Stigfossen

Trollstigen opened in July 1936 after eight years of construction under the reign of King Haakon VII. The road climbs the once impassable cliff wall at the head of Isterdalen to its top at Stigrøra (858m above sea level). Given its dramatic ascent between two giant waterfalls (Stigfossen is one of the two), several majestic mountains, and an incredible panorama looking back down the valley, it's been said that Trollstigen is the most traveled tourist road in Norway. We can probably corroborate this claim given how many people we had to share the narrow serpentine road with on our visit in July 2005.

The Norwegian road authority, Statens Vegvesen, was said to have big plans for the stretch of Rv63 that included the roads at Geiranger and Trollstigen. Their intent was to make the so-called Atlantic Road as part of the National Tourist Road system to further establish Norway as a self-driving destination. During our trip, we saw some re-routing of the road (due to complete in 2007) to try to avoid some of the more rockfall-prone areas. We're not sure if these big plans have been completely executed or not.

Directions: To get to Trollstigen from Åndalsnes (Møre og Romsdal’s main tourist centre being strategically located near both Trollstigen and Romsdalen), drive south for 5km on E136. Turn right onto Rv63 when it junctions with E136 at a bridge. Then, follow Rv63 for about 8km, as you will arrive at the base of Trollstigen and the start of its steep ascent to Stigrøra.

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Trollstigen about to climb alongside the falls

Construction zone before the falls

Higher up Trollstigen

Looking up at the upper sections of Stigfossen from the Trollstigen road

Looking down at part of the falls tumbling besides a switchback

Following a car on the narrow road as we were headed back down

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TRIP REPORTS

• July 2, 2005

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NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Tverrdalsfossen

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