{"id":30113,"date":"2025-04-12T21:16:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-12T20:16:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclenorway.com\/?p=30113"},"modified":"2025-04-12T21:16:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-12T20:16:13","slug":"beyond-trollstigen-norways-8-alternative-climbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclenorway.com\/en\/beyond-trollstigen-norways-8-alternative-climbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond Trollstigen: Norway’s 8 Alternative Climbs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With Trollstigen\u2019s opening potentially limited to just a month this year \u2014 from July 14th to August 15th \u2014 it\u2019s worth looking at other serious climbs that offer the same kind of challenge, beauty, and drama. If you\u2019re planning a summer ride in Norway and don\u2019t want to gamble on the short Trollstigen window, here are eight climbs worth your time. Some are even in the same league \u2014 narrow roads, sharp hairpins, and wild surroundings \u2014 with fewer crowds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The mighty Trollstigen draws in over a million tourists a year<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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1. Gaularfjellet<\/a><\/strong> (719m)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Route: Fjord Norway<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like Trollstigen, Gaularfjellet is a road built to twist its way up a steep mountain face, with a stunning viewpoint at the top. It has sharp bends, minimal traffic, and a remote feeling. What sets it apart is its high plateau, where the road meanders through untouched terrain after the main climb. You can reach it via Balestrand or Sognefjord, and it’s already open for business as of the 11th of April 2025. It usually doesn’t open until mid-May, so this is a unique year to ride it early!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Lysevegen<\/a><\/strong> (860m)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Route: Lysefjorden Loop<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A brutal 9.4% average gradient climb with 27 tight switchbacks rising from the fjord at Lysebotn. This one feels even more extreme than Trollstigen, with a more severe gradient and far fewer people. A tunnel cuts into the rock near the start, making it memorable. Access is tricky: you\u2019ll need to take a long ferry journey to Lysebotn, and it\u2019s best done as a loop from the Stavanger region. See our dedicated route page for more info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lysefjordenruta\"<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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3. Melfjordbotn<\/a><\/strong> (425m)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Route: Trondheim – Bod\u00f8<\/a> (detour required)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those who relish a challenge and aren\u2019t interested in the beaten tourist trail, cycling Melfjordbotn is an experience to seriously consider. Often called the \u201cTrollstigen of Northern Norway,\u201d this climb delivers steep gradients, hairpin bends, and an atmosphere that\u2019s raw and unapologetic. Melfjordbotn is not just an alternative to Trollstigen \u2014 it\u2019s its northern, wilder sibling. For cyclists looking to get off the radar and into raw Norwegian nature, this is the kind of climb that sticks with you. It\u2019s hard, beautiful, and completely uncommercialised. If Trollstigen is your postcard, Melfjordbotn is your secret letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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