Litlefjellet – short climb with a view of the Trollveggen

Sometimes you don't have to walk far in Norway to enjoy a spectacular view. From the area of Åndalsnes, we drive into the Vengedalen. We take the narrow toll road, which climbs further into the mountains, along the Vengedalsvatnet and towards the impressive peaks of Romsdalen. At a small parking area at the foot of Litlefjellet, we leave the car behind. From here, it's just over a kilometer round trip, but don't be mistaken: the first part goes quite steeply upwards.

From the parking area, we follow the clearly visible path up the mountain. In a short time, we gain about 140 meters of elevation, and on some steep sections, it is more climbing and scrambling than walking. On the most difficult passage, there is a chain installed that we can hold onto. After about half an hour, we reach the much flatter area at the top of Litlefjellet. The highest parts of the mountain are around 780 meters, but it is primarily the views that make this short hike so special. In front of us lies the Trollveggen, and around us, we see Romsdalshorn, the Vengetindene, and far below the green Romsdalen.

The showstopper is undoubtedly the Trollveggen, or the Troll Wall. This enormous rock face is part of the Trolltindene massif and rises almost vertically above the Romsdalen. With a vertical rock face of about a kilometer, it belongs to the most impressive rock walls in Europe. From Litlefjellet, we are almost directly across from it and get a real sense of its enormous dimensions. Far below, we also see the Rauma River and the Raumabanen winding through the valley, while in the distance Åndalsnes and the Romsdalsfjord are visible.

After enjoying the view extensively, we walk back to the parking area via the same path. The descent on the steep rocks again requires some attention, and in wet weather, they can become quite slippery. With just over one kilometer round trip, Litlefjellet is definitely not a long hike, but due to the steep climbing and scrambling work, and especially the fantastic view of the Trollveggen, this is one of those short hikes where you get a lot of Norway for relatively little effort.

Practical information

Start and end: small parking area in Vengedalen

Distance: just over 1 km round trip according to our route

Elevation gain: about 140 meters

Walking time: approximately 1 hour, excluding extensive enjoyment of the view

Difficulty: short but steep, with some climbing and scrambling passages

Route: round trip on the same path

Special features: Vengedalen is accessible via a toll road; at some steep passages, chains are installed

Highlights: Trollveggen, Romsdalshorn, Vengetindene, and the view over Romsdalen towards Åndalsnes

Tip: sturdy shoes are recommended. Especially in the rain, the rocks can be slippery during the descent.