[Countrywide] Most impressive mountain passes: when do they open, what restrictions matter, and which ones feel “worth the detour”?

[EIA_Ask_NO]

I’d like to build one thread where people share real-world info about mountain passes: opening timing, closures, and which ones deliver the most drama per hour of driving.

If you’ve driven a pass, please include:

• When you went (month) and whether any sections were closed/restricted
• Road stress level (narrow parts, hairpins, tunnels, steep grades)
• Best pull-offs/viewpoints and short walks
• Any “don’t do this” advice (weather changes, fog, late-day timing)

Which pass felt most unforgettable — and what’s the one planning tip that prevents a bad surprise?

 

[ViolettaPetrovna]

For most impressive mountain passes with actual payoff, Trollstigen in June was the one that made me pull over and just stare like an idiot, even though I’d seen the photos a hundred times. From what I’ve experienced, it usually opens late May or June depending on snow drama, and while the hairpins look terrifying online, the road itself is well-managed if you don’t rush or try to be a rally driver. Fog can roll in fast, so my only real rule is don’t save it for the end of the day when visibility and patience are both shot. Is there another Norwegian mountain pass that delivers the same wow-factor without the crowds, or is Trollstigen still the drama queen for a reason?

 

[Alex Turner]

One pass that really stuck with me was driving over Sognefjellet in early July. It had just fully opened for the season, and the contrast was wild — bright summer sun with massive snow walls on both sides of the road. The driving itself wasn’t stressful, but the weather changed fast, and fog rolled in out of nowhere, which made timing everything. We stopped at a couple of lakes right near the top, short walks, no commitment, just soaking it in. Biggest lesson: don’t leave it for late afternoon, light disappears fast up there. Are you planning to hit this pass as part of a longer fjord route, or doing it as a standalone detour?