Skaftafell: hiking on the southern edge of Vatnajökull
Protected since 1967, part of Vatnajökull National Park since 2008.
Skaftafell lies on Ring Road 1 between Kirkjubæjarklaustur (70 km, 43 mi) and Höfn (130 km, 81 mi). Parts of the area became a national park in 1967, and since 2008 Skaftafell has been part of Vatnajökull National Park. From the Skaftafellsstofa visitor centre short trails lead to Svartifoss and Skaftafellsjökull, longer ones into Morsárdalur and up the Kristínartindar.
The best-known sight is Svartifoss, which falls between basalt columns that formed about 300,000 years ago. The S2 loop trail there is 5.8 km (3.6 mi) long with 250 m (820 ft) of ascent; to the viewpoint above the falls it is 1.5 km (0.9 mi) and 140 m (459 ft) of ascent.
If you park, you pay a regional fee of ISK 1,110 for a car, valid until midnight. The same fee at Jökulsárlón then costs only half on the same day.
Vatnajökull National Park: Skaftafell – access, trails, camping ↗
In numbers
- National park since
- 1967
- Part of Vatnajökull National Park since
- 2008
- Svartifoss basalt columns
- about 300,000 years old
- Loop trail S2
- 5.8 km (3.6 mi), 250 m (820 ft) ascent
- Glacier trail S1
- 4.1 km (2.5 mi), 80 m (262 ft) ascent
- Loop trail S3 Skaftafellsheiði
- 16.6 km (10.3 mi), 765 m (2,510 ft) ascent
- Kristínartindar S4
- 18 km (11 mi), 6–8 h
- Campsite since
- 1974
- Kirkjubæjarklaustur
- 70 km (43 mi)
- Höfn
- 130 km (81 mi)
