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Glaciers
Falljökull
About Falljökull
Falljökull, the "falling glacier," tumbles off the slopes of Öræfajökull in a steep, broken icefall before spreading out into a wide tongue of crevassed ice just east of Skaftafell. It's one of the outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull, and it's where many guided glacier hikes from the Skaftafell area take place.
Falljökull and its twin Virkisjökull flow down side by side, split by a rock ridge called Rauðikambur, and glaciologists have measured Falljökull's front on its own since 1957. Like most Icelandic glaciers, it has been retreating since about 1990, and the moraine ridges you cross on the walk in mark where the ice stood decades ago.
The glacier sits inside Vatnajökull National Park on the South Coast, about 15 minutes' drive east of the Skaftafell visitor center along the Ring Road. A short side road leads to a small parking area near the glacier front, and a path continues to a viewpoint over the ice. Stay off the glacier itself unless you are with a certified guide, since hidden crevasses and unstable ice make it dangerous without crampons and training.
Guided Falljökull glacier hikes run all year and include crampons, helmets and a guide who picks the route for current conditions. Options range from an easy three-hour hike to longer five- and six-hour routes and ice climbing, and from October to April some tours add a natural ice cave when conditions are safe.
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Good to know
Where is Falljökull?
Falljökull is in Vatnajökull National Park in southeast Iceland, flowing down from Öræfajökull about 15 minutes' drive east of the Skaftafell visitor center.
What does Falljökull mean?
The name means "falling glacier," after the steep icefall where the ice drops off the slopes of Öræfajökull.
Can you hike on Falljökull without a guide?
No, you should only walk on the glacier with a certified guide and proper equipment. You can see the glacier front from the viewpoint path near the parking area without one.
Is Falljökull retreating?
Yes. Like most Icelandic glaciers, it has been in retreat since about 1990, and its front is now well back from the moraines it left in the last century.
When can you do a Falljökull glacier hike?
Guided hikes run all year. Natural ice caves on the glacier are only visited from about October to April, when conditions are safe.
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