View of Vatnajökull Glacier – Svartifoss loop from Skaftafell

Mountain hikes & routes

View of Vatnajökull Glacier – Svartifoss loop from Skaftafell

Hard

3.7

(3)

hikers

View of Vatnajökull Glacier – Svartifoss loop from Skaftafell

06:19

17.1km

860m

Mountaineering

Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 16, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.23 km

Viewpoint

1.69 km

Viewpoint; (Hrutagil)

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The second viewpoint marked on the map. (Hrutagil)

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3.00 km

View of the Skaftafellsjökull Glacier

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In the information center it is essential to inquire about the state of the road to the Kristínartindar.

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5.85 km

View of Vatnajökull Glacier

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Unfortunately, the glacier tongue is quite grey at the lower edge and is therefore melting even faster.

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7.78 km

Kristinartindar Saddle

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We are sitting here on the saddle between the front peak and the main peak. The path runs along the flank of the lowest peak to this saddle (cairn). From …

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14.4 km

Here you have a 360°**** panorama of the Black Sandur, with the Skeiðarárjökull glacier, the disturbing contours of the Kristinartindar and, in clear weather, far to the west, the Mýrdalsjökull. In the south, the ocean and the wild Skeiðará sparkle.

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15.0 km

Svartifoss

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This waterfall, about 1.5km from the parking lot, you should definitely visit. Due to the basalt formations, this 20m high waterfall has something mystical.

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15.3 km

View of Svartifoss from above

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Preview of the waterfall

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15.9 km

Magnúsarfoss

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Hikers visiting Svartifoss will encounter two waterfalls on the way to the main attraction: Magnúsarfoss and Hundafoss. The Magnúsarfoss is the smaller of the two, measuring about 10 meters (about …

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17.1 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

11.0 km

4.85 km

1.29 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

9.76 km

3.67 km

2.54 km

878 m

215 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Monday 12 October

3°C

1°C

48 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 10.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

July 27, 2021,Island'21 [3\8] - Durch den NP Vatnajökull zum Gipfel des Kristinartindar

a demanding but absolutely recommendable mountain hike!
the first section always offers beautiful views of the skaftafellsjökull glacier tongue. from the summit you can see the glacier in all its glory. you can also look over to an ice field and see the highest peak in iceland. on the way back we took one of iceland's most famous waterfalls, the …

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