Hiking Guide To Litlefjellet – An Epic & Short Hike Near Åndalsnes in Norway

If you are looking for a hike in Norway that won’t strain your legs, yet delivers fantastic views, Litlefjellet is your answer.

Within 30 minutes of leaving the parking lot, you will reach a viewpoint with some of the best views in the whole country.

12 things to know about the Litlefjellet hike

From distance & elevation gain through the trailhead information, ending with other great hikes and activities to experience nearby, here is everything to know about hiking to Litlefjellet.

1. Litlefjellet day hike: the stats

2. Where is the Litlefjellet hike?

Litlefjellet is a small saddle between two valleys: Venjedalen and the 60-kilometer-long Romsdalen through which the Rauma river flows.

The nearest towns are Åndalsnes and Isfjorden both of which lie directly on the beautiful Isfjord.

Both towns lie in the Møre Og Romsdal county, famous for its mountainous landscapes and very popular amongst tourists.

3. The map of the Litlefjellet hike

Above you can see the path I followed from the car park to the summit. I measured the distance, elevation gain, and route with my Garmin Fenix 6S pro watch.

This map is for showcasing purposes only and should not be used for navigating around the mountains. Red-painted markings have been placed along the route to help hikers follow the route to Litlefjellet.

4. How difficult is the Litlefjellet hike?

Because the hike is so short and only takes an hour there and back, you won’t really break a sweat.

However, you still need to be aware that there are a couple of very short, but steep and chain-protected sections along the way, like the one pictured above.

For that reason, please gear up appropriately, don’t try to attempt this hike in sandals or worse yet flip flops.

I have seen it all during my outdoor blogging career and can’t stress enough how important it is to always stay humble in the mountains.

5. The best time of year to hike Litlefjellet

The main season for hiking to Litlefjellet is between June and September. During milder winters, which occur more and more often these years, if the snow melts already, or doesn’t start falling yet, you can even go as early as May and as late as November.

The highest point of the hike lies at 790 meters a.s.l which isn’t very high. That means snow doesn’t linger here for as long as it does at higher elevations.

6. How to get to the Litlefjellet trailhead

The only way to get to the Litlefjellet trailhead is by car. The trailhead for the hike lies 20 mins (16km / 10 mi) away from Åndalsnes and 17 mins (10 km (7 mi) from Isfjorden, the two nearest towns.

The road leading to the trailhead is the same one that you take to reach another famous hike in the area – Romsdalseggen.

There is a self-operated toll booth along the road, where you have to pay an access fee (100 NOK). Cards are accepted as payment. The parking near the trailhead is free.

7. The highlights of the Litlefjellet hike

Once you make it to the saddle look for the little ponds scattered around. They provide fantastic opportunities to photograph the mountain reflections around you.

My personal favorite view is that of the Romsdalshorn, one of the most recognizable mountains in the area.

Of course, don’t forget to look at the menacing-looking Troll Wall. Litlefjellet offers the best vantage point of the almost 90-degree wall that stands above the Romsdalen valley, through which the turquoise, glacier-fed river Rauma flows.

Squint and you might even see some crazy base jumpers flying off the cliff. If you didn’t know this area, in particular the Troll Wall, is the birthplace of base jumping.

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

8. Facilities along the Litlefjellet trail

There are no toilets or bins along this hike. The nearest toilet is next to the Romsdalseggen hike trailhead, which is 4 kilometers down the road from Litlfjellet trailhead.

Remember to follow the one simple rule: bring out, what you brought in. An empty water bottle weighs a lot less than a full one. It’s never ok to leave any trash behind when hiking including toilet paper.

9. Litlefjellet trail description

The trail is clearly marked from the parking lot with red painted marks in the shape of the letter T.

For the first 10 minutes the incline is very gentle until you reach the chain-protected section, the most difficult part of the trail.

Don’t worry, it’s very short and only goes for a few meters, After that keep following the steep trail until you reach the saddle.

Once on the saddle, there is a web of different trails. Just explore the saddle and take in the views. I went absolutely crazy and took hundreds of photos. There are quite a few stone trolls on the saddle, like the one pictured above. Norwegians love to build them.

There is also a hiker’s check-in book, where you can put down your name and the date when you visited Litlefjellet.

Don’t get too close to the edge of the saddle, particularly its West side. The walls are extremely steep. One bad step might send you tumbling down a cliff.

The trail back to the car park is the same one that you followed up on.

10. What to bring and wear on the Litlefjellet hike

Even though this is a quick hike, you should still have appropriate footwear with a good grip. Norwegian trails are no joke.

During my road trip around Norway, I had two pairs of hiking shoes with me which I alternated, depending on trail conditions and weather:

• The Hanwag Alverstone Hiking Boots – great for muddy and challenging trails
• The Salewa Wildfire Edge Approach Shoes – good for easier trails and warmer days

Apart from appropriate footwear, you always have to think about layering up in Norway. A good down jacket like the Patagonia down sweater hoodie and a water and wind-resistant shell Patagonia Triolet Jacket will keep you warm on those mountaintops.

11. Best places to stay near Åndalsness 

Åndalsness is the closest town to the Litlefjellet hike. Thanks to its proximity to the famous viewpoint of the Trollstigen road, it is a pretty touristy destination.

The town was built right on the shore of the Isfjord and the mouth of river Rauma which empties into it. Cruise ships often dock in Åndalsnes’ harbor.

There are quite a few accommodation options in Åndalsnes to meet any budget and below are a few I recommend. If you use the links below, I receive a small commission which helps me write more helpful content for you.

12. Other things and hikes to experience nearby

Romsdalseggen

Another famous Norwegian hike is raising to a cult status similar to Trolltunga or Preikestolen. Romsdalseggen is a ridge traverse with fantastic views of the Troll wall and the nearby Romsdal valley.

Trollstigen

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

Via ferrata Romsdalsstigen

A great half-day activity for any adrenaline junky. Via ferrata Romsdalsstigen was the hardest ferrata I have ever done and I still can’t shut up about it today. If you love to challenge yourself then you should definitely try it out.

Trollveggen

This one is still on my list and I will definitely be back in 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 to see it from above.