Aursjøvegen is one of the best moutain roads we have ever driven, and we want to tell you all about it, so you might decide to go check it out for yourself!
The Aursjøvegen Mountain Road
Aursjøvegen, which means Aursjø road, is a very scenic drive through the county of Møre og Romsdal. The road consists mostly of gravel and shows you some stunning views while driving over small roads with hairpins and tunnels. Each hairpin reveals new beauty and dramatic scenery.
The road was built in the 1940s as a construction road for the Aura power plant and the Aursjøen dam.
Attractions on the Aursjøvegen
While driving, there are several attractions on the way. Not only are there well-maintained hiking trails, but the drive offers stunning views of waterfalls and an amazing view of the valley. There are dams for the power plant that create beautiful lakes, and there are streams in many spots.
From the Aurstaupet viewpoint, you have the best view of Eikesdalen. This viewpoint is an easy and short hike, but be careful. The drop is immense, and there are no safety measures anywhere. This is also why the Aurstaupet viewpoint is used by BASE jumpers, throwing themselves off the edge. It is easy to get to and an amazing place to jump from (so we’ve heard).
Driving the Aursjøvegen
The Aursjøvegen runs from near Sunndalsøra to Eikesdal and is open from June to September/October. Both the opening and closing of the road have to do with the snowfall. The road opens after the snow is gone and closes at first snowfall.
Start the drive by going to Sunndalsøra and then following the old construction railway to the toll barrier. Don’t worry, this part is already worth the drive as you come across an amazing waterfall.
As said, you will get to a toll barrier. Part of the Aursjøvegen is a toll road, meaning you need to pay at the beginning of this part. These days cameras register your license plate, and you have 48 hours to pay the 100NOK (about 10 Euro) online before you will get an invoice, which is more expensive. It’s the 55-kilometer tolled part that is the best of the route.
Once you’ve finished the toll road, you will continue your trip to Eikesdal and beyond.
Important to know about the mountain road
The famous Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella national park surrounds the road. This means all nature around the road is protected, and it is important to take care of the road and its nature. Take all your garbage with you.
Due to the narrow roads and small tunnels, the drive is not recommended for caravans and bigger motorhomes. In summer, when the road is busier, you need to be able to reverse a little bit to let others pass. We did do the drive with our Adria camper, but it was off-season, and the road was not busy. We realise this would not have been possible during high season.
Want to drive the whole Aursjøvegen with us? Check this video below:
