Welcome to Briksdal

Rustøen, Oldedalen. An old image of a man standing in a row boat with a few boathouses, beautiful mountains, waterfalls, and a glacier at the end of the valley.

The History

The Briksdal Glacier, one of Norway's most famous natural attractions, draws around 300,000 visitors annually. The last decades have brought profound change to the local community which only a century ago was nearly fully isolated.

For centuries, the local farmers have been relying on the land to sustain their livelihoods. But in the late 19th century, tourism began to rise, opening new doors. Only a few adventurous Europeans braved the wilderness back then, with no established roads to guide them.

Rustøen dock in the 1900's. A picture with weaker colors depicting the boat "Alda". It's docked, and to its left you can see a horse and carriage with people in the back.

Rustøen dock

As interest grew, a gravel road was laid through the valley, connecting Rustøen dock to Briksdalen, gradually unveiling Nordfjord's hidden beauty to the world. From Briksdalsbre Fjellstove, the road was extended by hand in the 1920s to allow horse-drawn transport further up towards the glacier.

Horses with carriage lined up and ready to take the next tourists up to the glacier. The picture is from the late 1900's, with a narrow gravel road.

Briksdal

By 1928, farmers had completed this road, long before the main route from Olden was ready. Travelers arrived by boat at Rustøen dock, where local farmers met them with horses and carriages, eager to guide them through the landscape.

Fjord horse with tourists in the back, transporting them back from their trip to the Briksdal glacier, which you can see in the background.

By mid-20th century, the main road from Olden opened, drawing travelers directly to Briksdalen, which made the valley transport less essential. In 1993, Norwegian King and Queen celebrated their silver anniversary by bringing European royalty to Briksdalen and other scenic spots.

Troll cars lined up at the platform, loaded with tourists, and ready to depart. Briksdal glacier is in the background.

In 2004, Briksdalen marked a new chapter: the shift from Fjord Horses to "Troll cars"— designed to be just as safe, with the added benefit of higher capacity to accommodate more visitors. The Fjord Horse, once a village trademark, had brought countless visitors to the glacier. In 2024, Oldedalen Skysslag celebrated its 100th anniversary, with troll cars now transporting thousands of tourists daily during peak season.

Briksdal glacier in the background. The forest surrounds the river coming towards you.

Departures

09:00

09:45

10:15

11:00

11:45

12:15

13:00

13:45

14:15

15:00

15:45

16:15

17:00

Troll Cars

The glacier shuttle

Troll car

Tickets per person (2024)

One Way - NOK 170 / €15

Round Trip - NOK 280 / €30

Embark on the world-famous ride to the Briksdal Glacier. Your journey starts at Briksdalsbre Fjellstove, a 10-minute drive from the dome. The trip takes about 90 minutes, whereas 45 are at the top, to hike and explore the national park. Normally this is the perfect amount since you still have 700 metres to the end point. The troll cars are in high demand during summer, so a reservation is strongly recommended.

Sunny day in Briksdalen. Tall mountains and a tall waterfall in the background. A beautiful tree in the foreground.

The cars are equipped with seven seats; six in the back, and one by the driver. The cars run on biofuel, a more sustainable alternative. All the drivers are local and are glad to answer questions about Briksdalen.

Explore other hikes in the valley