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Trollstigen - The Trolls Path

This is the Trollstigen. One of the most spectacular roads in Norway, and also one of the most popular places to visit for tourists.

In the summer of the old days this was an important route between Sunnmøre and Romsdal, even long before the road came. At that time there was only a narrow and steep path where people and horses could come through with great danger.

A short stop at the mountain foot gives a beautiful view of what is coming.

See the small bridge far up in the mountain almost covered in water showers from the waterfall?

At the edge of the mountain, against the sky just in the middle of the picture, you can see the new viewing point, which we will show you more from later.

And up front in the picture you can see the build-up first curve to the left.

The beautiful and dramatic Trollstigen

is one of the absolute most spectacular roads in Norway, and also one of the most visited places in the country.It was first time opened in July 1936, after as long as 8 years of construction work.

The long construction periode has to do with the long winters without any possibility to get any work done, and even today the road is closed between late October and the end of May.

trollstigen namesign

troll in wood

Even before you come to the first curves on the road you meet the first Troll. This one is standing outside a local cafeteria, and is carved in wood.

The sign to the left shows the roadsign Trollstigen, and you understand it is quite steep from the warning sign.

The meaning of the name Trollstigen is probably The Trolls Ladder, but in the local way of saying the name as Trollstien, it gets the meaning of The Trolls Path. Anyway, it has connection with the Trolls, and as the only place in Norway you can here find the official road sign with a troll on it.

roadsign warning for trolls

At the parking area before you start going upwards you can also see the One and Only official roadsign in Norway with a troll. The meaning of the sign is: "Warning! Trolls!"

the massive mountains in isterdalen

When you see the mountains surrounding this valley, you will understand how easy it was to imagine scareful trolls anywhere in the mountain side in the late, dark autumn evenings.

According to the Norwegian fairytales the Trolls change to stone when they are hit by sunlight, and they are only to be seen when the sun is down.

The Scenic Road

On a sunny summerday many people from the surrounding regions go here, as well as tourists from all over Norway and almost any European country.

From the starting point at the bottom of the valley Isterdalen it goes quite steep upwards in 11 curves until it reaches the top point of the Trollstigen Road which is 852 meters above sealevel.

coming closer to the bridge

We are almost up at the bridge now, and just in front of us you can see cars on their way through the curves ahead.

overview over the valley road

When we now turn around and look down the road we see there are some traffic, and also a bus coming up.

About half way to the top ...

we can see the Stigfossen Bridge, crossing over the Stigfossen Waterfall.

At the time it was finished in 1935 it was recogniced as quite an ingenieurs masterpiece.

In the springtime when the snow is melting in the mountains the water is reaching the bridge, and passing cars are getting quite a shower.

bus is crossing the bridge over the waterfall

bus is crossing the bridge over the waterfall

The bus from the Fjord1 company is just crossing the Stigfossen Bridge, on its way to Valldal, and then to Geiranger.

Every day there are a lot of buses here, either from some of the many cruiseships visiting Åndalsnes, Molde , Ålesund or Geiranger, as well as passengers from the Hurtigruten , the Coastal Voyage.

The Hurtigruten passengers can leave the ship in Geiranger, and go by bus the amazing route to Valldal, over Trollstigen, down to Åndalsnes and approach Molde in the evening where they again enter the ship.

bus in the first curve

The bus is just about to drive through one of the hairpin curves and as you see the road is build on the mountain side, and it is several hundred meters down.

A Busdriver Challenge

As you can see, some of the curves are quite challenging for the bus drivers, and every year some buses are getting stuck in one of the curves.

It always is foreign buses having these problems, as many drivers are quite unexperienced with this kind of roads.

From this spot we can see the bridge from a different angle, and we can see the small parking spot by the bridge where some cars has stopped so the people can get the best possible photo of the waterfall Stigfossen.

car in curve just above the bridge

The motor homes, or "Bobil" in Norwegian, are extremely popular, and hundreds of them go the Trollstigen every day in the summertime.

Here is one of them on its way downwards, and has just finished a curve with the river and waterfall behind.

Approaching at the top of the mountain road, our next step is to find the path to the new viewing point.

There has been the opening of a new viewing point this year, and on a sunny day like this the view should be quite overwhelming. A lot of people seems to have the same plan, so it is easy to see where to go.

Souvenir Shops

the trollstigen souvenirshop

Everywhere you find tourists you also will find souvenir shops, and Trollstigen has several of them.Ice cream, limonade, postcards, flags, T-shirts and of course trolls.

Meet the Trolls

four trolls in souvenirshop

Nice looking fellows the trolls? We found these four trolls in the souvenirshop, probably made in China.

The Viewing Point

Here it is, and as you see it is nothing for people who are scared of heights.

It really gives an amazing view over the Isterdalen Valley, and over the Trollstigen Road.

A spectacular view, and from here you can see most of the road. In the middle top edge of the photo you van also see that one of the curves has been changed and moved because of the many rockslides that closed the road quite often before.

the new trollstigen viewing point

There has also been some discussion about the look of the platform, and not everybody is happy about the colour and materials that has been used.

We leave it to you to decide whether you like it or not.

One more amazing fact about this road is that there has been no big accidents in traffic, probably because the road keeps the speed to a very low level. overview from the viewing point

The Trollstigen Slide Show

If you ever visit Norway on a Norwegian Cruise, or maybe you travel along the Norwegian coast with the Hurtigruten . If you get the opportunity to go to Trollstigen, it is absolutely recommendable.

From Ålesund, Molde or Åndalsnes it is normally arranged guided bus-sightseeing to Trollstigen, and most tourists are getting an unforgetable day.

We hope you have enjoyed our little journey, and that you will visit Trollstigen when you have the opportunity.

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