Kerlingarfjöll
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About Kerlingarfjöll
Kerlingarfjöll is a mountain range in the highlands of Iceland, south of the Hofsjökull ice cap and just off the Kjölur route between South and North Iceland. Its peaks are rhyolite, formed by eruptions under glacier ice, which is why the slopes are orange and yellow and streaked with steam. The highest, Snækollur, reaches 1,488 meters above a plateau that already sits around 600 to 700 meters up.
From Reykjavík the drive takes about 3 hours 30 minutes in summer, past Gullfoss and up Route 35, then onto the short F347 spur to Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll. F347 is an F-road, so you need a 4x4. The highland roads open in early summer on dates the Icelandic Road Administration sets each year.
The Kerlingarfjöll geothermal valley, Hveradalir, is the main reason to come. A trail drops from the parking lot to boardwalks among steaming vents, boiling pools and stained clay, and bathing is not allowed. The whole area became a protected nature reserve in 2020, so stay on the marked paths, which also link up for longer Kerlingarfjöll hikes over the ridges.
Give it at least a full day, or stay over to hike in the evening light. Highland Base has a hotel, lodges, huts and a summer campsite, plus a restaurant and the Highland Baths, which are open to day visitors in summer.
Kerlingarfjöll in winter is a different trip, since the roads close and the base is reached by super jeep transfer. Check the official road-conditions map and weather warnings before any highland drive, because the weather up here turns fast even in July.
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Good to know
How do you get to Kerlingarfjöll?
Drive Route 35 (Kjalvegur) north past Gullfoss, then take the F347 spur to Highland Base. The trip from Reykjavík takes about 3 hours 30 minutes, and F347 requires a 4x4.
When is Kerlingarfjöll accessible by car?
Only in summer, after the highland roads open on dates set each year by the Icelandic Road Administration. They usually stay open into September.
Can you visit Kerlingarfjöll in winter?
Yes, but not in your own car. The roads close in winter, and Highland Base guests arrive by super jeep transfer.
Can you bathe in the Kerlingarfjöll hot springs?
Not in Hveradalir, where bathing is not allowed and the pools are near boiling. The Highland Baths at Highland Base are the place to soak.
What are the best hikes in Kerlingarfjöll?
The trail down into Hveradalir is the classic short walk, and marked routes continue over the rhyolite ridges toward the higher peaks for a longer day.
Can you stay overnight in Kerlingarfjöll?
Yes, Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll has a hotel, lodges, huts and a summer campsite, plus a restaurant.
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