Parking
Use the signed parking and campground area north of the Ásbyrgi campground. Follow the Eyjan (Á2) signs from there; the official trail starts on the north side of the campground.
Overview
About Eyjan at Ásbyrgi Trail
Eyjan (Á2) is a signed loop onto the flat-topped rock in the middle of Ásbyrgi’s horseshoe-shaped canyon. The route provides broad views over the canyon and its birch-covered floor, with high cliffs along the top. It is an easy outing, but the exposure is serious.
Why go
- Unique middle-of-the-canyon vantage point with sweeping views over Ásbyrgi
- A signed, rewarding loop for a relatively short outing
- Birch woodland and glacial-flood canyon scenery
Heads up
- High, unprotected cliff exposure along Eyjan
- Wooden steps and rocky sections can be slippery when wet or icy
- Remote access and seasonal conditions can affect the approach
The trail is suitable for hikers comfortable with an easy but exposed route and uneven steps. It is not appropriate for anyone who cannot keep well back from unprotected cliff edges.
Parkwolf’s verdictWho It’s ForMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Vatnajökull map
Full mapElevation25–78 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
1 active Vatnajökull alert
- ClosureFosshvammur permanently closed at DettifossFosshvammur at Dettifoss is permanently closed to all traffic; do not enter.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Vatnajökull Tour Guide
Your drive to Eyjan at Ásbyrgi Trail, narrated.
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.
- 102 audio storiesacross Vatnajökull’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grey Seal, Harbor Seal, Caribou, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 16 trails, 72 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Eyjan at Ásbyrgi Trail
Route and StatsThis is a roughly 3.0-mile loop (about 4.
This is a roughly 3.0-mile loop (about 4.85 km on the verified mapped line) and normally takes 1.5–2 hours. It starts north of the Ásbyrgi campground, follows the approach to the wooden steps, climbs onto Eyjan, makes the summit/plateau circuit, and returns to the start along the signed route. The official park page lists the route as 4.5 km; the small difference is normal map-source rounding and the verified OSM line is the basis for the stored geometry.
Scenery and GeologyEyjan sits in the centre of Ásbyrgi, giving a distinctive view down the glacial-flood canyon…
Eyjan sits in the centre of Ásbyrgi, giving a distinctive view down the glacial-flood canyon and across its forested floor. The surrounding Jökulsárgljúfur landscape was shaped by catastrophic outburst floods, and the canyon is also associated with the local story that it is a hoofprint from Sleipnir, Óðinn’s eight-legged horse.
CautionsEyjan has high, unprotected cliffs.
Eyjan has high, unprotected cliffs. Keep well back from every edge and supervise children closely. The wooden steps and rocky sections can be slippery when wet or icy; stay on the marked route and follow park guidance.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Vatnajökull
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.
