The structure was completed in 2006 as part of a national initiative to enhance the tourist experience along Norway's most iconic roads.
The platform extends 30 meters out from the mountainside to provide a view without the need for visual barriers.
The pine-wood materials were chosen to blend the structure into the natural environment of the fjord cliff.
The road leading to the platform, Aurlandsfjellet, is officially designated as a Norwegian Scenic Route.
The structure was designed to be reversible, allowing it to be removed without leaving permanent scars on the mountain rock.
Stegastein is a 30-meter-long cantilevered viewing platform extending 650 meters above the Aurlandsfjord. Designed by architects Todd Saunders and Tommie Wilhelmsen, the structure is part of the Norwegian Scenic Routes project. The platform is constructed primarily of laminated timber and steel. It offers an unobstructed panoramic view of the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord landscape and surrounding mountains. The design terminates in a glass pane, creating the illusion of walking directly over the steep valley drop. The facility is located along the mountain road connecting Aurland to Lærdal.
The very tip of the cantilevered platform, where the glass wall allows for a direct downward view of the fjord.
Arrive early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the peak crowds caused by cruise ship passengers.
Dress in layers regardless of the season, as the elevation and wind exposure make the temperature significantly colder than at the fjord level.
Bring binoculars to spot the small farms and ferry traffic on the water below.
Do not attempt to walk up the narrow, winding mountain road from Aurland village, as it lacks pedestrian paths and has high vehicular traffic.
The road leading to the viewpoint is subject to winter closures due to snow; access is typically open from late spring through autumn.
