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Have you heard of the Troll Road in Norway? This incredible road trip route takes you through a winding mountain pass, offering spectacular views of towering peaks, lush valleys, flowing fjords and cascading waterfalls.
Let’s discover all you need to know about the Troll Road in Norway, so you can enjoy your very own trip along this famous winding road in Norway, including where exactly the Trollstigen Mountain Road is, where the route takes you, highlights along the way, and important info you need to know before you set off!
What is Trollstigen Road?
Norway’s Troll Road, known as Trollstigen Road in Norwegian, is a renowned serpentine mountain pass that’s part of Norwegian County Road 63. The Troll Road has a total of eleven hairpin bends and a steep incline of 10%, making it a favorite Norway road trip destination for adventurous travelers.
Opened in 1936 by King Haakon VII following eight years of construction, this narrow, famous winding road in Norway ascends a mountainside, reaching a peak of around 870 meters. As the road became increasingly popular with tourists, several modifications were made between 2005 and 2012 to widen the sharp bends.
Nowadays, around 2,500 vehicles pass Trollstigen Road daily during the peak tourist season, totalling over 150,000 vehicles per season. Along Norway’s Troll Road, you’ll find waterfalls, viewing platforms and a Visitor Center (find more info later in the article).
Where is the Troll Road?
Sitting in Møre og Romsdal county, the Troll Road is located in the northernmost part of Western Norway. Trollstigen Mountain Road connects the town of Åndalsnes in Rauma municipality and the village of Valldal in Norddal municipality.
The western area of Trollstigen lies within the Trollstigen landscape protected area, whereas the eastern area of Trollstigen is part of one of Norway’s beautiful national parks, Reinheimen National Park.
Beginning just outside the town of Åndalsnes, Trollstigen winds through the alpine landscape to reach the beautiful village of Geiranger, which sits along Geirangerfjord and is UNESCO World Heritage listed. The entire mountain pass runs for 56 km, but the section of the road that’s known as Trollstigen (which is the part with the eleven hairpin bends) only lasts for around 6 km.
Trollstigen Drive and Highlights
One of the highlights of the Troll Road in Norway is Stigfossen Waterfall, which cascades 320 meters down the mountainside. At a 700-meter plateau along the route, you’ll find a car park and several viewing platforms to enjoy panoramic views of the waterfall and its surrounding mountainous landscape. The largest viewing platform along Trollstigen sits around 200 meters over the winding road.
If you’d like to stop for a bite to eat while enjoying incredible mountain views, you can spend some time at the Visitor Center, where you can find the Trollstigen Kafé, serving a range of local dishes and sweet treats. There are also souvenir shops with local handicrafts, bathrooms, parking spaces and more viewing platforms to enjoy. Also, make sure to look out for the troll road signs along the way!
As you venture beyond the section of the road known as Trollstigen in the direction of Geiranger, there are a few more highlights to look out for. For example, there’s a viewing platform at Gudbrandsjuvet Gorge where you can admire views of the river rushing through the narrow ravine. Nearby, you can find Gudbrandsjuvet café, which is open during the summer season.
Further along the road, you’ll reach Ørnevegen, also known as The Eagle’s Road, which is another winding serpentine road in the mountains, this time offering incredible views of Geirangerfjord. As you approach the biggest bend of Ørnevegen, you’ll see a parking lot and viewing platform with breathtaking views.
Is Trollstigen Worth It?
Yes, it totally is. if you love nature, want to explore some of Norway’s most beautiful landscapes and aren’t afraid of mountain roads, we definitely recommend driving the Trollstigen route during your Norway vacation.
To reward you for your efforts navigating the serpentine Troll Road, you’ll be able to experience breathtaking mountain, waterfall and fjord views.
Important Info: Trollstigen Road Closures
Norway’s Troll Road is closed during the late autumn and winter seasons each year, with the usual opening times for the road being between mid-May to October. However, the opening and closing dates of Trollstigen can vary from year to year depending on weather conditions, so it’s important to check whether Trollstigen is open at the time you plan to visit. The road can also be closed at various times of the year due to necessary construction and maintenance work.
Over the years since it was built, Trollstigen has been closed at various points due to storms, snows, avalanches and landslides, as well as construction and upkeep of the road. These closures have occurred in both summer and winter seasons, so it’s important to check the up-to-date Norway road conditions, regardless of the time you’re visiting Norway.
We also highly recommend taking a look at the local Norway weather forecast before you set off on your road trip to Trollstigen because the weather in Norway is famously changeable, and it’s a good idea to check that conditions are favorable for your journey.
Traverse Trollstigen During Your Very Own Norway Adventure!
Inspired to drive this famous winding road in Norway for yourself? Make your dream Norway vacation a reality by starting to plan your once-in-a-lifetime road trip today. Check out our range of affordable and reliable campervan rentals in Norway, perfect for traveling wherever your heart desires and bringing your home with you as you go.
Traveling by campervan is by far the best way to see Norway, as you can explore our beautiful country’s nature up close, driving by fjords, mountains and forests, before spending the night under the stars – ah, dreamy! Got any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team and we’ll be happy to help. We look forward to welcoming you to Norway soon.
