Hiking Guide To Prest High Above The Stunning Aurlandsfjord

The hike to the Røyrgrind viewpoint on Mount Prest delivers the best panoramic views of Aurlandsfjord. For an enhanced experience, go late in the afternoon and watch the sunbeams illuminate its waters and the surrounding mountains.

10 Things to Know about the Hike to Prest in Norway

I had 3 attempts to hike Prest. The first attempt failed due to a bad weather forecast; the second was because of my dog’s injury. You know what they say, though. The third time is a charm. I finally got to the summit on my third attempt. Thankfully, it was worth the wait.

If you are looking for a great, short hike with impressive fjord views, learn everything about the hike to Prest.

TIP: If you want to include Prest in your Norway bucket list, follow my 10-day Bergen to Bergen road trip plan.

1. Prest day hike: the stats

• Distance roundtrip: 6.33 km / 3.9 mi
• Time required: 3 – 4 hours
• Total Ascent: 630 m / 2070 ft
• Type of hike: Out and back
• When to go: Mid-June – October
• Parking: 60.91803, 7.23147

2. Where is the Prest hike?

Prest is 20 kilometres and a 30-minute drive from Flåm village. Flåm lies directly on the Aurlandsfjord and is one of Norway’s most popular tourist destinations. It features on some of my road trip itineraries across Norway.

Aurlandsvangen, clearly visible from the Røyrgrind viewpoint on Mount Prest, is only 10 kilometres and 15 minutes drive away.

3. The map of the Prest hike

Above, you can see my path from the parking lot to the summit. I measured the distance, elevation gain, and route with my Garmin Fenix watch.

4. How challenging is the hike to Prest?

Although quite steep at times, the Prest hike is of medium difficulty. Before the trip, I read a few other online reports saying scrambling is required to reach the summit.

That is not true, and it led me to believe that the people who wrote it must have lost the path. Hiking to either the Røyrgrind viewpoint or the summit does not involve scrambling.

The path is straightforward to follow and boot-beaten when it comes to navigation. Just make sure to go once the snow melts completely.

5. The best time of year to hike Prest

I hiked Prest at the end of June, and there were still snow patches in many places. The trail was also very muddy, but it was safe to pass.

Mid-June to mid-October is the best time to hike Prest and many other trails in the Norwegian Fjords. If your ultimate goal is to hike as much as possible when visiting Norway, this is the timeframe for planning your trip.

6. How to get to the trailhead of the Prest hike

A car is required to get to the trailhead. It takes around 30 minutes to drive from Flåm or 15 minutes from Aurlandsvangen.

En route, you will pass the famous Stegastein viewpoint. It’s a great sunset spot. You can stop there after hiking to Prest. The parking lot and the trailhead for Prest are 2 kilometres past the viewpoint on your left-hand side.

The road between Aurlandsvangen and the trailhead is windy and sometimes narrow, so take extra care when driving up. There are plenty of places to stop and let the opposite traffic pass safely.

If you are not travelling by car, you can take a shuttle bus to the Stegastain viewpoint from Flåm and walk for 2 kilometres along the road to the Prest trailhead. However, this will add another 2 hours to the day.

7. The highlights of the Prest Day hike

Even though Prest reaches over 1400 meters above sea level, the trailhead already lies 800 meters above the Fjord, and most of the elevation is gained by driving up, which makes the hike so appealing.

The expansive panoramic views towards the Aurlandsfjord are hard to beat. If you plan your excursion for a late afternoon, you will get plenty of sunbeams hitting the fjord below and shining through the mountains.

8. Facilities along the Prest trail

There are public toilets at the Stegastein viewpoint (with fantastic fjord views), but other than that, it’s just pure wilderness. Make sure to pack out everything that you brought in, including toilet paper.

Unfortunately, many campers staying overnight at the parking lot near the trailhead have decided that the forest near the trailhead is a good toilet ground, and I have seen plenty of toilet paper flying around. Do better.

9. Prest trail description

Straight after leaving the parking lot, you will walk for a few minutes through a forest before emerging onto an alpine pasture. Sheep graze here during the summer and autumn seasons. If you hike with a dog like me, keep it leashed.

Although Jasper sat this one out and stayed at the campsite with my mum whilst I ventured out with my dad, he would have been fine hiking to the top.

Just 20 minutes into the hike, there is a lovely viewpoint on a small plateau. This will be a nice alternative if you are not hiking the whole trail. I have seen quite a few tents on that plateau.

Shortly after, the trail steepens significantly. The views of Aurlandsfjord will accompany you to the Røyrgrind viewpoint.

The viewpoint can be reached within 90 minutes after leaving the trailhead. There is a small monument and a logbook where you can sign your name. Almost every summit in Norway has them.

Most hikers choose to stop here and then head back down. The summit is another 100 vertical meters higher, but the views don’t improve the higher you go.

My dad and I decided to make a small loop from the Røyrgrind viewpoint toward the summit and back. Along the way, we found a few more great photo spots, like the one below. Refer to my map to see the path we followed.

10. What to bring and wear on the Prest hike

Where to stay nearby 

Regarding accommodation, Flåm or Aurlandvangen are the best choices to stay for a few days and explore the area.

If you are travelling in a campervan, I can recommend Lunde Camping near Aurlandvangen. It’s located in a beautiful valley near a river.

Other hikes, activities, and places to experience nearby

Hike to Bakkanosi

Arguably, it is the best viewpoint of Næroyfjord and, to me, the best sunrise spot I had in all of Norway. This moderate hike takes you to the summit of Bakkanosi, where you can enjoy expansive views of Norway’s narrowest Fjord.

Hike through Aurlandsdalen

The hike through Aurlansdalen will take you back at least a century. In the Aurland Valley, discover Norway’s pristine nature: lakes, waterfalls, and gorges.

Stegastein Viewpoint

The famous Stegastein viewpoint platform was built 650 vertical meters above the Aurlandfjord. You can take a bus from Flåm or Aurland or drive up there. It’s on the way to the Prest trailhead.

Flåmsbana – Flåm’s scenic train

The Flåm Railway is considered one of the most beautiful train journeys in the World. This leading Norwegian tourist attraction features the finest aspects of Norway’s stunning scenery. The train runs from Flåm station, built at the end of Aurlandsfjord, up to the high mountains at Myrdal station.

Flåm Fjord cruise

Travel from Flåm to Gudvangen on the emission-free cruise ship. The Future of the Fjords ship is fully electric and battery-powered, which means it is very quiet, so you can enjoy the sounds of nature on the cruise.

Kayaking on the Fjord

Flåm is one of the best places in Norway to join a paddling trip. The 3-hour kayaking trip will let you enjoy Aurlandfjord from the water. If you love water activities, this one should be on your list.