Romsdalseggen - Panorama Ridge Hike
About Romsdalseggen
Romsdalseggen is a beautiful ridge hike that gives you panoramic view of surrounding fjord, vallies, and mountains almost from start to finish. It is a point to point hike, which is about 10.3km long with an elevation gain of around 930m. It will take around 7 to 8 hours to complete, depending on one’s pace. You start the hike from the other side of the ridge and hike back to the town of Åndalsnes. It is scenic and breathtaking, but not for those who are afraid of height. There are parts that are steep, narrow, and exposed at the same time, so be prepared and cautious. Weather can change drastically in the mountain area, make sure to bring your wind/rain jacket in case of a sudden change. It is a very popular and well marked trail, simply follow the sign and the red “T” mark on rocks for direction.
How to get there
From Åndalsnes, you can take the Romsdalseggen bus that takes you from the town to the trailhead, which is around 20-ish minutes. The bus runs from mid June to mid October and may cancel due to bad weather condition. Make sure to check the weather forecast and bus schedule before heading to Åndalsnes.
Our experience
Our small group consists of me, my mom, and my partner. We took the Romsdalseggen bus at 9am, started our hike at around 9:30am, and were back in Åndalsnes around 17:00-ish. Our pace was probably normal, not fast nor were we slow, since we used about the same amount of time estimated on the guide (7-8 hours). It all started with hiking up to the ridge, follow by many small ups and downs before the long descend back to Åndalsnes. There were parts where we need to grab rocks or chains with our hands for support and there were also parts that are narrow with steep drops on both side. We definitely took many picture breaks, small water breaks, and a bigger lunch break on the ridge with a 360 degree view. All in all, it is a very beautiful and rewarding hike if one are fairly fit and not afraid of height.
We went on this hike in the beginning of September. In the morning, it was semi-sunny and cloud started gathering in the afternoon. Temperature was around 20 to 25 degrees with wind on the ridge.
What we used and brought with us
Daypack (20-30L)
Lunch, snacks, and water
Windproof or waterproof jacket
Fleece or insulated layer
Beanie or buff
Thin pair of gloves (if you don’t like grabbing rocks and chains bear handed)
Sunglasses
Hiking boots
Camera
