10 Things To Know About The Exhilarating Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen (Vestveggen)

When I finally made it to the upper gondola station and stood exhausted waiting for the gondola to arrive, one of the Norwegians who passed me on the West Wall of Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen just an hour before asked: –so what did you think of the route?

– Do you want my honest answer? I replied with a nervous laugh. – I think this route should not be publicly open to tourists.

What you should know before tackling Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen Vestveggen

If you are a true adrenaline junkie and, like me, have done plenty of other via ferratas before, then the West wall of Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen will be a great new challenge. If you have never stepped on an iron path, skip this route and choose one of the many hikes you can do in Norway.

TIP: Via ferrata Romsdalsstigen features on my 10-day Ålesund to Ålesund road trip plan, designed with adventurers in mind.

1. Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen: the stats

• Total distance, including the approach: 4.7 km / 3 mi
• Time required: 3.5 – 4 hours 
• Total Ascent: 700 m / 2309 ft
• When to go: June – September
• Parking: 62.56669, 7.69106

2. Where is the Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen Vestveggen located?

The iron path runs along the West wall of Mount Nesaksla, which stands directly above the little town of Åndalsness in the Møre Of Romsdal county of Norway. The mountain is famous for the gondola, which connects the city to its summit.

Mount Nesaksla is the last summit along the Romsdalseggen, a famous ridge traverse and one of the best hikes in Norway.

3. The map of the Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen

Above, you can see my path from the car park to the summit. I measured the distance, elevation gain, and route with my Garmin Fenix watch.

Click on the icon in the top left corner of the map to see the different stages of the whole route. The actual via ferrata has been marked in yellow.

4. How difficult is the Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen?

Via ferrata Romsdalsstigen has two separate routes ranging in difficulty:

• Intro Wall – great for beginners with no via ferrata experience
• Vestveggen (West wall) – an advanced route, should only be tackled by experienced people

As someone who has completed many via ferrata routes in the Dolomites and another via ferrata in Norway (Via Ferrata Loen), I decided to tackle the West Wall. I thought to myself, how hard can it be?

Around 15 minutes into the climbing, I started questioning everything I knew about via ferratas. This route is no joke. This is a challenging iron path with plenty of overhangs, often 90-degree walls, and some tricky moves you must perform to move further.

I can safely say that Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen Vestveggen is the toughest route I have done to date.

READ MORE: 30 Best Day Hikes and Via Ferratas in the Fjord Region of Norway

5. Do you need a guide to complete via ferrata Romsdalsstigen?

No, you don’t. Both routes are open to the public. However, guided tours get priority. Self-guided groups can book a limited number of slots daily.

If you have your equipment, you can go without a guide. Since I own two sets of Via Ferrata gear, my partner and I headed onto Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen after registering our intentions with the visitor centre in town and paying the maintenance fee.

6. The cost of Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen: gear rental, guided tours, and maintenance fee

Speaking of payment. If you would like to tackle the route without the help of a guide, you need to do a few things beforehand:

1. Register your intentions with the Norsk Tindesenter in town. You can do this beforehand on their website. There are 100 slots a day.
2. Pay the 200 NOK fee, which goes toward maintaining the safety of the route,
3. Rent the via ferrata equipment.

How much does it cost to rent via ferrata gear?

The daily rental price is NOK 475. The gear can be rented from the Norsk Tindesenter between 11 AM and 2 PM and must be returned by 6 PM.

According to the information on the Norsk Tindesenter website, you do not need to book the equipment in advance, but you can do so here if you wish.

How much does it cost to go on a guided tour in 2024?

If you want to join the Intro Wall guided tour, the tour price is 1150 NOK per person. The tour lasts around 4 hours; the minimum age requirement is 12.

The guided tour on the West wall is more expensive and will cost 1675 NOK (per person). The tour lasts 5-6 hours; the minimum age requirement is 16.

In both cases, the fee includes the equipment rental. If you are not travelling with appropriate footwear, you can rent it for an additional 195 NOK (only guided tours).

7. How to get to the start of Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen

There is no parking near the start of the route. It’s best to park in town in one of the two paid parking lots I marked on the map.

Since you will return with the gondola, you will end up at the visitor centre, where you registered or rented the gear.

The start of the route is marked on Google Maps, so we just followed the directions on my phone. You can also ask for a small printout map at the Norsk Tindesenter (visitor centre).

The route to the start has been marked in blue on my map.

8. Facilities along the Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen

Public toilets are at the visitor centre and on the top of the gondola station. You can also grab a celebratory bear, ice cream, or a full meal at the restaurant on the top of the terminal.

There are no facilities along the route, so pack away any trash with you.

9. Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen route description

Once you reach the start of the ferrata, put on your equipment and prepare for one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life.

The route will test your patience and ability to stay calm and not panic when you reach an overhang. You will have to figure out how to proceed.

I am not scared of heights, but I did experience slight vertigo a few times when I looked down. The constant thought lurking in my head, thinking about the consequence of a potential fall, didn’t want to leave me through the entire trail.

The route is easy to follow and has plenty of metal roads, pegs, and intermittent cables to keep you safe. Benches are also built on more manageable sections, where you can rest well and enjoy the views.

Once you reach the wire bridge, you are nearing the end of the route. Balancing on the wire bridge when your heart pumps 150 beats per minute is a serious undertaking. Only one person at a time can cross while the rest of the team cheers on.

The last 15 minutes of the route and the approximately 100 meters of elevation gain are hikes to the gondola station (marked green on the map).

10. What to wear on the Via Ferrata Romsdalsstigen

Footwear

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have appropriate footwear with a good grip along a ferrata.

Last year, I invested in lightweight Salewa Wildfire Edge approach shoes and tested them on a few hikes and via ferratas. At the moment, they are my go-to hiking shoes, and I love them.

Clothing

Wear trousers that don’t restrict movement, like the La Sportiva Tundra climbing trousers. I also recommend wearing full-length trousers instead of shorts to avoid cuts and scratches.

For my upper body, I favour Merino-wool t-shirts like the Icebreaker Sphere. Always carry warm layers with you. Patagonia is my go-to brand for jackets, and I currently own this Down sweater hoodie.

Shop my via ferrata gear essentials

A few other things to keep in mind

Don’t go after it rained or if rain is in the forecast

This route can quickly become extremely dangerous when wet. We got caught in the rain in the last stage of the via ferrata Romsdalsstigen, right after we crossed the bridge. We were soaked when we reached the gondola, but I was so happy the rain hadn’t come earlier.

Plan enough time

Different people hike and climb at various speeds. While the guided tours take 5-6 hours to complete via ferrata Romsdalsstigen, it took us 4, with plenty of photo stops. If you rented the gear, make sure to come back in time to return it.

Hike down if you want to save money.

The gondola ride isn’t cheap and costs 360 NOK one way. If you want to save money, you can hike from the gondola station to Åndalsnes. This will take approximately 1-1.5 hours. You will pass the famous Rampestreken viewpoint along the way.

It’s not the most enjoyable hike. It’s pretty steep with plenty of roots, and it gets very slippery when wet.

Where to stay around Åndalsnes 

Åndalsness is the home of via ferrata Romsdalstigen. The town was built right on the shore of the Isfjord and the mouth of the Rauma River, which empties into the fjord. Åndalsnes is a popular spot for cruise ships to dock.

There are several accommodation options in Åndalsnes to meet any budget, and below are a few I recommend.

Did you know you can support my site, by using the links below? Thanks to you, I receive a small commission any time you book something. It helps me create more awesome content like the one you are reading.

Other hikes and activities to experience near Åndalsnes

Cable car and guided mountain walk

Witness the awe-inspiring landscapes of Åndalsnes from the comfort of a panoramic gondola and learn about the region’s rich history and captivating stories from a knowledgeable local guide. Book your trip below.

Litlefjellet

The best vantage point of the famous Troll Wall can be reached within 30 minutes. Don’t miss out on the incredible views of Romsdalhorn and the serpentines of the turquoise river Rauma from high above by hiking to Litlefjellet.

Romsdalseggen

This famous Norwegian hike is rising to a cult status similar to Trolltunga or Preikestolen. Romsdalseggen is a ridge traverse with fantastic views of the Troll Wall, Åndalsnes, and Isfjord.

Trollstigen

Who hasn’t seen at least one picture of the famous serpent road called the Trollstigen? It just so happens that it leads to Åndalsness. It’s one of the must-do experiences in Norway.

Trollvegen

This one is still on my list, and I will return to Norway to tackle it. The challenging trail leads to a viewpoint of the Troll Wall, and according to the Travel Norway website, the Trollveggen hike is the best option for seeing it from above.