Fláajökull

About Fláajökull

Fláajökull is an outlet glacier on the southeast edge of Vatnajökull, about 40 km west of Höfn í Hornafirði, roughly 30 minutes by car. Most Ring Road drivers pass the turnoff on their way to Höfn without slowing down, which is why the ice front is usually quiet.

Instead of a lagoon lined with tour boats, Fláajökull glacier gives you a walk across bare moraine right up to the ice. The glacier reached its largest extent in 1894, and the ground it has given up since is a mix of gravel ridges, meltwater channels and small pools. Reindeer graze in the area too, most often in winter.

To drive in, leave Route 1 between the farms Hólmur and Lambleiksstaðir and follow the side road to the parking lot. The last 6 km are gravel, so take it slowly in a small car and check conditions after heavy rain or snow. You can also walk in from the Haukafell camping area on a footpath of just over 2 km, and overnight stays are not allowed at the parking lot.

Vatnajökull National Park marks several trails here. The F1 historical trail is an easy 2.6 km walk of 1 to 2 hours, while the F2 geological trail runs 3.6 km and takes about 2 hours. Longer routes link the glacier to Haukafell (J3, 4.5 km) and to Heinabergslón (J2, 8.3 km), though the Hólmsá river on J2 has no bridge and the park advises against wading it.

Allow two to three hours for a Fláajökull visit, including the gravel drive, which is easiest from late spring to fall. Stay on the marked trails and keep well back from the glacier edge, where ice can collapse without warning. Go onto the ice itself only with a guide and proper gear.