Driving the scenic Ørnesvingen Road

Located in western Norway, at the head of Geirangerfjord, Ørnesvingen is the name of the steepest part of the road from Geiranger towards Eidsdal.

Ørnesvingen Road

The road, part of the Norwegian County Road 63 (fylkesvei 63), is asphalted. Its many twists, turns and narrows can pose a challenge to even the most experienced drivers. It climbs up through 11 hairpin bends from Geirangerfjord to its highest point, at 620 metres (2,034ft) above the sea level at Korsmyra. At the top lies the Ørnesvingen viewing point, with its own waterfall.

The steepest section of the road, called Ørnevegen or Ørnesvingen ("The Eagle Road”), is not easy, though. Up, down, right, left all the time. The road was officially opened on 15th September 1955. The last turn offers an extraordinary view of the Geiranger Fjord, the Seven Sisters waterfall and the village of Geiranger.

This route is not recommended if your passengers are prone to car sickness. It is part of the 104 kilometer long Geiranger-Trollstigen National Tourist Route. Don’t stuff your belly too much. Eventually, you might feel vomiting temptations. The longest vehicle length permitted is 15 metres. The parking place atop is tiny so avoid bus traffic during the day. Visitors in early season (May) should check whether parts of the road are still closed. The road is pretty steep. It has a one in ten incline at its steepest.