“Eagle Lake moors” is a larg green, lake-studded landscape in the highland, south of Húnaflói. The area extends for 80km or so south to the glaciers of Eiriksjokul and Langjokul. It´s a popular trout fishing venue in a wild, lonely nature. 4WD track.
The Highlands
Askja
Álftavatn in Rangárvallaafréttur
Bárðarbunga
Bláhnúkur in Landmannalaugar
Dynkur in Þjórsá river
Eldgjá canyon
Eyjafjallajökull Glacier
Fagrifoss Waterfall
Fimmvörðuháls
Fishing in Landmannaafréttur
Many other lakes, apart from Veiðivötn, are located south of Tungnaá, and fishing permits for twelve of them can be bought from the wardens at Landmannahellir.
These are the lakes Blautuver, Dómadalsvatn, Eskihlíðarvatn, Frostastaðavatn, Herbjarnarfellsvatn, Hnausapollur (Bláhylur), Hrafnabjargavatn, Kílingavötn, Lifrafjallavatn, Ljótipollur, Löðmundarvatn and Sauðleysuvatn. Ljótipollur and Hnausapollur are the youngest of these lakes, with the former dating from 1477 and the latter from 871.
Most of these are closed lakes, although Helliskvísl flows out from Löðmundarvatn, and Blautuver and Klingavötn are connected to Tungnaá. Only trout is caught in Ljótapollur, Herbjarnarfellsvatn, Lifrarfjallavatn and Dómadalsvatn. Trout and Arctic char is caught in Blautuver, Frostastaðavatn and Kílingavötn, but only Arctic char in other lakes.
Fjallabak Nature Reserve
Frostastaðavatn
Hafrahvammagljufur
Hafrahvammagljúfur in Austurland is one of the largest and most magnificent gorges in Iceland. The gorge is about 200 meters from the bottom to the edge (where it is highest), and the canyon is about 8 kilometers long. There is a marked hiking trail along the gorge and down to Magnahellir. You need a four-wheel-drive car to drive to the trail's starting point, but you can see part of the gorge from Kárahjúkar dam, and you can get there by an average car.
Háifoss Waterfall
Hekla volcano
Herðubreið
Herðubreiðarlindir
Hjálparfoss Waterfall
Hungurfit in Rangárvallaafréttur
There have been lodge facilities in Hungurfit since 1963, when a mountain lodge, housing 20 people, was built there. This was a great improvement for mountain shepherds, who previously had to sleep in tents. In 2013, a new mountain lodge was opened in Hungurfit, housing 50 people. It is one of the most modern mountain lodges in Iceland, with running water, a flushable toilet and electricity.
Hungurfit has unique natural beauty, and the area is suitable for hiking, jeeping and horse riding. There are excellent horse riding trails leading from the area, both to Rangárbotnar, Sultarfit, Faxi and onto Hvanngil and down to Fljótshlíðarafrétt. It is a day’s journey by horse from Hungurfit to Foss at Rangárvellir. The river Hvítmaga has its source at Hungurfit, and it is highly enjoyable to travel by horse or foot along the river.
Above the mountain lodges, the Skyggnishlíðar ridge leads up to the mountain Skyggnir. Skyggnishlíðar is a popular hiking destination, as the view from there is spectacular on a clear day. It is also highly enjoyable to walk or ride to Sultuarfit and towards Gimbragil and Hrútagil or into Jökulskarð.
Hveravellir
Höfðabrekkuheiði, Þakgil
A breathtaking 14 km drive from ring road no. 1 to Þakgil campsite and hiking area. Surrounded by black sand and glacial rivers, a gravel road crosses the heath of Höfðabrekka, a tuff ridge between rivers Múlakvísl and Kerlingadalsá formed during the last Ice Age when volcanic material forced its way from beneath the glacier following a sub-glacial eruption. The road is closed during the winter. The vegetation in this area is highly vulnerable to trampling; please always keep to trails.
Kárahnjúkar
The Power Plant at Kárahnjúkar is the largest construction project in Icelandic history and the most significant electricity production in the country. The Kárahnjúkar Power Plant was built to produce energy for the aluminum plant at Reyðarfjörður.
A trip to Kárahnjúkar is an ideal road trip for the family. A paved road runs from Fljótsdalur to the Kárahnjúkar dam.
The Kárahnjúkar area is ideal for outdoor activities. It is fun to see the Kárahnjúkar Dam itself and the Hálslón Reservoir. When Hálslón fills up and overflows, the Hverfandi waterfall appears at the western end of the dam, where the water plunges about 100 meters into Hafrahvammahljúfur. The waterfall is mighty and can become more powerful than Dettifoss. There are also fun hiking trails in the area; for example, there is a great hiking trail along Hafrahvammagljúfur and to Magnahellir, but to get to the starting point of the marked hiking trail, you need a four-wheel-drive car.
Kerlingarfjöll Mountains
Kverkfjöll
Lakagígar and Laki
Landmannahellir
Landmannahellir in Landmannaafréttur has long been a destination point for travellers passing through the area. The name of the place is drawn from a cave there which was used for centuries to shelter both men and horses.
At present, the location is a popular stopping point for both hikers and riders who stay there during the summer. There is, moreover, a campsite at the location. The operation of the area is in the hands of Hellismenn ehf. The company owns a number of huts at the location, as do Veiðifélag Landmannaafréttar and private entities.
A well-known hiking trail, Hellismannaleið, lies through the area and has now been signposted from Rjúpnavellir through Áfangagil to Landmannahellir and from there to Landmannalaugar. In order to reach Landmannahellir cave, one needs to use the Dómadalsleið (road F225). The road is approximately 80 km long from Landvegamót to Landmannahellir.
Landmannalaugar - Nature Reserve
Langisjór Lake, Fögrufjöll, Grænifjallgarður
Langjokull Glacier in Borgarfjord
Langjökull Glacier
Laugafell
Laugarfell
Laugarfell is located in the eastern part of the Icelandic Highlands, a bit north from Mount Snæfell. There are only two km from the road that leads to Kárahnjúkar to the hostel and it is the only part of the road that is not paved. In the summer there is good access to Laugarfell in all kinds of vehicles.
Laugarfell offers accommodation for 28 people. Two natural pools are located in Laugarfell and according to old folk tales the water is known for its healing powers.
There are many interesting tracking paths around Laugarfell and a number of beautiful waterfalls. Additionally, one can expect to see reindeers wandering around the area of Laugarfell.
Laugarfell is open from the 1st of June to 30th of September.
Ljótipollur
Lónsöræfi
In Lón District, the most eastern area of the Vatnajökull Region, lie the Stafafellsfjöll mountains, also called Lónsöræfi. They dominate the skyline east of the Vatnajökull glacier and have long comprised one of Iceland’s most extensive protected areas. Besides the deep, rugged canyons, the landscape displays a wide range of colors owing to the presence of rhyolite and other colorful rocks. In contrast, there are also lushly vegetated and sheltered valleys offering a very good chance of spotting reindeer. The numerous hiking trails make this area perfect for hiking. Keep in mind that getting there can be very difficult and one should seek advice from a visitor- or information center before attempting to go there.
Magnahellir
Drive north of Kárahnjúkastífla reservoir along a road (fit for SUV) on Lambafell to crossroads by Laugavellir. Drive down to a parking area by Dimmugljúfur canyons. There you will find a sign containing information and the trail running through Hafrahvammar canyon and Magnahellir cave where you will find the cylinder with the visitors’ log and stamp. The farmers in Eiríksstaðir used to keep their sheep in the slopes by Jökulsá river close to the cave called Magna cave which derives its name from the farmer named Magni who was the first one to keep his sheep there in winter.
Part of Hiking Treasures in Egilsstaðir Region
GPS : N64°99.252-W15°71.683
Mýrdalsjökull glacier and Katla
Möðrudalur
Ófærufoss waterfall - Nyrðri Ófæra river
Ófærufoss is an extremely beautiful waterfall in the river Nyrðri-Ófæra and falls into Eldgjá in two cascades. There used to be a stone arch across the lower one up until the year 1993, when it fell into the river during spring thawing. From Northern Fjallabaksleið it is possible to drive into Eldgjá and walk from there to the Ófærufoss. A road lies up to the eastern edge of Eldgjá. To get there, one needs to cross the river Nyrðri-Ófæra at a wading place, which can be risky. It is safe to recommend a walk up the mountain Gjátindur, from where there is magnificent view of Eldgjá, mountains by Langisjór and Lakagígur and its surroundings.
Ófærufoss falls into Eldgjá in Skaftártunguafréttur. Eldgjá is an approx. 40 km long eruptive fissure, approx. 600 meters wide in many places, and up to 200 meters deep. When it was formed, probably around 934, there were likely eruptions along the whole extent of it. The fissure is believed to reach under Mýrdalsjökull glacier. From Eldgjá, extensive streams of lava have flowed through Landbrot and Meðalland, reaching sea at Alviðruhamrar in Álftaver. The lava-field is believed to cover 700 km², which makes it one of the vastest lava-fields on earth in historical times, that is, after the last ice age.
Eldgjá is believed to belong to the same crater system as Katla. Eldgjá is a unique natural phenomenon and is listed as natural remnants. Plans to make Eldgjá and its surrounding area a part of Vatnajökull National Park are in place.
Theories have surfaced that suggest that the Eldgjá eruptions had even more effect in Europe then the Lakagígar eruptions. According to newly discovered evidence, crop failure, plagues and other disasters occurred in both Europe and the Middle East at that time. It has also been speculated that these eruptions caused more damage than the eruptions of Lakagígar.
Sanddalur
Sanddalur is a beautiful valley that lies south of Snæfell. The valley is barren and breathtaking with green moss plains and peculiar rock formations that envelop the valley with a fairytale glow. To go to Sanddalur you need a four-wheel-drive car, but you can also walk there from road number 910 to Kárahnjúkar.
Snæfell
Mt Snæfell towering to 1,833 m, is the highest mountain in Iceland, outside the glacier regions. Even so, and despite the omnipresent snow, (Snæfell = "The Snow Mountain), it is fairly accessible from Snæfellsskáli hut. While Snæfell boasts a splendor of its own, it offers a fabulous view, partly overlooking the oasis of Eyjabakkar. Eyjabakkar is the choice habitat for geese. Reindeer can frequently be spotted west of Snæfell, towards Hálsalón reservoir, in addition to other territories in the East Iceland highlands.
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Sólheimajökull
Sænautasel
Vatnajökull Glacier
Vatnajökull National Park
Vatnajökull national park established 7. June 2008, covers an area of 14,141 km2 (13,7% of Iceland). The eastern covers 2.384km2. There are many places to visit, and experience, the contrasts in the unique nature are magnificent. The battle between ice and fire still rages within the National Park's boundaries. Few other places in the world exhibit the effects of such a wide range of natural phenomena.
Among highlights of the east are Kverkfjöll, the home of Ice and fire, the oasis Hvannalindir, Snæfell the ancient volcano, where the reindeer roam and Eyjabakkar the celebrated home of the Pink-footed Goose.
Víknaslóðir
Víknaslóðir trails, sometimes also referred to as Trails of the Inlets is a vast net of well-marked and versatile hiking routes reaching from the village in Borgarfjörður Eystri to Loðmundarfjörður. Locals have through the years marked out and maintained numerous trails, making the area a rightfully called hiker's Paradise. They also publish a high-quality hiking map and operate comfortable hiking lodges with facilities in Breiðavík, Húsavík and Loðmundarfjörður, deserted inlets and fjord, south of Borgarfjörður Eystri.
The mountains come in all shapes and sizes and the variety of colors is stunning; everything from the black sand beaches to the pinkish orange hues of the mountain ridges. The trails wind themselves between isolated coves and fjords over colorful hills and through green valleys all the way down to the coast. Abandoned houses and ruins of ancient farms leave their mark on the surroundings.
Travellers can easily spend a few days in the area exploring and taking in the breathtaking views. Tourism companies in Borgarfjörður Eystri offer hikers all kinds of services related to their journey, whether it be tour planning, guidance or transport.
Waterfall Circle
The Waterfall Circle is an 8 kilometers long hiking circle that starts and ends in Laugarfell. On the hike, you can see five waterfalls and one canyon. Some of these waterfalls are among the most powerful in East Iceland. Most famous of the waterfalls are Kirkjufoss and Faxi.
This beautiful hike is getting more and more popular among hikers. After the hike then it is a good idea to take a bath in the hot springs in Laugarfell.
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Þjófafoss waterfall
Þórsmörk
Grænadyngja
Hrafntinnusker
Hvannargil
Walk from the sign by road F905. A circular trail from Kjólsstaðaskora then Vatnsstæði, inside the lowest Hvannárgil creek through all three creeks to the end of the highest. The highest creek is spectacular and ends in a waterfall. The cylinder with the visitors´log and the stamp is in the highest creek. Walk back down Slórdalur.
GPS: N65°16.868-W15°47.418
Skessugarður
Skessugarður - the Rampart of the Giantess is a natural phenomenon in East Iceland, which has been called one of the most amazing natural formations in the country. It was formed by an ice-age glacier, Brúarjökull. It is a large arch-shaped moraine and consists of massive boulders (porphyritic basalt) making up to a ca 300 meters long and ca 7 meters high natural wall. It lies from west to east. It marks the stagnation level of Brúarjökull at the end of the last glacial period.
After the stagnation of the glacier, a flood followed which washed this area clean of smaller rock leaving behind the big ones which makes this moraine unique as it lacks all smaller, finer sand particles and stones, or the glacial flour.
Skessugarður is located by the lake Grjótgarðsvatn was of Sænautasel turf house, on the other side of Mt. Snæfell. Turn left onto the old ring road (number 907, a gravel road) after you leave Sænautasel and drive for a couple of km. Then turn left onto a dirt road, which turns into a track until you reach Skessugarður after 2 km.