Skaftafellsjökull Glacier

Skaftafellsjökull, which simply means ‘the glacier of Skaftafell’ in Icelandic, is one of the many glacier tongues that form part of Europe's largest ice cap, Vatnajökull, covering 11% of Iceland's surface. This unique hike gives you the chance to get up close to this majestic ice tongue and its lake dotted with small icebergs.

The trail is marked, almost flat and accessible to all, making it a perfect activity for families and nature lovers. Along the way, you'll discover a real living history lesson on the retreat of glaciers. You will be able to see the landscapes formed by glacial erosion and observe the development of vegetation at different altitudes.

To enhance your experience, detailed information is available at the Visitor Centre, located at the start of the trail, and on information panels along the way.

icone activite
Activity: Hiking
icone difficulte
Difficulty: Very easyiDifficulty levels explained here:
➡️ Hiking parameters
icone duree
Average duration: 1 h 15 miFind out how we calculate the duration here:
➡️ Hiking parameters
icone distance
Length: 4.5 km
icone typetrajet
Type of route: Out and back
icone denivele positif
Elevation gain: 60 m
icone altitude
Maximum altitude: 120 m
Vertiginous: NoiVertiginous levels explained here:
➡️ Hiking parameters
icone balise
Marked: Yes
frequentation
Popularity: Moderate
icone region
Region: South
icone depart
Start point: 64.01667, -16.96583
Skaftafellsjökull Glacier