Road 63 (Norway)

Understand

Road 63 runs through Norway's famous fjord and alpine landscape. There is a surprising variety of landscapes and climates within this relatively short drive. The barren, snowy slopes at the mountain passes is a sharp contrast to the fertile valleys and shores with extensive strawberry and fruit production, as well as corn on the plains at Åndalsnes. From gentle farmland at Rauma river amidst the wild and majestic mountains of Romsdalen, along the deep Isterdalen valley lined with summit chess pieces and through the bold Trollstigen road construction. From the high point of Trollstigen mountain pass the road runs slowly downhill through the fertile Valldal valley until the village and municipal centre (Sylte) at the Storfjord (main or literally "big fjord"). Near the village the road continues by ferry across the fjord to Eidsdal, yet another green valley that at first is narrow and steep then widens around a nice lake beneath jagged mountains at the top. At about 600 m, the Eagle's road is the lowest of the mountain passes on this route, but one that offers the famous view of Geirangerfjord from a high point. After the descent to Geiranger the road immediately starts climbing towards the mountain pass. The road is partly steep and with countless hairpin bends. Near the highest hotel (Utsikten) the roads along the famous Flydalsjuvet gorge. Trollstigen mountain pass opens late May.

Background

The 1956 completion of Eagle's road (Ørneveien) between Eidsdal and Geiranger connected two of Norway's top sights: Trollstigen road and Geiranger road. Geiranger had already been connected by road to Stryn and East Norway via the bold Geiranger road construction (30 hairpin curves) in 1889, while Valldal in 1936 was connected to Åndalsnes through the even more daring Trollstigen road. The Geiranger road was built horse and carriage. 300 men worked 8 summers to complete the road. The Geiranger road has been carefully widened to accommodate cars and increasing traffic, but the road is basically the same as in 1889. Trollstigen was also built by hand, one team for each hairpin - the name of the team is shown on a sign. Even if Trollstigen was designed for cars, hairpins ha

Prepare

Visitors in early season (May) should check whether parts of the road are still closed. Drivers and cyclists in late season should check weather conditions on the mountain pass, which are usually much cooler than down in the valley. Even at midsummer temperatures can be close to 0°C at the highest point. Bicycles need good brakes to handle the steep descents.

Get in

By car Starting point for the entire route is either Åndalsnes or junction with road 15 in Skjåk.

1 Road E136 (junction with road 63) (Sogge bridge), 4 km south of Åndalsnes. Few kilometers south of Åndalsnes, across the river direction Trollstigen. 2 Road 15 (junction with road 63). Road 15 between Otta and Stryn. Just at the opening of tunnel to/from Stryn in the barren high valley.

By rail The Rauma railway terminates at Åndalsnes the closest and only railway in the area.

3 Rauma railway terminal station. Otta in Gudbrandsdal is served by railway on the Oslo-Trondheim line. Bus connection along road 15 direction Stryn and Måløy.

By air There is no airport on the route, closest airports:

4 Ålesund Airport, Vigra. 5 Molde Airport. 6 Ørsta/Volda Airport.

By boat Hurtigruten usually makes a detour to Geiranger during summer, otherwise the nearest ports are Ålesund and Molde.

Go

The route is particularly interesting by car. During two summer months (from late June) there is a bus service from Åndalsnes to Geiranger and further to junction with road 15. Note that the junction with road 15 (place is called Langvatn) is in a high barren valley, it is nothing there except an ordinary cross road. The route can also be done by bicycle, but several steep ascents/descents (10%) offers hard work for the cyclist uphill and hard work for the breaks downhill. The highest parts of the road can rather cool (close to 0 °C) even at mid summer. There is only one tunnel, the 600 meter long tunnel at the pass between Eidsdal and Geiranger. Drivers should use the car's engine to control speed downhill to avoid overheating breaks.

Åndalsnes to Trollstigen

This stretch of the road runs along the deep valley to the iconic Trollstigen ("Troll's path") mountain pass. Trollstigen mountain pass reaches 850 meters above sea level, the northern slope (from Åndalsnes) is the steepest, the southern slope (Valldal) is relatively gentle. Trollstigen mountain pass is closed during winter because of deep snow and avalanches. Normally opens late May and closes late October.

1 Trollstigen (Trollstigvegen) (Road 63 from Åndalsnes). Late May-October. The road is an impressive piece of construction along the almost vertical cliffs. The road was completed in 1936 and offered for the first time road access from Valldal to East Norway by car or rail (Raumabanen). There are 11 characteristic hairpins. The pass is surrounded by jagged imposing summits, many only accessible for skilled mountaineers and climbers. The Trollstigen pass does in fact sit on the reverse side of the Trollveggen, one of the tallest vertical cliffs in the world. Note: Map coordinates are for the bridge across the waterfall. free. (updated Jun 2016)

Detour to Romsdalen Åndalsnes sits at the lower end of majestic Romsdalen valley. A few kilometers south of Åndalsnes along E136 or Rauma railway gives an excellent view of the imposing summits and rock faces, including Trollveggen cliff rising 1000 meters vertically from the valley. The entire valley is less than 40 km, but offers great views all along u

Stay safe

Drivers should use the car's engine to control speed downhill to avoid overheating breaks. Road width varies, partly too narrow for vehicles to pass, take it easy, be courteous.

Go next

Stryn through road 258 Otta and Skjåk road 15 Romsdalen by road E136 or Raumabanen rail Molde, Atlantic road and Kristiansund (Road 64) Ålesund west on road E136