Parking
Skálafell car park at the Hjallanes trailhead near Skálafell farm (Google Maps listing: 64.247404, -15.685374). Access from Route 1; close all gates after passing.
Overview
About Hjallanes to Skálafellsjökull Viewpoint
This is a quieter, scenery‑packed loop on the Skálafell side of Vatnajökull, delivering close, unfolding views of the Skálafellsjökull outlet glacier without stepping onto the ice. The loop is about 5.1 miles total (about 8.2 km; the park lists 8 km), taking most hikers 3–4 hours. Expect undulating terrain over moraine and heath, a few short steeper bits, and some shallow stream crossings. Officially labeled challenging, most hikers find it moderately challenging when dry.
Why go
- Interpretive signs that highlight glacier history and landforms as you go
- Close, evolving glacier views with far fewer people than the popular lagoon stops
Heads up
- A short, slightly exposed riverside section can unsettle those with height sensitivity
- Unconsolidated moraine and changeable stream crossings can mean wet feet after rain
If you want a real on‑foot glacier viewpoint without crowds or technical mountaineering, this loop is a gem. It’s not a manicured stroll—the terrain and weather keep you honest—but the solitude and front‑row glacier views punch well above the effort.
Parkwolf’s verdictWorth It?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Vatnajökull map
Full mapElevation30–160 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 Hjallanes to Skálafellsjökull Viewpoint, 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.
Recorded for this trailhead
Hjallanes Trailhead and the Skálafellsjökull Glacier ViewListen
“If you want to get out for a hike with some real solitude, the trailhead you're passing is for the Hjallanes loop.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Vatnajökull Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Grímsvötn: The Volcano Hidden Under the Ice
- Crevasses: The Glacier’s Fault Lines
- 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 Hjallanes to Skálafellsjökull Viewpoint
What You’ll SeeThe route wanders up the Hjallanes ridge with early looks into Kistugil gorge and interpretive…
The route wanders up the Hjallanes ridge with early looks into Kistugil gorge and interpretive signs that make sense of the glacier‑carved landscape. Higher up, you reach an old 1890s moraine crest with your first big look toward the glacier tongue. The middle section edges toward the lateral moraine with sweeping views over the ice, outwash flats, and a glacial lake. On the way back, a scenic stretch follows the Kolgríma river before the trail slips through low birch scrub to the farm.
Keep an eye out for summer wildflowers, late‑season berries, and birdlife; occasional reindeer wander through this area too. You’ll also pass information boards that help decode the geology and past glacier positions—worth a read.
Trail Feel and Direction TipsFooting varies from firm path to loose, unconsolidated moraine, with muddy patches after rain.
Footing varies from firm path to loose, unconsolidated moraine, with muddy patches after rain. There are rock‑hop stream crossings and one brief, slightly exposed traverse squeezed between rock and river. Many hikers prefer going counterclockwise for a more dramatic reveal of the glacier, but clockwise works fine.
Logistics and EssentialsStart from the Skálafell farm car park by the Jón Eiríksson monument just off Route 1.
Start from the Skálafell farm car park by the Jón Eiríksson monument just off Route 1. The loop is signed and generally easy to follow, with a few new stairs/boardwalks near the start and end. Wear waterproof boots and bring layers—weather turns fast here. Trekking poles help on loose moraine and stream rocks. Cell service can be spotty near the glacier; download maps offline and let someone know your plan. Close any gates you pass and stay off glacier ice unless you’re with a certified guide.
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.
