Skaftafell: hiking, Svartifoss, and glacier views

Skaftafell is a nature reserve in Vatnajökull National Park in southeast Iceland, about 326 kilometres east of Reykjavík on Route 1, the Ring Road. It has been part of the national park since 2008 and sits below Vatnajökull, Iceland's largest glacier. Its best-known walks lead to Svartifoss, a waterfall framed by hexagonal basalt columns, and to the edge of the Skaftafellsjökull glacier tongue.

Skaftafell at a glance

Getting to Skaftafell

Skaftafell sits just off Route 1, the Ring Road, about 326 kilometres east of Reykjavík, a drive of roughly 4.5 to 5.5 hours without stops. Most people reach it as part of a longer South Coast trip rather than in a single push from the capital. Coming from the west, it is about 1 hour 45 minutes past the village of Vík, and from the east about 45 minutes and 57 kilometres before the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. For orientation, Kirkjubæjarklaustur lies about 70 kilometres to the west and Höfn about 130 kilometres to the east. The Skaftafellsstofa visitor centre is open year-round and is the starting point for the marked trails.

Svartifoss and its basalt columns

Svartifoss, or Black Falls, drops about 20 metres over a wall of dark, hexagonal basalt columns that stand like organ pipes on either side. The columns formed as a lava flow cooled slowly and cracked into regular pillars, a process dated to around 300,000 years ago. The shape has left a mark on Icelandic architecture: the columns are said to have inspired Guðjón Samúelsson when he designed Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík and the National Theatre, Þjóðleikhúsið. The falls sit about 1.5 kilometres from the visitor centre, mostly uphill, and the marked S2 loop that takes them in is about 5.8 kilometres and around two hours, rated easy. On the way you pass two more waterfalls, Hundafoss and Magnúsarfoss.

Walking to Skaftafellsjökull glacier

Skaftafellsjökull is an outlet glacier, a tongue of ice reaching down from the Vatnajökull ice cap on the east side of Skaftafellsheiði. The marked S1 glacier trail runs to a viewpoint over the glacier front and back, about 4.1 kilometres in total, roughly one to one and a half hours, and is rated easy and mostly flat. It is the simplest way to stand close to the ice. Walking onto the glacier itself is a different matter and calls for a certified glacier guide, crampons, and safety gear, because the surface hides crevasses that are hard to judge without training.

Longer hikes: Kristínartindar and Morsárdalur

For walkers with more time and experience, the reserve has demanding routes into the highlands and side valleys. The S4 trail to the Kristínartindar peaks is about 18 kilometres and takes 6 to 8 hours, rated difficult, with wide views over the glacier and the sandur plains. The M2 route toward Morsárjökull, at the head of the Morsárdalur valley, is about 19.5 kilometres and 6 to 7 hours. These are full-day mountain hikes with steep sections and changeable weather, so carry layers, food, and water, tell someone your plan, and check the forecast on vedur.is before setting out.

When to go and staying safe

Summer brings long daylight, the easiest walking, and the widest choice of open trails. Winter shortens the days and leaves paths icy, so spikes and care are needed even on the easy routes. Whatever the season, check road conditions for Route 1 on road.is, the weather on vedur.is, and travel alerts on safetravel.is, Iceland's official travel safety service, and never go onto the glacier without a guide. Skaftafell is a common stop on longer South Coast trips, and to compare guided South Coast tours that include it, use the compare page rather than booking blind.

Estimate the road time

Use the Driving Distance Calculator to work out how much driving time to allow around Skaftafell: hiking, Svartifoss, and glacier views.