Skaftafell

About Skaftafell

Skaftafell is the best-known area of Vatnajökull National Park, on the south side of the Vatnajökull ice cap in Southeast Iceland. It was declared a national park in its own right in 1967, became part of Vatnajökull National Park on 7 June 2008, and is included in the park's UNESCO World Heritage listing from 2019. Outlet glaciers such as Skaftafellsjökull flow down close to the trails, and the area is the main base for hiking and glacier trips in the region.

Marked trails start from the Skaftafellsstofa visitor centre. The most popular is the S2 loop to the waterfall Svartifoss, a 5.8 km circuit of about two hours that also passes Sjónarsker and Sel, graded easy. The S1 trail to the front of Skaftafellsjökull is an easy 4.1 km loop of 1 to 1.5 hours. For more effort, S5 to the Sjónarnípa viewpoint is 6.5 km and 2 to 2.5 hours and rated challenging, while S4 over Kristínartindar is an 18 km, 6 to 8 hour hike rated difficult.

Walking on the ice itself is only for guided groups, and several operators run glacier hikes, ice climbing and, in winter, ice cave tours from here. Skaftafellsstofa is open all year, with information on trails, conditions and accommodation plus a shop, and the Skaftafell campsite beside it takes tents, campers and motorhomes year-round.

Parking at Skaftafell costs 1,110 ISK for a car with up to five seats, valid until midnight on the day you pay; you can pay at machines in the car park, and the fee is halved if you have already paid at another Vatnajökull National Park site that day. The area is accessible all year, weather and road conditions permitting, but conditions change fast outside summer, so check the forecast and road status first. Summer brings the easiest walking and the longest days.