Hike · South Iceland

Skaftafellsheiði

Skaftafellsheiði, Iceland
Photo: Michal Klajban · CC BY-SA 4.0

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.

See visitor passes

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

Skaftafellsheiði: The facts
Distance16 km
Ascent719 m
Walking time5 h 55 min
DifficultyHard
Nearest townKirkjubæjarklaustur
From Reykjavík328 km by road, about 4 h 48 min
RegionSouth Iceland
Coordinates64.0163° 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.

Sources

Place data from OpenStreetMap and Wikidata. Photographs from Wikimedia Commons, credited individually.

© OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License.