The Nigardsbreen Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in Norway. To see this stunning ice scenery, hike to its viewpoint or book a guided glacier-walking tour.
12 things to know about visiting the Nigardsbreen Glacier in Norway
I was a bit on the fence about hiking to the Nigardsbreen Glacier. This is a touristy spot and a popular day hike in Norway. After a streak of circumstances, I didn’t start hiking late into the afternoon.
By then, all tourists, tour groups, and boats were gone, and even though it was the height of the season, we were the only other car in the parking lot. My friend and I ended up hiking to Nigardsbreen Glacier’s viewpoint in complete solitude.
If you would like to add this place to your Norway itinerary, I recommend reading my article about everything there is to know about this hike.
1. Nigardsbreen hike: the stats
- Distance roundtrip: 5 km / 3.2 mi
- Time required: 2 hours
- Total Ascent: 180 m / 590 ft
- Type of hike: Out and back
- When to go: June – October
- Parking: 61.67194, 7.23533
2. About Nigardsbreen Glacier
Nigardsbreen is an arm of Jostedalbreen Glacier, which, in turn, is the largest glacier in Norway and continental Europe. 1985, the Nigardsbreen Nature Reserve was created to protect the glacier arm and its surroundings. The reserve borders directly with Jostedalsbreen National Park.
The glacier lies at the end of the Jostedal Valley. The nearest town is Gaupne, which is a 30-minute drive away.
It is one of the most visited glaciers in Norway, but sadly, like many glaciers worldwide, Nigardsbreen isn’t immune to the effects of climate change and shrinks in size year after year.
3. The map of the hike to Nigardsbreen
Above, you can see my path from the car park to the summit. I measured the distance, elevation gain, and route with my Garmin Fenix watch.
4. How challenging is the hike to Nigardsbreen?
With only 180 meters (590 feet) of elevation gain, the hike to Nigardsbreen is relatively easy. However, it is still a mountain hike, so it doesn’t mean you can tackle it wearing sandals.
In the first half of the hike, there is quite a bit of rock hopping, and a part of the trail leads through smooth rock slabs. These can get quite slippery in wet weather, so staircases have been placed in tricky sections.
Navigating the trail to Nigardsbreen is easy, and there are plenty of waymarks from start to finish.
5. When can you hike to Nigardsbreen
The toll road to the parking lot is usually open from late May/early June to October. During winter, it closes, and cross-country ski tracks are set up.
During winter, the glacier and its crevasses are covered in snow, and it is not safe to venture out there alone unless you have plenty of mountaineering experience.
6. How to get to the trailhead of the Nigardsbreen hike
The best way to get to the trailhead is to drive. There is a huge parking lot right near the start of the trail. Remember that the last 3 kilometres between the Breheim visitor centre and the parking lot are on a toll road.
Once you pay the fee, an automatic gate opens. Cards are accepted, and the current fee for cars, motorbikes, and motorhomes is 90 NOK.
If you are looking for bathroom facilities, there are toilets in the Breheim visitor centre and the parking lot near the trailhead. There are no facilities directly on the trail and few places to go off the trail and hide.
7. Optional shuttle boat to shorten the hike
The optional shuttle boats operate on the nearby lake Nigardsbrevatnet between June and September, cutting the distance and time of the hike by half.
No reservations are required, and the buses operate on a first-come-first-served basis. The roundtrip fee is 75 NOK per adult and 50 NOK per child.
To get on the boat, you line up near the departure dock at the end of the parking lot and wait for enough people to join the trip. The boats don’t have a regular schedule. They operate on demand throughout the day, and the journey only takes a few minutes.
8. Nigardsbreen trail description
The trail starts at the northern end of the parking lot. An information board has been placed near the trailhead to educate tourists about the trail and the proper hiking kit.
The first half of the hike runs along the shore of Lake Nigardsbrevatnet. The trail is undulating, and there are plenty of rocks to hop on to avoid your feet getting wet.
Be aware of the no-stopping signs, as rocks occasionally fall off the nearby mountains, particularly after rainfall.
You can skip this part of the trail and take the shuttle boat, which I wrote about in the previous paragraph.
The second half takes you through the glacier moraine up to the viewpoint of the Nigardsbreen glacier. This path can be slippery as you walk on rock slabs smoothed by ice and water.
Around halfway up, you will cross a suspension bridge above the Jostedola River, which takes its beginning only 100 meters higher.
The viewpoint was set up very close to the glacier—too close to my liking, to be honest. Having read about many accidents of tourists being crushed by ice because they got too close to the glacier, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Don’t consider crossing the safety barriers unless you are on a guided tour!
TIP: Go in the late afternoon after the crowds disperse and have the whole place yourself.
9. Guided trekking tours on the Nigardsbreen glacier
I have done a guided glacier trek on the Perito Moreno glacier in Patagonia, and it is still one of the most extraordinary things I have ever done on my travels.
You can book a guided trekking tour to experience the Nigardsbreen glacier up close and personal, stepping directly on the ice.
Prices for a guided hike range from 570 to 1450 NOK per person, and the hikes take 3-6 hours to complete.
10. What to bring and wear on the hike to Nigardsbreen
Salewa Wildfire Edge Approach Shoes
My go-to pair of hiking shoes for easier trails or via ferrata, where I don’t need extra ankle support. They provide excellent grip on the rock and are very durable.
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Black Diamond Trekking Poles
I never leave on a trail without a pair of my trusted Black Diamond Carbon Z Poles. At 300 grams a pair, they are hard to compete with.
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HydraPak Hydration Bladder
There is no better way to stay hydrated on the trails than to have constant and direct access to your water without taking your backpack off. Thanks to its slim design, the hose coming out of the side of the bladder, and a magnet clip that makes the hose attachment easy, I find the HydraPak the best water bladder on the market.
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Merino Wool Socks
I always carry two pairs of socks in my day pack and always have them on me during multiday backpacking trails. Merino wool fibres and their unique properties are resistant to odours.
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Hardshell Rain Jacket
You would be mad not to bring a rain jacket to Norway on a hiking holiday trip. Patagonia’s sustainability efforts make it my go-to outdoor clothing brand.
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Osprey Hikelite 18 Liter Backpack
Osprey backpacks have accompanied me since the humble beginnings of this website. They offer the perfect fit without sacrificing usability.
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11. Where to stay nearby
If you travel around Norway in a campervan like me, I highly recommend staying at the Sandvik campsite in Gaupne. It’s in a lovely setting and has excellent facilities. It will be a great place to explore other nearby hikes, which I will describe in the next paragraph.
If you travel in a regular car, below are a few hotel choices nearby.
Best Value
Great and central location in Gaupne with easy access to the road leading to Nigardsbreen. The Sandvik campsite is operated from the hotel’s reception.
For Luxury Fans
This is the best option if you want to stay directly in the Jostedal Valley and the Nigardsbreen day hike
12. Other activities and hikes to experience nearby
Molden hike
This is a very popular day hike with the best views over Lusterfjord. Fed with water from glaciers of the Jostedalsbreen (including Nigardsbreen), Lusterfjord has a beautiful turquoise colour, particularly on a sunny day. You can see those colours from the summit hike to Molden.
Austerdalsbreen hike
It’s a great, off-the-beaten-path alternative to the Nigardsbreen hike, albeit slightly longer. The Austerdalsbreen glacier viewpoint is, at least in my eyes, Norway’s most beautiful glacier viewpoint. I don’t think it will stay under the radar for much longer.
Sognefjellet Scenic Road
The Sognefjellet Scenic Route runs between Gaupne in the South and Lom Municipality in the North. For over 100 kilometres, the road follows exquisite landscapes and crosses Northern Europe’s highest mountain pass. With plenty of viewpoints to stop and take photos, this is a must-do scenic route on some of my Norway road trip itineraries.
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hello and thanks for your wonderful blog!
from the port of molde is it possible to star any of this walks you mention here on your blog? (avoiding the car rental or taxi)
or are there any beautufil walks like these ones starting nearer the molde port?
Many thanks
Hi Rita. Thanks for visiting. I am afraid the port is a bit too far. If you dock in Andalsness too then there are some hikes you can do there that or on my list.
Hi Marta, thank you for your travel blog. It’s been so helpful for planning my upcoming trip! I was wondering if you can tell me how you liked the Hafslo area (and its surroundings) vs the Olde/Loen/Stryn area. I’m trying to decide how to divide up my time between the two. I have a week to spend in both. Did you have a preference? Thank you 🙏🏻
Hi Dani. I loved both areas. I did Molden, Austerdalsbreen and Nigardsbreen hikes in the Hasflo area. Austerdalsbreen was my favourite. Loen is also amazing. I did Klovane, Kattanaken and Via Ferrata Loen there. Loved all 3. You can’t go wrong with either to be honest.
Thanks for your information it is really fantastic. Please, can you tell me the name of the excursion you chose to the glacier ( I saw 4 in the company you recommended and I do not know what to chouse); how many hours do you walk on ice? If you are a good hiking but not in ice, it is posible to do your own hike? I want so much walk as long as I can on ice but I do not know if I can
I cannot drive, how can I go ( taxi to expensive for me) from Gaupne to the visitor Centre?
Thanks
Hi Maria. Thanks for visiting. It depends on your budget and your fitness level. I think the first one called “Short Blue Ice Hike” is a good one to start. you get to spend 1.5 hours on a glacier.
You can’t go out and walk on the ice on your own. You have to do it with the company and a guide. You can only walk on your own until the viewpoint of the glacier.
As for buses. There are buses that go from Songdal called ‘glacier bus’ which operate during the main season. I am not sure if they stop in Gaupne but I imagine they do since they go past Gaupne anyways. Nor-way.no is a good website to look for bus connections.