Jostedalsbreen National Park

Jostedalsbreen is the largest glacier in mainland Europe, and a glacier walk here will take you thousands of years back in time.

The most famous parts of Jostedalsbreen, are the glaciers Briksdalsbreen and Nigardsbreen. There are approximately 600.000 visitors a year at Jostedalsbreen National Park, where you can learn more about the glacier at the three different museums and visitor centres.

The glacier Jostedalsbreen covers an area of 1310 sq. km. It is the largest glacier in mainland Europe and covers 487 sq. km of the National Park, which was founded in 1991. The National Park also has several other larger and smaller glaciers, and the landscape varies from lush valleys to snow covered mountains and Arctic climate.

There are seven municipalities in Jotunheimen National Park, and Jostedalsbreen separates two of the longest fjords in the world, the Sognefjord and the Nordfjord. Stryn was assigned as a National Park municipality in 2008.

The glaciers in the park are "natural laboratories" and can teach us many things about climate, geology and vegetation. The landscape is ever changing, and one of the most eye-catching qualities about Jostedalsbreen National Park are the green, almost turquoise rivers and lakes from the melting glacier ice.

At the heart of the National Park, you will find untouched landscape which can only be reached on foot. In the villages nearby you will see many farms, due to the fertile soil near the glacier. The best way to explore Jostedalsbreen is by taking a glacier walk with an experienced guide. 

See all glacier hikes in Fjord Norway
 

The branches of the Jostedalsbreen glacier

It is possible to get to the glacier Jostedalsbreen from different directions and starting points, as the area of the glacier is large and has several branches.
 

Glacier branches in the area of Stryn and Nordfjord

• The Briksdalsbreen glacier is a famous glacier branch, beautifully located between roaring waterfalls and high peaks.
• The Kjenndalen glacier lays at the end of Lodalen valley, 17 km from Loen and a 15-minute walk from the Jostedal Glacier's lowest glacier arm.
• The Bødalsbreen glacier is situated in the valley of Lodalen. Drive towards Bødalen and Bødalssetra.
• The Brenndalsbreen glacier is an arm of the great Jostedalsbreen Glacier and is situated in a side valley in Oldedalen.

Glacier branches in the area of the Sognefjord

• The Austdalsbreen glacier is a North-Eastern outlet from Jostedalsbreen. The glacier is east facing and ranges in height from 1200 to 1760 metres above sea level.
• The Bergset glacier, only an hour's easy walk from the road and is one of the most beautiful and impressing glacier arms.
• The Bøyabreen glacier is one of the most spectacular of the glacier branches. You can see this glacier at quite close range from the main road in the village of Fjærland.
• The Flatbreen glacier can be seen from the fjord and can be reached on foot. The beautiful walk up to the glacier and the Flatbrehytta cabin takes about three hours.
• The Fresvik glacier is a glacier on the south side of Sognefjord in Vik, Sogn og Fjordane. Close to the village of Fresvik, it lies between the valley of Setjedalen in the west, and the valley Storedalen in the east.
• The Nigards glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers and everyone above the age of five can join guided glacier walks.
• The Tunsbergdalsbreen glacier is the longest glacier arm in Norway, situated 500 metres above sea level of Leirdalen, which is a side valley to Jostedalen valley.

Please note: It is highly dangerous to go close to the glacier and everyone must respect barriers and warnings. The glacier moves and there can be avalanches.