Join a Guided Tour on Romsdalseggen which has in short time become one of the most popular hikes in Norway. The hike starts in the Vengedalen Valley in Isfjorden and ends in the city center of Åndalsnes. Map to use: Romsdalsfjella Nord 1:50000.
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.
Visit Northwest
Visit Northwest is the official destination company for the Romsdalsfjord, Romsdal and Nordmøre area.
About season and other important information
TOUR DESCRIPTION – Read the official tour description of the hike over Romsdalseggen here, with map.
GRADING – Challenging. ALTITUDE DIFFERENCE – This hike starts at approximately 380 masl (The parking lot at Vengedalssetra Mountain Pasture). Highest point at approximately 1216 masl (Mt Mjølvafjellet).
GUIDE – We recommend you to join a Guided Hike on Romsdalseggen. Norsk Tindesenter at Åndalsnes organizes Guided Hikes over Romsdalseggen.
SEASON – Mid July to Mid September, these are approximate dates that depends on the weather, temperature and the amount of snow in the mountains. Contact Norsk Tindesenter at Åndalsnes for information about the hike, season and information about the weather-, snow- and hiking conditions.
SAFETY IN THE MOUNTAINS – You should follow the Norwegian Mountain Code when hiking in Norway. It can change from summer and sunny weather to winter and frost in minutes! Always check the Weather Forecast before you go hiking. For safety reasons it is recommended to avoid hiking in Thunderstorms, in fog, in bad weather and when it is snow and ice on the trail and in the mountain! Always bring good clothes and hiking shoes. And have enough food and water in your rucksack.
NOTE – This hike is not suitable for children! This is a long and demanding hike, you should be an experienced hiker to do this hike. There are several steep, narrow and exposed sections on this hike.
NOTE – We recommend to use a map and compass on this hike since parts of the hike go in areas where there is no trail. It also often happens that Romsdalseggen is shrouded in fog.
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
From fjord to mountain in four and a half minutes. From the 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).
Åndalsnes – the “Hub” by the Romsdalsfjord
Åndalsnes is the natural center of Romsdal. This is because Åndalsnes is the hub for roads and railways and lies in the middle of many of the most spectacular sights and activities in the area around the Romsdalsfjord.
Åndalsnes is a perfect place to stay if you want to experience Trollstigen, Trollveggen, Rauma Railway, Romsdalsgondolen, Rampestreken viewpoint and the Romsdalseggen hike. Geiranger and the Geirangerfjord are well-known tourist gems located nearby. The road there, Geiranger – Trollstigen National Tourist Route, is an attraction in itself.
You can reach Åndalsnes by car, about six hours from Oslo and four hours from Trondheim. Or you can take the Rauma Railway down the Romsdalen valley to the end station at the center of Åndalsnes. The nearest airport is in Molde, from there it is about an hour by bus to Åndalsnes.
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. Ona Island and Lighthouse, The Atlantic Road and Midsundtrappene are attractions facing the Atlantic Ocean. Trollstigen, The Troll Wall, Romsdalseggen, Rampestreken and Litlefjellet are great places to visit in the inner part of the Romsdalsfjord, where the fjord meets the spectacular and alpine Romsdal mountains. Travel green to Åndalsnes with Rauma Railway, a wild, beautiful and unique experience regardless of season. From Åndalsnes Railway Station, you can walk straight from the train and over to the Romsdal Gondola that takes you up to the city-mountain Mt Nesaksla and Eggen Restaurant. From there you have a fantastic view towards Isfjorden, down to the Romsdalsfjord and up towards the Romsdalen Valley which you have just experienced from the train ride along the Rauma Railway. The Romsdalsfjord is located in the county of Møre og Romsdal, north in Western Norway.
Hotels and Accommodation at Åndalsnes and Romsdal
Grand Hotel at Åndalsnes
Frich´s Ekspress Hotel Åndalsnes
Aak Hotel in Romsdalen by Åndalsnes
Åndalsnes Vandrerhjem at Setnes at Veblungsnes
Åndalsnes Camping by Rauma River at Åndalsnes
Mjelva Camping at Mjelva at Åndalsnes
Soggebru Camping at Sogge at Åndalsnes
Trollstigen Resort at Sogge at Åndalsnes
Trollstigen Gjestegård og Camping in Isterdalen below Trollstigen
Trollveggen Camping by the Troll Wall in Romsdalen
Accommodation in Isfjorden
Åndalsnes and Romsdal – Useful Links
Online Booking Romsdalseggen Bus
Romsdal.com – Hiking Guide to the mointains in Romsdal
Norsk Tindesenter at Åndalsnes
Fjords.com – Åndalsnes in Romsdal
Fjords.com – Trollstigen in Romsdal
Fjords.com – The Romsdalsfjord
Fjords.com – Romsdalseggen
Fjords.com – Romsdal Gondola
Fjords.com – Rauma Railway