Lodging · Vatnajökull National Park
Remote highland hut at Herðubreiðarlindir oasis
Overview
Tucked into the green Herðubreiðarlindir oasis about 4 km east of the table mountain Herðubreið, Þorsteinsskáli is a classic highland hut that feels worlds away from the Ring Road. It’s simple, social, and perfectly placed for exploring lava fields and the stark beauty of the northern highlands.
Adventurous travelers who want a remote, well‑placed base with just‑enough comfort. If you need private rooms, frequent hot showers, and paved access, look elsewhere.
Parkwolf’s verdictWho It’s ForMap
Local know-how
Use a high‑clearance 4x4 and check F‑road openings before you go.
Bring sturdy stakes, extra guylines, and a head net for midges.
Confirm with the wardens that the WC and shower are operating when you arrive.
Book bunks well ahead in peak summer; campers should arrive early for better spots.
Pack layers—winds and sudden sandstorms are common on the plains.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Vatnajökull Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Vatnajökull National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this place
Herðubreiðarlindir, Oasis in a Lava Desert“You're coming up on Herðubreiðarlindir, and it's a pretty dramatic sight. It’s a green, spring-fed oasis popping up right in the middle of the Ódáðahraun lava desert.”
Plays as you drive up to Þorsteinsskáli Hut in the Parkwolf Vatnajökull Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Inside, expect a straightforward mountain‑hut setup: gas for cooking, a kerosene stove for heat, and dorm‑style bunks. In summer (when wardens are on duty), a separate sanitary house offers a WC and a gas‑heated shower. There’s also a designated camping area beside the hut. Around the site, short trails thread through the lava, and the oasis streams are icy‑clear—some hardy souls even take a dip.
Herðubreiðarlindir is a lush interruption in a sea of black lava and sand. The buildings are spread out a bit—hut, facilities, tent area, and info office are a short walk apart—so the place retains a quiet, spacious feel even when it’s busy. On blustery days you’ll feel the highlands’ full force; on calm days, expect midges.
Bunks are limited and summer demand is real—mid‑season dates often book out. If your plans are fixed, reserve early. Campers don’t reserve, but arriving earlier in the day helps you claim a better pitch.
Summer is the window: facilities are open, roads are passable, and ranger‑led activities sometimes run. For fewer people, aim for the shoulders of the summer season and target early morning or late evening for the best light on Herðubreið.
Wildlife
22 sightingsGrey SealMost seen around 5 AMSighting map
258 sightingsHarbor SealMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
184 sightingsCaribouMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
62 sightingsArctic FoxMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
168 sightingsWhooper SwanMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
68 sightingsAtlantic PuffinMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Vatnajökull. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
Parkwolf’s Vatnajökull ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
