Parking
Park at Skaftafell Visitor Centre; the marked M2 route begins at Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Centre.

Vatnajökull National Park
Complete M2 loop from Skaftafell to Morsárjökull’s glacier-lake viewpoint
Overview
The official M2 loop from Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Centre reaches the Morsárjökull viewpoint in Morsárdalur and returns through the valley. It is about 12.2 miles total, and a 6.5-hour day is a realistic plan for the full route. The National Park lists the route at roughly 350 m of ascent and rates it challenging.
Follow the marked trail from the visitor centre toward Sjónarsker and into Morsárdalur. Continue between Grjóthóll and the glacial lake in front of Morsárjökull, then return to Grjóthóll and cross the footbridge over the Morsá. Follow the river to the second footbridge by Götugil, cross it, and take the marked trail back to Skaftafellsstofa. The stored line follows this complete loop from the visitor-centre start back to the same access.
Expect a long day over rough black sand, uneven valley paths, and braided-river terrain, with broad glacier and valley views. The glacier and its proglacial lake are the destination; Morsárfoss is generally a distant view from this route rather than a summit objective.
Use the signed footbridges and stay on the marked route. Keep well back from the glacier and lagoon edge, where calving ice and surge waves are hazardous. Carry warm, waterproof layers, food, and water, and be prepared for quickly changing weather and patchy cell coverage. Dogs must be kept on a leash in the park.
Map & elevation
Plan your hike

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 trailhead
Welcome to the Skaftafell Visitor Center Area“You're pulling into the Skaftafell area, which is the main basecamp for exploring the glaciers and waterfalls nearby. The large building is the visitor center, and it's the best place to start to get oriented.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Vatnajökull Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
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
ChallengingKristínartindar Trail (S4)17.9 km · 7 hr · At the trailheadA demanding 17.9 km loop from Skaftafellsstofa to Kristínartindar’s steep summit ridge, with glacier views throughout.
ModerateSvartifoss Waterfall (Skaftafell)3.9 km · 1.5 hr · At the trailheadA short, sustained climb from Skaftafell Visitor Centre to Iceland’s basalt-framed waterfall.
ModerateSvartifoss–Sjónarsker–Sel (S2)5.8 km · 2 hr · At the trailheadBasalt falls, big views, and turf houses in one tidy loop
EasySkaftafellsjökull Glacier4.1 km · 1.5 hr · At the trailheadEasy circular glacier trail with interpretive stops and close Skaftafellsjökull views
ModerateSjónarnípa Viewpoint Trail (S6)7.5 km · 2.8 hr · At the trailheadSvartifoss and a cliff-top glacier overlook in one challenging loop.
Visitor center · At the trailheadSkaftafellsstofa Visitor CenterThe hub for trail info, exhibits, and a warm pre-hike coffee
Campground · 0.3 km awaySkaftafell CampgroundBig, well-situated basecamp for hikes and glacier adventures
Sight · 0.8 km awayHundafossPretty gorge waterfall on the Svartifoss trail, best from the west
Sight · 1.3 km awaySvartifossBasalt-column waterfall via a short, rewarding Skaftafell hike
Sight · 2.7 km awaySkaftafellsjökull ViewpointEasy walk to a glacier lagoon with booming, ash-streaked ice
Sight · 3.6 km awaySkeiðarárbrúTwisted bridge girder and big glacier views on the sandur plain
Gas station · 4.5 km awayFreysnesOne-stop fuel, food, and tour meet-up near Skaftafell
Sight · 4.5 km awaySvínafellsjökull ViewpointShort walk to a blue-ice glacier tongue and lagoonParkwolf’s Vatnajökull ranking