Rimstigen 2026：从巴卡步道起点，攀登至纳柔依峡湾上方725米，DNT红色级别

Rimstigen is the most demanding short trail directly above Nærøyfjord, and the one that gives you the best clifftop view of the narrowest UNESCO fjord in Europe. It is also commonly confused with the Stalheim–Nåli trail on the opposite wall, which is a different route to a different farm. This guide is for Rimstigen from Bakka. The logistics, the grade, and what 725 meters of steep stone steps actually involves.

Getting to the trailhead

The trailhead sits on the east shore of Nærøyfjord near Bakka, about 5 km by road from Gudvangen. From Gudvangen, follow the local fjord-side road past Ramsøy toward Bakka and Tufto. Parking is at Kvernaviki (sometimes written Kvernavik), marked on OpenStreetMap and on ut.no. Space is limited. Arrive before 09:00 in July and August to secure a spot.

The Bakka trailhead is road-accessible. You do not need a boat. If you have seen another guide claiming boat access only, that source is confusing Rimstigen with the Dyrdal settlement (abandoned in 1979, boat-only) on the opposite wall. Different trail, different mountain.

The route

From Kvernaviki, the path climbs immediately. There is no warm-up section. The trail is built as a sequence of stone steps through birch forest for the first third, with exposed ledges appearing as the forest thins. The gradient is sustained throughout. Typical ascent time is 2 to 3 hours. Descent runs 1.5 to 2 hours for most hikers and is harder on knees than on legs because of the step geometry.

The route is around 5 km one way. At the top, a clifftop viewpoint sits directly above the narrowest section of Nærøyfjord at roughly 725 meters. On a clear day, the view runs the full length of the fjord from the Aurlandsfjord confluence to Gudvangen at the far end. The ferry from Flåm passes below, and at this height it looks very small.

DNT grade and what it means here

DNT Red on ut.no means the route demands experience, fitness, and appropriate equipment. On Rimstigen, that specifically means solid ankle support in footwear, trekking poles for the descent, and awareness that wet stone steps become hazardous after any rainfall regardless of fitness. Check yr.no the morning of your hike. If rain is forecast within six hours of your planned descent, postpone or turn back early.

Fjellvettreglene Rule 2 (adapt the trip to ability and conditions) and Rule 8 (turn back in time) apply directly. The descent on dry rock is slower than the ascent for most hikers. On wet rock, it is slower still and significantly more hazardous. There is no shame in turning back before the top.

What to bring

• Footwear: Stiff hiking boots with solid ankle support. Trail runners are not the right tool for the descent.
• Trekking poles: Strongly recommended for the descent. Saves knees.
• Waterproof shell and layers: Weather shifts quickly above 500 meters. A hot start at the fjord does not predict conditions at 700 meters.
• Water and food: Minimum 1.5 liters of water. No shelter or services on route.
• Phone and offline map: Download the ut.no route or the OpenStreetMap tile before starting. Mobile coverage is patchy on the upper section.

Practical information (2026)

• Trailhead: Kvernaviki / Bakka, east shore of Nærøyfjord, approximately 5 km by road from Gudvangen
• Access: Road. No boat required.
• Distance: Approximately 5 km one way (10 km return)
• Elevation gain: Approximately 725 meters
• Time: 2 to 3 hours ascent, 1.5 to 2 hours descent for most hikers
• Top: Rimstigen viewpoint at roughly 725 masl, directly above the narrowest section of Nærøyfjord
• DNT grade: Red (Krevende / Challenging) on ut.no
• Season: Typically May to October. Snow lingers on the upper section into late spring.
• Parking: Limited spaces at the trailhead. Arrive early in peak summer.

Rimstigen is not the Stalheim–Nåli trail. It is not a boat-only route. It is a steep, sustained, road-accessible climb to a clifftop viewpoint 725 meters directly above the narrowest UNESCO fjord in Europe. Earned view. DNT Red grade earned. Turn back if the weather turns.