The Briksdal glacier at a glance
The Briksdalsbreen lies in the Briksdalen, at the inner end of the Oldedalen valley. It is one of several arms of the Jostedalsbreen, the large ice cap in the national park. You do not need ice equipment to see it. A path of about 3 km (1.9 miles) leads from the car park and the Fjellstove area to the glacier area, and the troll cars, shuttle vehicles for 7 people each, cover part of the way.
The walk ends in front of the glacier, not on it. A path to a viewpoint is not a glacier tour, and the national park authority warns against going on the ice without knowledge and equipment. For ice walks use a guide, as explained on the Jostedal Glacier page. This is an independent guide, not the website of the troll car operator or the municipality.
The walk, step by step
What to expect on the way up the valley.
Car park and Fjellstove
The path starts at the car park in the Briksdal area. Paying and parking are explained further down.
The valley path
The distance to the glacier area is about 3 km. A shuttle operator puts the walk at roughly 45 minutes in each direction and describes steep and flat parts. Take this as an estimate, not a promise.
A circular option
The Briksdal operator describes a footpath on the southern side of the river that can serve as a circular route. Ask at the Fjellstove about its current condition.
At the end
The path ends at the glacier area, near the lake in front of the ice. The ice itself is not the destination of the walk.
Briksdal Glacier tours
Guided hikes, shore excursions and private trips to the Briksdal glacier, with live prices and availability.
Troll cars 2026
The operator at Briksdal published these prices for 2026. The season runs from May to October.
| Ticket | Adults | Children 8–15 |
|---|---|---|
| Return | NOK 300 | NOK 200 |
| Uphill only | NOK 200 | NOK 200 |
| Children up to 7, with a guardian | – | free, if the minimum price of NOK 600 is met |
There are no return-only tickets. In May and from 20 September you must reserve ahead, so a booking is needed now. A departure holds up to 105 people, with 7 per car. The listed departures are 09:00, 09:45, 10:15, 11:00, 11:45, 12:15, 13:00, 13:45, 14:15, 15:00, 15:45, 16:15 and 17:00. Outside the high season not every departure is guaranteed to run without a booking.
From the stop at Kleivane about 500 m (550 yards) remain to the lake at the glacier. A regional tourism portal gives 700 m and a drive of 10 to 15 minutes each way, so the end points may differ. The full round trip takes about 1.5 hours with a stay, and ramps serve the start and end stops. The cars run only in Briksdal. There is no troll car transfer from the cruise terminal in Olden.
Parking
The first 30 minutes are free. From 30 minutes to 10 hours the fee is NOK 80, and from 10 to 24 hours NOK 220, per car. Cameras read the plate. You pay at the machine when you leave, or online within 48 hours. The published tariff states no year, so check the sign.
Ask on site whether any fee applies for the walk itself.
By bus and by shuttle
Skyss line 115 runs from Stryn through Loen and Olden to Briksdalen. The tourist morning run on weekdays, Stryn 09:45, Loen 09:55, Olden cruise quay 10:05 and Briksdalen 10:45, was limited to 15 May to 15 September 2026. That is 60 minutes from Stryn and 40 minutes from Olden, so it has ended for the year.
A commercial shuttle from the Olden harbor is covered on the Olden page. For a day with a fjord, the Geirangerfjord has its own guide.
How far the ice has retreated
The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) measured the position of the glacier front for more than a century. From 1900 to 2015 the front moved back a total of 1,221 m. In 2011 alone it retreated 275 m. The series ends in 2015, so it says nothing about the front today, and a change of the front is not the same as a loss of area or volume.
The distance from the end of the path to the ice is therefore not guaranteed to match older sources, and a photo from past years may show a different front. Safe distances to the ice and to the slopes are not given here, so follow signs and the instructions of the staff on site.
Keep away from the front. The German Foreign Office warns of unstable glaciers, floods and landslides, and a mobile signal can be missing in remote areas. If you want to see the next valley over, read about the Lovatnet and the Kjenndalsbreen. For the Skylift side of the region see the Loen Skylift page, and for a place to sleep read where to stay.
Briksdal Glacier: frequently asked questions
How long is the walk to the Briksdal glacier?
The distance is about 3 km (1.9 miles) from the car park to the glacier area. A shuttle operator estimates 45 minutes in each direction. The troll cars shorten the walk, and about 500 m remain after the stop at Kleivane.
How much do the troll cars cost?
In 2026 adults pay NOK 300 return or NOK 200 uphill only, and children aged 8–15 pay NOK 200 either way. Children up to 7 ride free with a guardian if the minimum price of NOK 600 is met.
Do I need to book the troll cars?
Yes in May and from 20 September, as the operator requires a reservation in those periods. At other times a booking is the safer choice.
Can I walk on the Briksdal glacier?
Not on your own. The park authority warns against going on the ice without knowledge and equipment, and ice walks should be done only with a guide. The path from the car park ends in front of the glacier.
Can I visit Briksdal from the cruise ship in Olden?
Yes, with a tour or a commercial shuttle. The troll cars do not run from the cruise terminal, and the bus on line 115 does not run in October.
How much does parking cost?
The first 30 minutes are free, then NOK 80 up to 10 hours and NOK 220 for 10 to 24 hours per car.