The Trollstigen is one of the most iconic, well-known routes in Norway. This mountain pass twists up eleven hairpins while showing you stunning views of the nature around it.
What is the Trollstigen?
The Trollstigen has been a tourist attraction ever since it opened in 1936. The road goes up (or down, depending on your direction) a mountain fast, giving you amazing views while you drive.
Every bend on the road has its own name, most of them being named after people that worked on the road. And rightfully so, as creating this road on the side of a mountain can’t have been an easy feat.
Where does the Trollstigen start?
The road is part of the Geiranger-Trollstigen Nasjonale Turistveger (The Norwegian Scenic Routes) that runs between Romsdalen and Langvatnet lake in Geiranger. It shows you steep mountains, amazing waterfalls, high fjords and deep valleys. But the Geiranger fjord at the start and the Trollstigen at the end take the crowns at this route.
To start driving up the Trollstigen, you go to Åndalsnes and drive a little south on the 63. You come across Trollstigen Camping, with the famous troll on a motorcycle statue, after which the road starts.
The Trollstigen is surrounded by several mountains: Dronninga (1701m), Storgrovfjellet (1629m), Kongen (1614m), Stigbottshornet (1583m) and Bispen (1450m),
See the whole drive up the Trollstigen in this video:
The Trollstigen viewpoint
When you reach the top of the road, you get to the Trollstigen viewpoint. The largest platform hovers 200 meters above the road. This gives you an amazing view of the road you just drove and the valley behind it.
During high season there is also a visitors centre with a café and bathroom facilities.
When is the Trollstigen open?
The mountainous road is only open during the summer months. It opens after the snow has left the mountains and closes at the first snowfall, usually somewhere in October. The road is very busy during the summer holidays, as it is well-known amongst tourists and a ‘must-do’.
Driving the Trollstigen with a camper
Driving the road can be an enjoyable experience. Though we have heard it is less so during those busy summer months, people get so caught up with the fabulous views that they don’t really watch where they are going and who else is on the road… Or they park their cars to take photographs of the rough waterfalls and stunning views. This means it might be less enjoyable with a camper during those months than it was for us at the end of September. Please check if you feel comfortable driving the often small steep road with loads of traffic going both ways.
