Gígjökull Glacier
About Gígjökull Glacier
Gígjökull is an outlet glacier that pours down the north face of Eyjafjallajökull, the ice-capped volcano on Iceland's south coast. It sits in the valley of the Markarfljót river on the way into Þórsmörk, and the tongue drops so steeply from the crater rim that it looks frozen mid-fall. Older maps call it Falljökull, which means the falling glacier.
Until 2010 the glacier ended in a meltwater lagoon called Lónið, and most older photos of Gígjökull show the ice ending in water. When Eyjafjallajökull erupted that April, meltwater floods carried ash and broken ice down the glacier and filled the lagoon with sediment. What you see today is a broad gravel plain with the cracked, ash-streaked ice rising behind it, a clear record of how quickly a single eruption reshaped the valley.
Gígjökull lies along road 249, which turns into the F249 mountain track toward Þórsmörk. The glacier viewpoint is roughly 25 km from Seljalandsfoss, about 40 minutes on gravel, and close to three hours from Reykjavík in total. Because the F249 is a highland road with unbridged streams, you need a 4x4, and most rental insurance excludes river damage, so check the road conditions map before you set out.
The road is usually passable from late spring into fall, with summer the most reliable time. Allow 30 to 60 minutes to walk across the flats toward the ice and back. Stay off the glacier itself unless you are with a certified guide, since the ice is crevassed and unstable at the front.
If you would rather not drive the F-road, a super jeep tour into Þórsmörk stops at Gígjökull on the way into the valley. The glacier pairs well with a day in Þórsmörk, and on a clear day you can follow the line of the ice all the way up toward the summit crater.
Day tours that visit Gígjökull Glacier
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Good to know
Where is Gígjökull?
Gígjökull is on the north side of Eyjafjallajökull in South Iceland, beside the F249 track that leads into Þórsmörk. The viewpoint is about 25 km east of Seljalandsfoss.
What happened to the Gígjökull lagoon?
The lagoon in front of Gígjökull filled with sediment during the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, when meltwater floods carried ash and rock down the glacier. A gravel plain now lies where the water used to be.
How do you get to Gígjökull?
Drive road 249 from Route 1 near Seljalandsfoss and continue on the F249 toward Þórsmörk, which requires a 4x4. Without one, the easiest option is a super jeep tour that stops at the glacier.
Do you need a 4x4 to reach Gígjökull?
Yes. The last part of the route is on the F249, a mountain road where 4x4 vehicles are required and some streams have no bridges.
Can you walk on Gígjökull glacier?
Only with a certified glacier guide. The ice front is steep, crevassed and covered in ash in places, so visitors on their own should stay on the gravel flats in front of it.
What is the best time to visit Gígjökull?
Summer, roughly June through August, is the most reliable time because the F249 is usually open and river levels are easier to judge. Check the road conditions map before going, since the opening date changes each year.
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