The Troll Wall (Trollveggen) in Romsdal is the highest vertical mountain wall in Europe . It is 5950 feet from the valley to the top of the wall. Out of this, 3300 feet are vertical and with a 150 feet overhang.

One gets an idea of the great dimensions when a rockslide in the autumn of 1998 measured 2.2 on the Richters scale for earthquakes in Finland . Still, it is impossible to see with the naked eye where this happened, one has to be acquainted with the locality.

Season and Safety

Many of the activities, attractions, roads and accommodations mentioned on this website are open only in summer and are closed in winter. Season and opening times will vary, it usually opens in the summer and closes in the autumn, depending on, among other things, the amount of snow and the risk of landslides and avalanches in the area.

Important information about roads in Western Norway: There are restrictions on the length of vehicles on many of the roads in Norway. Many roads in Western Norway are prone to landslides and avalanches, especially in rainy and snowy weather. There might also be a chance that some of the roads are closed in short periods, especially during winter, due to weather and danger of rock- and snow avalanches and other dangerous conditions. Some of the roads in Western Norway are closed during winter! Winter tires are required in winter. Read more about Tyre Requirements in Norway...

It is important to take precautions for weather and road conditions, both when you drive and when you are out in nature in Norway. It is recommended to use a guide on the tours described on this website. Read more about safety and your own responsibility...

Visit Northwest

Visit Northwest is the official destination company for the Romsdalsfjord, Romsdal and Nordmøre area.

Klatrepionéren i Romsdal - Arne Randers Heen. Foto: Halvor Sødahl — Arne Randers Heen, a climbing pioneer in Romsdal. Photo: Halvor Sødahl

The climbing route Trollryggen was first climbed in 1958 by Arne Randers Heen from Åndalsnes and Ralph Høibakk, originally from Rjukan. This was the first climbing route in Norway where the climbers spent a night in the mountain wall. Trollryggen is still the longest climbing route in Europe (approx. 3.5 kilometers climb). Read about the climb in Ralph Høibakk´s own words.

Before 1965, no one believed that it was possible for a human being to climb the Troll Wall. But in 1965, a Norwegian and an English climbing team proved the opposite. Within 14 days, they reached the top of their respective routes.

NOTE – Due to huge sections of the wall has collapsed in the Troll Wall in recent years, climbing the wall is associated with such great danger that there has been no climbing activity there for many years!

The Pioneers of the Troll Wall

The Rimmon Troll Wall Team – Ready to go! Back row, Tony Howard, Rob Holt, Bill Tweedale, Tony Nichols, John Amatt; front, Jeff Heath and Margaret Woodcock. Photo: Tony Howard collection.

If you were into new routes and big walls in the 1960s you would have known about a monster in Norway about which ominous stories circulated that can be summed up in one word: ‘unclimbable’.

The Troll Wall (Trollveggen) in Romsdal was also known as ‘the Vertical Mile’, and described as ‘the largest overhanging wall in Europe’. It was reputed to be smooth and holdless for 5,000 feet, and impossible without the aid of bolts. It also faces north and is as far north as Alaska’s Mt McKinley. Quite a proposition!

Strange then that none of the ‘big boys’ went for it. Instead a team from a small Peak District club called The Rimmon decided it was worth a go and in July 1965 despite everyone’s doubts and some horrendous weather they actually climbed it.

The Troll Wall (Trollveggen) Visitor Centre

The Troll Wall can be experienced from Trollveggen Visitor Centre by the road E136 in the Romsdalen valley, about 10 kilometers from Åndalsnes in the direction of Dombås. There you will get a panoramic view of the Troll Wall and the Trolltindene mountains from the viewing platform. There is a cafeteria with a panoramic view of the Troll Wall in addition to a souvenir shop. There is also an auditorium where the dramatic story of the Troll Wall is shown on film.The visitor centre is open from June to August.

The Norwegian Mountaineering Centre at Åndalsnes

Norsk Tindesenter is a visitor centre at Åndalsnes, in the heart of Romsdalen Valley. The centre accommodates the Norwegian Mountaineering Museum, Norway’s highest indoor climbing wall, a restaurant and a gift shop. The centre is starting point for the spectacular climbing experience Romsdalsstigen Via Ferrata and deliver tailored guiding in the Romsdal mountains.

Trollveggen Camping

Trollveggen Camping is located at the foot of the Troll Wall, only separated by Rauma River. On one side you look straight up to the Troll Wall. If you turn around 180 degrees, you look straight up to Mt Romsdalshorn. There is hardly any more spectacular place to have a campsite than where Trollveggen Camping is located.

Salmon Fishing below the Troll Wall, in the river Rauma

FJORDS NORWAY - Salmon Fishing in Rauma River, below the Troll Wall. Torbjørn Heen is the happy fisherman, from the 70´s. Photo: Knut Hoem. — Salmon Fishing in Rauma River, below the Troll Wall. Torbjørn Heen is the happy fisherman. Photo: Knut Hoem.

In Norway, salmon fishing in the rivers has been important to people since the dawn of time. At the end of the 19th century, the salmon rivers also became an important source of secondary income for those who owned the rivers. That was when the English tourists discovered Norway, and the Salmon Lords became a well-known phenomenon. It was people from the English upper classes that travelled to Norway and the fjords to fish for Atlantic Salmons in the rivers.

The river Rauma, which runs through the Romsdalen Valley and past the Troll Wall, was one of the rivers which the salmon lords liked. Today, Elveguiden offers salmon fishing in 26 fishing spots in the Rauma river, several of the spots are located just below the Troll Wall.

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.

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

HOTELS - ACCOMMODATION - LINKS

Here you will find an overview of recommended HOTELS in addition to SPA & BATH HOTELS and OTHER ACCOMMODATION PLACES in Western Norway. The combination of beautiful nature, activities that you can do in all four seasons and a stay at a great accommodation is unique. A stay in one of these places will do you good, both for body and mind.

There are ten restaurants that have awarded Michelin stars and Michelin awards in Western Norway. Eight of the Michelin restaurants are in Stavanger and two in Bergen. Here you will find FJORDS MICHELIN, where you will also find a list of recommended hotels in Western Norway, recommended by Michelin.

VISIT NORWAY is the official travel guide for Norway. VISIT NORWAY'S FJORD GUIDE gives you a good overview of the most beautiful fjords in Norway. USEFUL LINKS is a list of websites with great information on Norway and the Fjords.

Trollveggen in Romsdal – Map Overview

THE TROLL WALL IN ROMSDAL