The hike up was a good exercise. Views around was nice. There are different paths you can take, we took the N2 path wanting to see the famous waterfall only (after doing a glacier hike tour). Worth a stop but the waterfall didn't take my breath away like the other ones we went to in Iceland.
There are two main routes from the visiting center. One is an easy walk to the base of the glacier that should not take you more than an hour there and back. You will en l counter many small waterfalls along the way. There are few different routes that you can take in the valley, but all of them are quite easy on the legs. The second route is a bit more complicated as you can pick and choose trails that you would like to take. There is a direct one to the waterfall and it's quite easy to navigate, even for those who are not used to hiking. Waterfall is the main saw to Skaftafell so do not miss it. We have chosen the longest available route for this time of the year. It took us along winding trail on the edge of the hill, it is clearly marked and features many man made wooden stairs that help you navigate it, but for beginners it will be quite challenging. The trail will take you to the top of the hill overlooking the base of the glacier I mentioned earlier. The second league of the trail leads thru the marshes and untimely will lead you to the waterfall. The terrain is a bit muddy and soggy, but not hard to traverse. Views are spectacular, as you will be able to see all the surrounding glaciers and mountain tops. Then Skaftafell itself, that is moderately hard to get to, but once you get to its base there is a neat viewing platform where you can rest or take a break and appreciate the views. We spent about 5 hours here, but we took it easy and walked the l ingest trail. All in all about 10-12 kilometers that will make you quite exhausted by the end of it.
Great, but you can't get really close because the glacier is melting and there is a lot of water near it. Hiking trails (especially the one to Svartifoss) are fantastic though. For a great glacier view I suggest to drive in the direction of the glacier lake and find other 4x4 roads to get closer and better views
You've probably already seen photos of this one as it's a bit iconic but I will say it did not disappoint. The hike up is a couple km and back. Not too bad but not a stone throw from the road either. Totally worth it. I think it's not worth to do the other hikes unless you enjoy hiking. You time will be more well spent getting down and to the next amazing location on your itinerary.
Went during winter season and the little river was frozen. This allowed people to walk on it and get closer to the falls which ended with beautiful pictures. There is a little path that gets you to the look out area but it can get crammed as many people want to take selfies with the fall
30 mins walking to this place. But of all the waterfalls in iceland. this is the best one. trust me. Its a free trip too!!
Visited this park in March and was amazed at the size of both the mountains and the glaciers! We were lucky enough to catch it on a clear day and the views of the snowcapped peaks were amazing!. The park has the highest peak in Iceland and lots of options for hiking (we hiked to Skaftafell Falls) including close encounters with Glaciers! The visitor center was modern with clean bathrooms and there was also a cafe with hot food on site. A must stop if your in SE Iceland!
Amazing place with a few different hiking trails on offer. When we went (in the winter) only two trails were open due to weather conditions. The landscape is absolutely stunning, something that you really shouldn't miss!
There are some tour companies based there that do glacier hikes etc. But we didn't enquire with any of them.
Very beautiful walk up to Svartifoss. We took our 2 dogs there this summer :)
It was a nice hike to the top and to the waterfall. Very windy so dress for the occasion. Some routes back down are iced up so becareful of where you walk.
a breath-taking waterfall. this was the screen-saver on my phone and i just knew i had to find it in real life and it did not disappoint. it's a bit of a hike to get to the top but that's par for the course in iceland. shouldn't come as a surprise. we loved it and the walk there was kind of magical.
Amazing glacier hike that is beginner friendly. Awesome beauty, hard to forget that underneath the glacier are several active volcanoes! Travelled in December 2017: bring warm clothes and go with a guiding company if visiting in Winter. We would never attempt to go near the glacier without a certified guide.
1. You have to pay for parking
2. You need crampons (ice grips) if you’re going in the winter
3. Be prepared for a walk so take water
Very nice hike to the waterfall that exhibits amazing geological features due to volcanic rock cooling dynamics. The view from the top of the hike is also breathtaking.
Prepare for hiking. There are tracks that have even 7km one way. They are windy and cold, so take warm clothes and good hiking shoes
Wonderful National Park where the weather is usually much better than in the area around it. The "wind rose" is only east and west and sometimes sunny when pooring rain close by. The birch forrest is low but beautiful. The waterfalls are astonishing and the main one Svartifoss waterfall has the most beautiful basalt columns.
Just plain beautiful! Loved the hike, the falls, and the view of the glacier. Simply stunning!
This place has such unbelievable beauty !! We were not prepared for how wonderful this hike would be. There are numerous trails of all different difficulty levels. We did S5 which involves hiking up past some waterfalls and then provides a great view of the glacier. The weather in late September was perfect and we found ourselves shedding layers as we got further and further up the trail. It is so nice to breathe such fresh air and be around lush greenery and constantly running fresh water. This is one of the top highlights of our 6 day trip along Southern Iceland and we would consider it a must-do as long as you like hiking. Plan to spend 1 to 4 hours here depending on which hike you choose.
Parking is paid for by your license plate number. There is a nice cafe with vegetarian and vegan options. There is a tap to fill up water bottles for free. Enjoy !
Camping entrance is further down road from park entrance. Plenty of choices for a tent, car camper, or motor home. Good facilities and the renovations occuring on them should be good for future visitors. There are decent choices for food service, and the new restaurant was finished, which was good.
Great experience hiking around the numerous trails, reading about the family farms in the area, and enjoying some really good weather.
Definitely a spot not to miss. Glacial hiking, some small sod houses to explore, and of course the waterfall.
The associated campsite is the nicest I've found. It has a kitchen area, full restrooms with showers (token necessary), and even an area to dry your tent.
This is a good spot to put at the end of a long day of driving since it's clean, reliable, and has all of your amenities. I showed up late, cleaned up, slept well, then dried my gear while I hiked the trails the next day.
The Crystal Cave of Svmnafellsjvkull (CORR) in Skaftafell national park, highlights nature’s beauty. Created by the awesome forces of the Vatnajvkull ice cap in the south of the volcanic island, the deep blue cave was formed by the glacier meeting the coastline. The centuries old ice that has come from the slopes of 6,921 feet tall Vrffajvkull, Iceland’s tallest active volcano, has compressed all air out of the ice adding to the texture and colour of the cave.
Hope! You enjoyed our list of top 10 places that look imaginary, but are actually real.
There is a walking path that would allow you to walk all the way close to the glacier - without paying anyone to guide you. In winter, the path is filled with snow, ice, mud, and black rocks. At the time I was there, the wind suddenly picked up and became really strong when you get closer and closer to the glacier. Since it is made of melting ice, I guess its shape and surrounding changed all the time.
Skaftafell National Park was incredibly beautiful. We hiked up into the park on a cold but clear day, following the S6-S5 trails, and were rewarded with some spectacular views over the glacier. Our route took us past the famous Svartifoss waterfall, where we admired the black basalt columns that give the falls their name.
The only disappointing aspect of our visit was that it wasn't longer - I would have loved to try some of the more ambitious hikes into the mountains.
Awesome photographic opportunity. I took several photos and wish I could bring the fresh smells and sounds home.
Simply stunning. This is the national park where you can see all the beautiful glacier. Take a glacier hiking tour. I did the 3 hour tour but I should have chosen the 5 hour tour. As you walk deeper into the he glacier field, there will be more "blue ice" to see. It's a great experience!