theme music, because this is a 3.2 mile out-and-back hike to Jurassic Falls. Technically it’s called Waipo’o Falls, but you’ll probably recognize this narrow 800-foot cascade while you’re cruising through Waimea Canyon.  

Stop at one of the lookouts to see the waterfall before you reach the parking lot, because this trail actually ends at the top of the waterfalls, which means you don’t really get to see it up close. The scenery along this easy hike is still amazing with lookouts over the massive and beautiful Waimea Canyon, dubbed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. 

Map to parking area 

4. Ho’opi’i Falls Trail 

The Ho’oip’i Falls trail leads you to not one, but two waterfalls. This trail is mostly flat since it follows the river. It’s shaded with massive trees, vines and ferns, which also means there are a lot of mosquitos (pack some repellant!). 

This was my favorite hike of the bunch since there was cliff jumping at the first waterfall and a large rope swing landing in to a lagoon after the second waterfall. The river is deep but narrow at the first spot, and people were doing all kinds of back flips and crazy jumps into the water.

The waterfall at the end of the trail flows into a large pool that’s shallow on the edges, so you do have to work around a few rocks when swinging off the rope swing. While the trail is short (only about two miles round trip), you could spend all day here jumping, swinging and swimming! 

Map to parking area

5. Maha’ulepu Heritage Coastal Trail 

The Maha’ulepu Heritage Coastal Trail starts at Shipwrecks Beach in Poipu, a popular spot on the south side of the island for surfing and body surfing. After crossing the beach, climb off the sand and onto ancient dunes that have hardened into limestone cliffs over millions of years.

Right after you hike up off the beach, the first ledge is a cliff jumping spot for a serious daredevil (it’s a pretty high jump). It’s also a great place to watch the sunset at the end of the hike if you don’t feel like living on the wild side. This trail follows the water’s edge for about two miles until ending at the Makauwahi caves.

Fossils, petroglyphs, and carved drawings have been found in these limestone cliffs, and you may even spot an endangered monk seal or a whale during the winter. 

Map to parking area 

6. Kalalau Trail – First two miles 

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, the Kalalau trail along Kauai’s Na Pali Coast is currently closed as they are still rebuilding infrastructure and repaving roads after the flooding in April. Make sure to check the current status of the Kalalau Trail. 

Once the Kalalau trail is reopened, I would put hiking the first part of this trail at the top of your list of things to do in Kauai. While full 22-mile roundtrip hike requires a bit of prep (including a hard-to-get permit and camping overnight), the first two miles is doable and totally worth it. It starts at Kee Beach and ends at Hanakapiaai Beach.

This portion of the trail goes about 500 feet up into the side of the mountains with views of the bright blue waters below and the incredible cliffs and mountains of the Na Pali coast. After winding down some switch backs and crossing the Hanakapiai stream, you’ll reach Hanakapiai Beach. During the summer, this is usually a large sandy beach where you can relax. However, there are strong rip currents, so it is not considered safe to swim. During the winter, most of the beach is washed away from strong waves.  

For other ways to experience this epic stretch of coastline, check out this post with 7 ways to explore Kauai’s Na Pali Coast. Or if you want to island hop to another Hawaiian island, we would suggest spending a few days taking in lots of outdoor adventures on Maui!

Map to parking area 

About Kelly Barcus from No Man Before  

Kelly, Aaron and Hudson are three adventurous travelers in search of paths less wandered. They moved from Los Angeles to Cambridge, England shortly after their son Hudson was born, and took full advantage of their new home base to discover Europe.  You’ll usually find them hitting the trails, hopping in for a swim, or in search of the best bakery in town. In 2017, they moved back to California and continue to explore both at home and abroad, sharing their travels on the blog No Man Before and Instagram.

Summer in Lake Tahoe is just dreamy. Picture the most crystal clear, sparkling waters in every shade of blue you can imagine lined with tall pine trees, rocky shoreline and sandy beaches, and you will find yourself at one of the prettiest alpine lakes you ever did see.

Lake Tahoe is not only world-renown for its striking blue waters, but it is a top adventure destination of choice for families in all seasons, especially in the Winter and Summer. For those preferring the warmer months, Summer is definitely the time to enjoy a plethora of outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, water sports, and mountain biking.

If you only have a few days in Lake Tahoe, we’ve got you covered with some of the best summer outdoor activities in Lake Tahoe for kids, most of which are FREE.

If you get to Sand Harbor State Park early in the morning you’ll be rewarded with calm water and no one around!

Camping and Lodging

If you plan to camp, some of our favorite spots to camp around Lake Tahoe (most of which are located in the South Lake area) include:

• Bayview Campground
• Nevada Beach Campground
• Camp Richardson Campground
• DL Bliss State Park
• Lake Forest Campground

If you aren’t much of a camper and are looking for affordable yet comfortable lodging, these are are some great choices around Lake Tahoe:

• Holly’s Place (located in South Lake)
• Hotel Azure (located in South Lake)
• Basecamp Tahoe (located in Tahoe City)
• Postmarc Hotel and Spa (located in South Lake)
• North Lake Lodge and Villas (located in Incline Village)

Hiking

The perks of hiking around Lake Tahoe–the stellar views.

There are endless hiking trails around Lake Tahoe, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few of the best hikes to do with kids that also offer some of the best views of Lake Tahoe too!

DL Bliss State Park, situated next to the stunning Emerald Bay State Park has some of our favorite hiking trails along the entire lake. The great thing about the trails here are that most don’t have much elevation change, making them perfect for little legs that tire easily. There are options that are 1 mile loops up to 13 miles round trip, or you can choose to do just part of a trail and turn around whenever you’d like.

We especially love hiking the Rubicon trail from Rubicon Point to Emerald Point (about 7 miles round trip) which is mostly flat. The trail to Vikingsholm Castle in Emerald Bay (2 miles round trip) is also great and if you are up to it, you can even combine these two trails. *Tip: Parking at DL Bliss State Park is generally less crowded than parking at Emerald Bay.

The views along the Rubicon trail in DL Bliss State Park are hard to beat!

The Eagle Falls and Eagle Lake trail is a short 2 mile round trip accessed from Emerald Bay is a very popular trail in the Summer, so get there early. The trail up to Eagle Lake is only one mile up, but the first part of the trail is steep and rocky. However, about halfway up, you will get some stunning views of Emerald Bay. Eagle Lake itself is really beautiful and this trail will give you access to additional hiking in the Desolation Wilderness.

On the north side of the lake are two of our favorite hikes that often get overlooked, but are equally gorgeous and not to be missed! We love the Flume trail to Monkey Rock, which might have some of the most undisputed views of the entire lake. The entire trail from start to finish is less than 4 miles–perfect for kids.

Looking towards Incline Village from the top of Monkey Rock along the Flume trail

Park by the Tunnel Creek Café, located on the East end of Incline Village. Walk behind the cafe and follow the paved road that goes up a short hill and then heads South along the lake. The paved road ends in a few hundred yards at a forest service gate and from there you will be on a trail that will be flat for a bit. After a mile or so, you will come to the new post and another Forest Service gate.

Walk around it and after a few hundred yards, you will spot a narrow trail on the left that goes up a steep, short hill. At the top of the hill, go to the left and up to some rocks and you will stumble upon Monkey Rock. You can’t miss this famous rock, which resembles a very distinct profile of a monkey, or more like a gorilla. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy these spectacular views before heading down.

Monkey Rock resembles more of a gorilla, but it’s hard to miss!

We also love this short, relatively easy hike to the Stateline Fire Lookout (just under 2 miles round trip), situated near Crystal Bay and right on the CA and NV border. To get there, take the Reservoir Road near Crystal Bay (located just east of the Tahoe Biltmore), and park near the Forest Service gate.

This trail follows a gravel road going all the way to the top. Once at the top, you’ll enjoy a dirt interpretive walking loop with benches to sit on and panoramic views of Lake Tahoe. Go here at the end of the day so you can watch the sun set over Kings Beach!

The Statefire Lookout trail borders both the California and the Nevada side.

Paddleboarding

If you have a day to spend at Sand Harbor State Park near Incline Village in NV, you will not be disappointed. Home of the crystal clear waters and rocky boulders doting the shoreline made famous in photographs, along with secluded coves of sandy beaches, this area is one of our all-time favorite places to spend a day (or two) in Lake Tahoe.

Our biggest tip is to get here early (close to 8AM), especially if you come on a weekend. Parking at the state park requires a small fee, but you will have quick access to the beaches, restrooms, cafe, and a rental shop where you can rent kayaks and paddleboards for the day (if you don’t have your own). Getting here early also ensures that you get a prime spot to “set up camp” on the beach for the day.

No filter needed paddling along the crystal clear waters of Sand Harbor State Park.

Most people choose the main beach right in front of the parking lot to set up camp, but we prefer some of the other spots found in Sand Harbor, such as Diver’s Cove and Boat Beach. Both of these beaches are quieter, more protected and more beautiful in our opinion, but you have to get here early since they are smaller and have limited space. You can get a map from the park ranger or the Visitor’s Center.

While playing and relaxing at the beach is great in itself, we recommend getting out on the water on a paddleboard or kayak. It’s the BEST way to see all that Sand Harbor and the surrounding area has to offer. We love paddling around Diver’s Cove (there are rocks to jump off here too) and Boat Beach, but if you are up for a real adventure, we suggest paddling down to Secret Cove from the main beach at Sand Harbor (about 5 miles).

The trip to Secret Cove from Sand Harbor is worth the effort.

Stay relatively close to the shoreline as it can get choppy farther out on the water. The water is so clear here that you can see straight to the bottom from 100 feet down! It’s also fun to weave between the boulders that dot the shore.

Don’t miss Bonsai Rock, which is located about a mile from the main beach (look for a bonsai looking tree sticking out of a rock). There are places you can stop along the way to Secret Cove to park your water vessel on the sandy patches for a picnic and a swim. It makes for an all day activity, but trust us, it’s worth it!

Paddling near Bonsai Rock

Biking

Biking is such a fun family activity and Lake Tahoe has plenty of trails–both paved and dirt. We thought we would highlight a few, some good for kids of all ages and others better suited for older kids with more ability and endurance. In South Lake Tahoe, there are a few easy paved trails such as the Pope to Baldwin Beach bike path, which is flat and only 3.4 miles one way and runs parallel to SR 89.

This popular path passes through historic Camp Richardson Resort and offers several scenic side trips to Pope Beach and Baldwin Beach, the Lake Tahoe Visitor Center and Fallen Leaf Lake. You can rent bikes nearby at Camp Richardson or Anderson’s Bike Rental.

The Lakeside trail near Incline Village is an easy, paved path perfect for families with little ones.

A couple other great paved trails around Lake Tahoe are the Tahoe Trailways bike path in Tahoe City, which offers 15 miles of pathways in 3 different directions and the Lakeshore Drive bike path which is located in Incline Village and only 2.5 miles.

As for mountain biking, the Flume trail and the Tahoe Rim trail are the trails to ride in Lake Tahoe because they offer incredible views, narrow single-track and a full day of adventure! Most people grab a shuttle bus from Tunnel Creek Cafe in the morning to either Spooner Lake and ride the Flume trail or to Tahoe Meadows to ride the Rim trail. Both trails are 12 and 14 miles one way. You can also rent bikes if you don’t have your own.

Mountain biking along the Flume trail in Lake Tahoe.

Other Activities

New to the Lake Tahoe area as of 2018 is the Tahoe Via Ferrata, located at Squaw Valley. A Via Ferrata is a protected climbing and hiking route with a qualified mountain guide. It is a great introduction to rock climbing without the pure vertical nature, technical skill and movement techniques required in traditional rock climbing. This particular Via Ferrata is for kids and adults ages 10 and up and makes for the perfect adventure for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurous people.

The Tahoe Via Ferrata offers something fun for everyone! Photo courtesy of Tahoe Via Ferrata.

If you’re looking for another adrenaline packed adventure in Lake Tahoe, zip lining is another awesome family activity for kids of almost every age. Tahoe TreeTop Adventures offers both zip line and aerial park tours and 3 different locations around Tahoe. In South Lake Tahoe at Heavenly Ski Resort is the Blue Streak Zip Line, which is 2 parallel zip lines that run over 3,000 feet down the mountain!

The iconic Emerald Bay.

Whether you have 3 days or a full week in Lake Tahoe over the Summer, you can pack a lot of fun in with many of these outdoor activities and adventures.