If you’re a keen motoring enthusiast, then there’s no doubt you’ve dreamt of driving the Trollstigen Mountain Road in Norway. This road is not for the faint hearted but not to be missed with your hire car. Although millions of Norwegian krone has been spent on improving the road and widening the bends, it’s still a single track in many places. The road snakes past waterfalls, lakes, fjords, tunnels, and even strawberry fields. Here’s our guide to this rollercoaster road.
Photo by: wald78/Fotolia
Myths and history
Known as ‘The Troll’s Path’, legend has it that when night falls, trolls come to life and stomp around the mountainside. When sunlight hits them they form the rocks you can see when travelling along the road.
More factually, the road was initially a path and then a bridleway; many parts of the original pack horse track are still visible. The road as it appears now was opened in 1936 by King Haakon VII. The long, hazardous winters meant frequent construction delays and the road took 8 years to complete.
Each bend in the road has a name; usually relating to the foremen that led the construction groups.
Tackling the beast
The road connects Andalsnes in Rauma and Valldal in Norddal. It’s part of the Norwegian National Road 63 and is 106 kilometres in length. The highest point of the road, Stigrøra, sits at 858 metres above sea level. Running at a scary 9% gradient with 11 hairpin bends, it attracts a mass of tourists daily to try their hand at the wheel. In the peak of tourist season 2,500 vehicles traverse the road each day.
Be prepared
Closed during winter, the road is only accessible when snow can be completely cleared away. Usually open from mid-May to October, chains or snow tyres are recommended during the colder months. The supplier, Alamo Norway, provide winter tyres free of charge between November 1-March 31.
The open season can be lengthened or shortened dependent on the weather conditions.
Rockfalls are common so be vigilant when driving. These can temporarily close the road.
Taking a breather
At the 700 metre plateau you’ll find viewing platforms to take in the stunning vistas. Park up and check out the architecture delight that is the Trollstigen Café and Museum. Inside, experience freshly prepared local dishes and purchase a troll to take home. That’s right, local arts and crafts are available to buy as souvenirs, even trolls!
Photo by: Hans und Christa Ede/Fotolia
Follow the paths to awe at the Stigfossen Waterfall.
If you’re not in a hurry, you can spend the night and try to spot the trolls for yourself.
Drive the Trollstigen Mountain Road!
We’re sure our guide has moved driving the Trollstigen Mountain Road even further up your to-do list. Book your hire car and pull on your driving gloves!
If you visit at the right time early on in the open season of the road, you may catch sight of some classic, but not natural, beauties.
Have you travelled to Norway to experience driving the Trollstigen Mountain Road? Share your experience with us in the comments!
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Written by Jessica Juby.
