Two Must-Do Hikes in Skaftafell

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How To Get To Skaftafell

Skaftafell National Park is located 57 km (about 50 minutes) west of Jökulsárlón Lagoon and offers a number of hiking trails for all skill levels. The trailheads to both of these easy, short hikes start from the Skaftafell Visitor Center.

Follow the Ring Road to its intersection with Route 998 (Skaftafell sign) and follow it 2 km. Turn right after the entrance to reach the Visitor Center parking area.

Skaftafell Visitor Center

As a bonus, the Skaftafell Visitor Center is also worthy of your time. The Visitor Center provides excellent information about the trails, exhibits about the geology of the area, and a short 12 minute movie shows footage of the dramatic glacier flood from Skeiðarárjökull (glacier) in 1996. You’ll also find a souvenir shop, restrooms, and a cafeteria next door.

The Skaftafell Visitor Center opens at 9am most of the year, except for Dec- Feb when it opens at 10am. It closes at 7pm Jun- Aug, 6pm Sept & Oct, and 5pm Nov- March.

Important: Make sure to stop in the Visitor Center before your hike to pay your parking fee (1000 ISK) at the kiosks on the wall and get trail conditions. You can also pay online.

Hike 1: Skaftafellsjökull

This short 3.7 km (2.3 mile) roundtrip walk is an easy way to get close to a glacier. The flat trail starts next to Skaftafell Visitor Center and is well marked. It is paved half the way and then becomes a wide, crushed gravel surface.

The trail ends in close proximity of Skaftafellsjökull where you will get a good view of this impressive glacier. Plan on about 90 minutes for this walk including time for photographs. See the national park’s trail description.

Hike 2: Svartifoss-Sjónarsker-Sel Loop

This hike is wonderful. It’s especially well-suited to kids because of its constantly changing features and views along the trail.

Plus, it’s a relatively short loop hike at 5.5 km (3.5 miles). Estimated walking time is 2-3 hours depending on how long you linger at each magnificent viewpoint.

The trail leads you to 3 stunningly beautiful sites: Svartifoss waterfall (Icelandic for “Black Falls”), the incredible viewpoint at Sjónarsker with 360 degree views of the surrounding glaciers from a high vantage point, and finally a stroll among the old turf-roofed houses at Sel before returning to the Visitor Center.

The Start: Visitor Center To Svartifoss

The loop hike is a well-marked trail and also begins next to Skaftafell Visitor Center. The first 250 meters passes by the campground and then turns right and starts climbing uphill. Along the way, you’ll pass 3 other waterfalls before arriving at Svartifoss after 1.5 km.

See the national park’s trail description.

Upon reaching Svartifoss, you’ll find a viewing platform for a closer look at this rare waterfall surrounded by black hexagonal basalt columns. The basalt columns here are reportedly the inspiration for the Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavik.

Svartifoss To Sjónarsker

After admiring Svartifoss, continue across the river on the footbridge and climb up the rock steps on the other side of the ravine.

Continue uphill on this trail for about 1 km to the viewpoint at Sjónarsker. You’ll see a sign for Sjónarsker and a trail on the right which leads you up a short steep hill to the viewpoint.

At the viewpoint, you’ll have amazing 360 degree views of Skaftafellsjökull (“jokull” means glacier in Icelandic), a wider view of the Vatnajökull, the distant lava fields and river, and the mountains. A steel viewing disc indicates the natural landmarks that you see in each direction. It is definitely worth the walk to get here. It’s simply awesome!

Detour By The Turf-roofed Houses At Sel On Your Way Back

From Sjónarsker, retrace your steps to the main trail. From here, it’s all downhill. You can follow a trail to return directly to the Visitor Center or follow the signs to Sel (recommended) where you’ll walk by a few turf-roofed houses on your way back.

As you loop around and go past the turf houses, you’ll be on a wide gravel road for a short distance before rejoining the trail system.

Continue to follow Lambhagi signs, and you’ll eventually pass the campground and arrive at the Visitor Center for a total of 5.5 km (3.5 miles).

Restaurants Near Skaftafell National Park

You’ll find a cafeteria located next to the Visitor Center as well as a food truck, Glacier Goodies, serving lobster soup and baby back ribs.

Shell Freysnesi Gas Station is located on the Ring Road just outside of Skaftafell National Park. Don’t scoff at eating at gas stations in Iceland. Enjoy the hot dish of the day as well as burgers and pizzas.