Best Hikes from Nordfjordeid Cruise Port: A Local Guide’s Picks

You can reach real mountain views from the Nordfjordeid cruise pier on foot. You don’t need a bus, a ticket or a 3-hour drive to a glacier. The ship docks at the SeaWalk pier at the south end of the village, and several marked trails start within walking distance.

We guide hikes from Nordfjordeid all season, and every year we meet cruise visitors who took the wrong turn, ran out of time, or walked straight past the best viewpoint. Here are the four hikes we recommend, with honest times and difficulty, so you can plan your day. If you’d rather not worry about the route or the clock, join one of our guided walks instead.

Times are walking times from the trailhead (ut.no). Add the walk from the pier and time for photos, then keep at least an hour spare before all-aboard.

1. Utsikta: the easy viewpoint above town

4.0 km return140 m upabout 1 hourEasySeason: Feb–Nov

This is the best short walk for a quick port day. The view takes in the whole village of Nordfjordeid and the fjord.

The route: Walk into town and head for the Opera House. Follow the road past the gravel track and the playground on your left to the start in Prestemarka, about 30 minutes on foot from the pier, the last part uphill. Go through the gate, which is there to keep the grazing animals in, and close it behind you. The path runs through dense forest to a waterfall. After heavy rain it can be big and loud, but in summer it’s more of a trickle. After the crossing, a rocky path climbs to a junction by the small waterworks. Turn left for the viewpoint. At the top there’s a lean-to shelter, a fire pan and benches. You come back the same way.

Local tip: The rocky section is slippery when wet, so wear shoes with grip even though it’s a short walk. Save ten minutes at the top: the village and the whole inner fjord are laid out below you, and it’s the best photo stop on the route.

2. Skårhaugsetra and Skårhaugnakken: old summer farms and the knoll above the fjord

3.7 km return406 m upabout 1.5 hoursModerateSeason: Apr–Oct

From the top of Prestemarka, the same hillside as the Utsikta walk, a forest road and then a fairly steep path climb past the old summer farm of Ytre Skårhaugsætra to Skårhaugnakken, a knoll with the view straight down over Nordfjordeid and the fjord. Short, steep in places, and one of the best rewards for the effort anywhere near the pier.

The route: Start at the small car park at the top of Prestemarka, where an information board shows the route, about 30 minutes on foot from the pier, the last part uphill. Follow the forest road about 300 m to the river; a little higher up, cross it at the bridge. Several paths lead upward here and there are some fallen trees, so keep to the paths that follow the river up. You reach Ytre Skårhaugsætra first, then continue up to Skårhaugnakken. You come back the same way (ut.no).

Shorter option: Indre Skårhaugsetra (2.5 km return, about 290 m up, about an hour) branches off the same forest road. At the bridge, don’t cross: keep to the right of the river and follow the small fox (“Turbo”) markers and red stripes up through the forest to the huts behind the stone wall (ut.no).

Local tip: The path gets muddy after rain, and the descent is where people slip, so take the steep stretches slowly. Give yourself time on the knoll: the whole village and the inner fjord are below you, and it’s a better photo than anything in the harbour.

3. Ossætra: an old mountain farm by a lake

3.1 km return418 m upabout 1.5 hoursModerateOpen all year

This short, steep climb ends at a little cluster of traditional summer-farm huts and barns beside Osvatnet lake. It’s the most “postcard Norway” spot on this list.

Getting there: The trail starts at the swimming beach in Osvika, on the south shore of the fjord. From the pier, cross to the south side and follow Osvegen along the water: just over a kilometre, about 15 minutes on foot. No taxi needed.

The route: Cross Torheimsvegen and follow a tractor road up through the pasture to a red barn where the open hillside begins. Join a forest road, then follow the path up a short stretch of old stone steps. From there it climbs steeply up Osberget. Just before the farm the path splits. Cross the river at the sign and you’re there. You come back the same way.

Local tip: The stone steps and the climb up Osberget are steep, so go slowly and save your legs for the way down. The huts by the lake are the natural picnic spot. The guided walk doesn’t turn back here: it carries on along the ridge to Skipenessætra, which is where the wide views over the fjord and the village open up.

4. Trollenykjen (898 m): the big view over Nordfjord

6.3 km return877 m upabout 4 hoursDemandingSeason: Apr–Oct

This is the summit for fit hikers with a long port day. From the top you see the village, out along the fjord, and inland to Hornindalsvatnet, Europe’s deepest lake.

The route: Start on the forest road about 100 m from Skipenes Bridge, near the Eid stadium, about 15 minutes on foot from the pier. The path is good and well marked. Watch for one turn: after the clear-felled stretch of forest, take the path that climbs off to the right. You reach the Skipenes mountain farm (Skipenessetra) after about an hour. Where the path splits, keep left towards the summit, not towards Ossætra. Allow another hour or so to the top. You come back the same way.

Be realistic: 877 m of climbing is steep, like going up a 290-floor staircase. In spring, snow can lie above Skipenessetra into late May or June. Only do this hike alone if your ship stays at least 7 hours and you hike regularly.

Why walk with a local guide?

You can do every hike on this page on your own, and this guide gives you what you need to do exactly that. A guide of the human kind is for the days when you’d rather spend your few hours ashore looking up at the mountains than down at a map.

• The clock is our job. We know your ship’s schedule before we start, and we set the pace and the turnaround so we’re back at the pier well before all-aboard, with margin for photos and a slow descent.
• The right path, first time. No wrong turn at the junction, no missed viewpoint, no wondering whether that was really the top.
• The stories. Who used the summer farms and why, the salmon river, the Viking ship in the village, what you’re actually looking at from the summit.
• Small groups. Maximum 10 people, so nobody gets left at the back.
• Weather calls made for you. Western Norway weather changes fast. If a route isn’t safe that day, we adjust it or cancel with a full refund. The same if your ship doesn’t call.

Back to the ship on time. All guided walks start and end at Eid small-boat harbour (Eid Småbåthamn), a short walk south along the waterfront from the SeaWalk pier. Tell us your ship’s arrival and all-aboard times when you book, or on WhatsApp, and we plan the start time around them.

What we lend, free. Trekking poles, which make the steep descents from Trollenykjen and Ossætra much kinder on the knees, and child carriers, so a small child rides on a parent’s back.

Questions cruise passengers ask

Do the hikes go ahead in rain?

Yes. Rain is normal here, and the forest walks are lovely in it. Guided walks only stop for safety: strong wind, lightning, or snow and ice on the high routes. Then you get a full refund.

What should I wear?

Shoes with proper grip (trail shoes or light boots, not deck shoes or sandals), a waterproof jacket, and a warm layer even in July. It’s noticeably colder and windier on Trollenykjen than at the pier, and wet jeans are miserable. Bring water, a snack and your phone.

How much time do I need?

Take the walking time in the table, add the walk from the pier each way, add 20–30 minutes for photos and a break, then keep at least an hour spare before all-aboard. On a 6-hour port day that rules out Trollenykjen on your own, but leaves comfortable time for Utsikta, Skårhaugnakken or Ossætra.

Will I get lost?

The trails are marked, but the junctions matter: left at the waterworks for Utsikta, up to the right after the clear-felled stretch for Trollenykjen. Screenshot the route on ut.no or download the map offline before you leave the ship. Mobile coverage is generally good near the village, but don’t count on it higher up.

Can children do these walks?

Utsikta suits any child who’s used to walking. Skårhaugnakken and Ossætra are steep but short, fine for active kids from about 8–10. Trollenykjen is for teenagers and adults who hike regularly (guided: recommended from about 12).

Do I need a ticket or cash?

No. The trails are free and open to everyone under Norway’s right to roam. Close every gate you pass through: the grazing animals are what keep these hillsides open.