About Langjökull Glacier
Langjökull glacier is the closest large ice cap to Reykjavík, and on a clear day you can see its white edge from Gullfoss. At about 870 square kilometers, it is the second-largest glacier in Iceland after Vatnajökull, and it is the one most day trips from the capital actually drive onto.
The ice cap runs about 50 kilometers along the western edge of the Highlands, between Borgarfjörður in the west and the Kjölur route in the east. Its highest point sits around 1,450 meters, and in places the ice is up to 580 meters thick. On the eastern side, outlet glaciers drain into lake Hvítárvatn, the source of the Hvítá river that later plunges over Gullfoss.
You can't simply walk onto Langjökull from a parking lot. The roads that reach its edge are highland tracks, and the ice hides crevasses, so the practical way up is with a tour that supplies the vehicle and a guide. Most trips start from one of two bases: Gullfoss on the Golden Circle or Húsafell in West Iceland, each about two hours' drive from Reykjavík.
From Húsafell, specialist glacier trucks carry visitors to the Into the Glacier ice tunnel, a man-made passage cut deep into the ice cap. On the Gullfoss side, tours cross the glacier in converted monster trucks or on snowmobiles, and some add an ice cave when winter conditions allow. All of these trips depend on the weather, which turns quickly at this altitude.
Summer brings the longest days and the most reliable access, while winter has deeper snow and more cancellations. Pack warm layers even in July, because the wind on the ice cap feels nothing like a summer afternoon in the lowlands. A glacier trip from Gullfoss or Húsafell takes about half a day, or a full day if you leave from Reykjavík.
Even without a tour, Langjökull is easy to spot. Look northeast from Road 35 near Gullfoss, or drive the Kaldidalur mountain road, which runs right along its western edge when it is open.
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