Eleven hairpin bends, a 10-metre waterfall pouring beside the viewing platform, and mountains that rise almost vertically on every side. Trollstigen, the "Troll's Ladder" in Romsdalen, is one of Norway's most photographed roads for good reason. Carved into the mountainside between Åndalsnes and Valldal, this engineering marvel has been drawing photographers and road-trippers since it opened in 1936. In this guide we cover the best viewpoints, the light conditions to plan for, and practical tips for capturing Trollstigen at its very best.
What Makes Trollstigen So Special
Trollstigen climbs 858 metres from the fjord-level village of Åndalsnes up through the mountains of Romsdalen. What sets it apart from other scenic drives is the sheer drama of its setting. The road hugs a steep mountainside, crosses the beautiful Stigfossen waterfall, and is watched over by the jagged peaks of Dronningen (the Queen), Kongen (the King) and Bispen (the Bishop).
Because the surrounding cliffs are so steep, the road itself is often in shadow while the peaks glow in sunlight. This natural contrast is what gives Trollstigen photographs their almost three-dimensional quality. Combined with the tight switchbacks stacked one above another, the scene looks almost unreal through a wide-angle lens.
Trollstigen sits at the heart of the same region as the Atlantic Ocean Road and Geirangerfjord, making it a natural stop on any western Norway road trip. If you are planning a longer itinerary that pairs coastal scenery with alpine drama, Trollstigen is the perfect inland counterpoint to our Norway landscape prints from the coast.
The Best Viewpoints for Photographing Trollstigen
The Upper Viewpoint Platform
The main car park at the top of Trollstigen features a architect-designed visitor centre with two panoramic platforms overlooking the road below. The lower platform gives you the classic postcard view: all eleven bends visible in one frame, with Stigfossen thundering down the left side. This is the view that most people picture when they think of Trollstigen, and it deserves a proper wide-angle lens.
The Upper Plateau and Stigfossen
From the viewing area, short walks take you closer to the waterfall itself. Shooting Stigfossen from the footbridge gives a completely different mood: dark wet rock, white cascading water, and clouds of spray that catch the light. Bring a microfibre cloth, because the mist will find your filter.
From the Air and From the Valley
Drone photography of Trollstigen is spectacular but heavily regulated; check current rules before flying. If drones are not an option, the views from the valley around Åndalsnes, especially combined with a hike up to platforms like Nesaksla, let you place the road in a wider Romsdalen context with the Romsdalsfjord in the distance.
When to Visit: Light and Seasons
Trollstigen is only open in summer, typically from late May or June until the first snows close it in October or November. Each part of the season offers something different for photographers.
Early summer brings roaring meltwater, so Stigfossen is at its most powerful and the greens on the mountainsides are fresh. High summer means near-endless daylight, giving you soft golden light late into the evening and the chance to shoot at midnight if you like. Autumn turns Romsdalen into a canvas of red, orange and gold, and the low September sun rakes across the switchbacks for hours of beautiful light.
On overcast days do not pack up and leave. Fog rolling through the valley often swallows the lower bends while the peaks stay visible, creating moody, minimalist compositions that look stunning as large-format prints. Some of the most atmospheric canvas prints in our collection started life in exactly this kind of weather.
Practical Photography Tips for Trollstigen
- Go wide, then go longer. A 16-35mm lens captures the full sweep of bends, but a 70-200mm compresses the switchbacks into striking graphic patterns.
- Use a polariser. It cuts glare on wet rock and deepens the green of the mountainsides.
- Shoot for the bends. Positioning matters more than gear: walk the full platform and find the angle where the S-curves layer cleanly.
- Arrive early or stay late. The car park fills quickly between 10:00 and 16:00 in July. Early morning gives you empty compositions and still air.
- Watch the forecast. After rain, Stigfossen swells and spray rainbows appear when the sun breaks through.
- Bring layers. Mountain weather changes fast, even in summer.
Exploring Beyond the Road: Romsdalen and Åndalsnes
Åndalsnes, at the foot of Trollstigen, has become known as Norway's mountain capital and makes an excellent base. From here you can ride the Romsdalsbanen gondola up Nesaksla for elevated views over the Romsdalsfjord, or simply wander the town's riverside paths with the peaks of Romsdalen above you.
The wider region is one of the country's richest for landscape photography. Within a couple of hours' drive you can stand beneath the cliffs of Geirangerfjord, gaze across the water of the Romsdalsfjord, or catch a ferry deep into the fjords toward Ålesund. Our Norwegian fjord prints capture this region's signature mix of dark water and steep green walls, and Romsdalen images sit naturally alongside Lofoten wall art for those who love Norway's wild northwest.
If your road trip continues north toward the Arctic, keep in mind that the same trip can be planned to end under the aurora. Autumn nights around Tromsø and Lofoten often serve up displays of the Northern Lights while Romsdalen's mountains are still in fall colour.
Bringing Trollstigen Home
For such a vertical, graphic subject, print material matters. The clean lines of the switchbacks and the subtle tones of Nordic light shine on modern aluminum prints, where the image sits directly on metal and keeps every bit of crispness. If your style leans warmer and more traditional, canvas softens the mood beautifully and suits both Scandinavian interiors and more classic homes. Either way, Trollstigen is a subject that rewards a big print: the more wall you give those eleven bends, the more immersive the scene becomes.
Conclusion
Trollstigen is more than a road; it is a masterclass in how landscape, engineering and light come together. Plan around the seasons, arrive before the crowds, and take your time on the platforms. Then, when you are back home, there is no better way to keep that mountain magic on your walls every day than a handcrafted print from Norway's most dramatic landscapes.
Ready to bring the drama of Romsdalen into your living room? Browse our full collection of Norway landscape prints at nidarosphoto.com, with free shipping across Europe and a 30-day return guarantee.
