Hike · South Iceland
Skaftafellsheiði

Before you go
Stay on marked paths, leave no trace and close gates behind you. Driving off-road is illegal in Iceland.
Areas can be closed at short notice to protect them. Check the official page before travelling.
Warm up after: pools & lagoons with a visitor pass
Passes from ISK 7,900. Lagoons cost extra per visit.
Sign in to see the recommendations
The best sights in each region, and where to soak afterwards.
Quick facts
- Skaftafellsheiði is 328 km from Reykjavík by road, about 4 h 48 min by car.
- The Skaftafellsheiði route is 16 km long and takes about 5 h 55 min to walk.
- The nearest town to Skaftafellsheiði is Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
- Skaftafellsheiði is a hike in South Iceland.
The facts
| Distance | 16 km |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 719 m |
| Walking time | 5 h 55 min |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Nearest town | Kirkjubæjarklaustur |
| From Reykjavík | 328 km by road, about 4 h 48 min |
| Region | South Iceland |
| Coordinates | 64.0163° N, 16.9672° W |
Getting there
Directions go to the sight's mapped point. For a mountain, glacier or lake that can be well away from the road, so park only in marked areas and walk from there.
Questions people ask
What is Skaftafellsheiði?
Skaftafellsheiði is a hike in South Iceland.
Where is Skaftafellsheiði?
Skaftafellsheiði is at 64.0163° N, 16.9672° W, in South Iceland. The nearest town is Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The nearest other sight on our map is Kristínartindar, a hike about 0 m away in a straight line.
How far is Skaftafellsheiði from Reykjavík?
Skaftafellsheiði is 328 km from Reykjavík by road, about 4 h 48 min by car.
How do I get to Skaftafellsheiði?
The Google Maps and Apple Maps directions on this page go to the mapped point of Skaftafellsheiði, not to a search for its name. The nearest town is Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
How long does the Skaftafellsheiði hike take?
The Skaftafellsheiði route is 16 km long and takes about 5 h 55 min to walk. It is rated hard. The climb is 719 m. Walking times are estimates from the route's distance and climb, not a guarantee.
Does it cost anything to visit Skaftafellsheiði?
We have not verified a fee for Skaftafellsheiði. Some landowners charge for parking or entry, so check the signs on arrival. Iceland's right of public access comes with duties: stay on marked paths and leave no trace.
Nearby sights
All sights →Straight-line distance, not driving distance.
KristínartindarHike · 0 mCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Debivort at en.wikipedia
SjónarnípaHike · 0 mCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Eysteinn Guðni Guðnason
Svartifoss - Sjónarsker - SelHike · 0 mCC BY 2.0 · Photo: Guillaume Baviere from Uppsala, SwedenGlacier trailHike · 82 m
Skaftafell National ParkNational park · 233 mCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Eysteinn Guðni Guðnason
HundafossWaterfall · 759 mCC BY 2.0 · Photo: Guillaume Baviere from Uppsala, Sweden
Sources
Place data from OpenStreetMap and Wikidata. Photographs from Wikimedia Commons, credited individually.
- OpenStreetMap (ODbL-1.0)
© OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License.