The best hiking routes in Romsdalen landskapsvernområde

Romsdalen landskapsvernområde protects the steep, narrow valley floor and the dramatic mountain walls that flank the Romsdalselva river. Unlike the flatter plateau parks nearby, walking here means dealing with extreme verticality. The valley bottom features lush deciduous forests, grey alder woods, and active river channels, while the immediate slopes are dominated by massive scree fields, boulder showers, and sheer gneiss cliffs like Trollveggen. It is a landscape shaped by massive rockfalls and glacial carving, which you will constantly see in the towering debris piles alongside the paths.

Underfoot, the terrain varies from flat, gravelly riverside tracks to steep, rough paths clambering over loose stones and tree roots. As you ascend the valley sides, the soil thins rapidly, leaving bare, polished bedrock and wet slabs where water seeps from the heights. The main valley floor is easily accessible and can be busy with traffic noise from the nearby E136 road, but climbing into the side valleys or onto the higher slopes quickly changes the character to a rugged, demanding mountain environment.

In June and July, the meltwater from the high snowfields feeds numerous waterfalls that cascade directly down the rock faces, creating damp, misty microclimates near the path bases. This is not a place for gentle, rolling ridge walks; the terrain is defined by its sheer scale and the constant presence of towering rock walls. Walkers should expect steep gradients and uneven, rocky footing rather than smooth, manicured forest trails.