Experience one of Norway’s most iconic ridge hikes on Romsdalseggen. This guided hike begins in Vengedalen in Isfjorden and finishes in the alpine town of Åndalsnes on the shores of the Romsdalsfjord – a perfect blend of nature, views and local mountain culture. Map to use: Romsdalseggen DNT Hiking Map 1:25000.
This is a challenging mountain hike. The prize is a fantastic view over the Romsdalen Valley and the Romsdalsfjord. From Romsdalseggen you can actually see all the way to the Atlantic Coast.
The Romsdalseggen Bus and the start of the hike from Vengedalen
See map and more detailed and official tour description from Romsdal.com.
In season there is a bus from Åndalsnes to the Vengedalen valley, in high season there are several bus departures every day. You can book bus tickets online.
We recommend you to take the Romsdalseggen bus because it can often be difficult to park in Vengedalen.
The Romsdalseggen hike starts close to the parking lot at Vengedalssetra (380 masl). There are also toilet facilities at the parking lot at Vengedalssetra which are open during the summer season.
The Romsdalseggen trail is well marked, and you hike uphill the first two kilometres to Hesteheia. On the way up to Hesteheia you need to cross the river on a bridge.
A short distance before Hesteheia is the last chance to fill your bottles with water during the hike. The water source may be dry if it hasn’t rained for a while.
Steep up towards Romsdalseggen mountain ridge
You follow the trail in the westwards direction from Hesteheia, steep up towards the Romsdalseggen ridge.
The view from the Romsdalseggen ridge is great, you can see mountains like Romsdalshorn, Vengetind and the Troll Wall (Trollveggen) around you.
You can see straight down to the Romsdalen Valley, and if you turn 180 degrees you will see the Romsdalsfjord and all the way out to the Atlantic Coast.
Along Romsdalseggen towards Mt Nesaksla
Follow the Romsdalseggen mountain ridge in a northwesterly direction towards Mt Nesaksla which is the City Mountain at Åndalsnes. Parts of the mountain ridge are narrow with steep downwards mountainsides on both sides.
These are the most exposed parts of the trail, and you should be well equipped and be an experienced hiker to hike this route. Parts of the trail are secured with chains.
Continue along the ridge to Mt Mjølvafjellet. From Mjølvafjellet, follow the trail gently down towards Nesaksla (715 masl). You must pass Mjølvaskaret (1216 masl) on the way to Nesaksla.
Mjølvafjellet and Mjølvaskaret is a narrow mountain ridge. Due to the narrow steep mountainsides downwards on both sides of the trail at Mjølvafjellet, you should not be afraid of heights.
Remember that there is often snow on parts of Romsdalseggen, snow that lies far beyond the summer.
Romsdalseggen seen from the air
Below you can see a video with drone clips from Romsdalseggen. Here you can see Romsdalseggen, Romsdalen and the Romsdalsfjord from a bird’s eye view.
From Mt Nesaksla and down to Åndalsnes
At Mt Nesaksla you can either take the Romsdal Gondola or hike Romsdalstrappa down to Åndalsnes. The descent from Nesaksla is steep, but the trail is good and many intervals are stairs made of stones.
This trail is called Romsdalstrappa, and is a popular hiking-trail among locals and tourists. It is “mandatory” to have a stop at Rampestreken Viewpoint (537 masl), a selfie here is a must. Great view towards the Romsdalsfjord and the Isterdalen Valley and Rauma River. The Romsdalstrappa trail is well marked.
Note that there might be a long queue and therefore it it can take some time to wait to get out on Rampestreken viewpoint, sometimes more than two hours.
The Romsdal Gondola at Åndalsnes
From fjord to mountain in four and a half minutes. From Eggen Restaurant at the top of Mt Nesaksla you have a fantastic view down to Åndalsnes and the Romsdalsfjord.
The gondola goes from the fjord station at the center of Åndalsnes to the mountain station at Mt Nesaksla, 694 maf (meters above the fjord).
On the way up to the mountain station you have a fantastic view inwards to Isfjorden and the mountains behind, down to Åndalsnes and to the Romsdalsfjord.
The mountain station is a great starting point for adventures in beautiful and wild nature. Season and opening hours; see Romsdalsgondolen Website.
Åndalsnes – the “Hub” by the Romsdalsfjord
-Then he told him about Åndalsnes, a tiny settlement up in Romsdalen Valley, surrounded by high mountains which were so beautiful that his mother had always said that that was where God had started when He was creating the world, and that He had spent so long on Romsdalen that the rest of the world had to be done post-haste to be finished by Sunday. Jo Nesbø, The Bat
Åndalsnes is the “Hub” in Romsdal, and is situated in the middle of all the great things that is worth seeing and doing in the Romsdalsfjord area.
Åndalsnes is a great place to stay if you want to see and explore Trollstigen, Trollveggen, the Romsdal Gondola, the Rauma Railway and the Romsdalseggen mountain ridge.
Geiranger and the Geirangerfjord are well known places nearby. The road there, Geiranger – Trollstigen National Tourist Route, is an attraction in itself.
If you go westwards, you have the Atlantic Coast with the Atlantic Road, Ona Island with Ona Lighthouse, Bjørnsund and Midsundtrappene. Go North-East, and you will find the beautiful Eikesdal and the Mardalsfossen Waterfall, Aursjøvegen Mountainroad, and Litjdalen Valley. The cities of Ålesund, Molde and Kristiansund are nearby.
Romsdalsfjord – What to See and Do
From snowy mountains to beautiful coastline of islands and reefs. Experience all this in one day due to the short distance from mountains to coast. Trollstigen, Trollveggen and Rampestreken are great places to visit in the inner part of the Romsdalsfjord, where the fjord meets the spectacular and alpine Romsdal mountains. The Romsdalsfjord is located in the county of Møre og Romsdal, north in Western Norway.
Visit Northwest
Visit Northwest is the official destination company for the Romsdalsfjord, Romsdal and Nordmøre area.
Hotels and accommodation in and near Åndalsnes
The area at and around Åndalsnes in Romsdal has a large selection of hotels and other accommodation options.
