Jokulsargljufur National Park looks like something a location scout could only dream of when searching for the perfect spot for the new blockbuster epic. You can almost see the hobbits, dwarfs, and elves (the latter of which might actually be possible here in Iceland) traverse across the landscape.
But Jokulsargljufur doesn’t just deliver breathtaking sceneries. It’s actually home to some of Iceland’s most famous attractions. So, whether you’re a curious traveler, a photography enthusiast, or a nature lover, Jokulsargljufur National Park is not to be missed. Read on to find out what you can expect from this incredible place.
Jokulsargljufur National Park: An Overview
Jokulsargljufur National Park is located in the North-eastern part of Iceland and has formed part of the bigger Vatnajökul National Park since 2008, where it sits on its northernmost tip. Jokulsargljufur is one of our oldest national parks in Iceland, having already been established in 1973. The park covers 150 square kilometers and plays host to numerous famous natural wonders and a few outdoor activity favorites.
The Beginning: Jokulsargljufur National Park’s Origin Story
Have you ever heard anyone say, “It takes two”? Well, this is certainly true when it comes to the Land of Fire and Ice and the formation of the Jokulsargljufur National Park we see and love today. This landscape was the result of two major volcanic eruptions (10,000 and 3000 years ago) and their subsequent consequences.
Since the snow, ice, and glaciers are no match for a volcanic eruption easily exceeding 800 degrees Celsius (1470 degrees Fahrenheit), these eruptions were followed by some extreme glacial flooding. These powerful glacial floods were not to be trifled with, and the raging waters carved pathways across the surface of the earth, resulting in ravines, interesting rock formations, and canyons – all of which can be experienced in the park today.
One of the guilty parties of the glacial flooding has actually decided to stick around, and the Jokulsa a Fjollum Glacial River still runs through Jokulsargljufur (luckily not with such devastating rage anymore, but still making its erosion dent over time).
Introducing the Stars of the Show: Jokulsargljufur National Park’s Main Attractions
As we already mentioned, Jokulsargljufur is home to some pretty impressive sights and what are considered must-visit places here in Iceland. These are a few of the key attractions you can look forward to:
Breathtaking Waterfalls
You’ll find three of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls here in Jokulsargljufur National Park, all originating from the Jokulsa a Fjollum Glacial River:
Dettifoss Waterfall
Dettifoss is a spectacular waterfall that’s a staggering 100 meters wide and 44 meters high and pumps out about 11,581,225 liters (3,059,436 gallons) of water every minute, earning it the official title of the second-most powerful waterfall in Europe.
You’ll get the chance to view the waterfall from two sides: the east (giving you more of a panoramic view of the waterfall in all its glory) and the west (giving you a close-up of the waterfall). Just remember to take a raincoat since this powerful waterfall creates plenty of mist and spray, and you’ll get drenched, especially when the wind changes (and not in your favor).
Selfoss Waterfall
This waterfall has nothing to do with the town in Iceland, also called Selfoss. Like Dettifoss, the waterfall is 100 meters wide but is definitely the shorty of the bunch, measuring only 11 meters tall. Selfoss still makes for an impressive picture, though.
Hafragilsfoss Waterfall
If these three were siblings, Hafragilsfoss would be the middle child, clocking in at 91 meters wide and 27 meters tall. Hafragilsfoss is yet another waterfall that can be viewed from both sides of the Jokulsa a Fjollum River.
Hljodaklettar (aka the Echo Rocks)
It seems like most good things come in three here in Jokulsargljufur National Park since Hljodaklettar also consists of a cluster of three. But instead of water features like our previous three musketeers, the Echo Rocks are three rock formations, each with its own special characteristics:
Kastali (“The Castle”)
The moment you see Kastali, the reason for its name will be apparent. Kastalie has two distinct rock pillars, giving the rock formation a castle or fortress-like appearance.
Tröllid (“The Troll”)
If you know anything about Icelandic mythology, you’ll know our trolls have a very strict curfew. The moment sunlight touches their skin, they turn to stone. This is why you’ll find numerous rocks-that-once-was-a-troll all over the island. Tröllid is one of these unfortunate souls, although many believe this particular troll acts as some sort of guardian over Kastali.
Kirkjan (“The Church”)
Kirkjan is where the meaning around the Echo Rocks becomes clear. At Kirkjan, a symmetrical arch leads you to a cave where sounds reverberate as the strangest echoes. People are encouraged to give a little shout or sing something to experience this weird phenomenon for themselves.
Asbyrgi Canyon
Asbyrgi Canyon is where a magnificent natural wonder perfectly mixes with our Nordic mythology. This beautiful canyon is 3.5 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide and is shaped like a horseshoe. Cue the legend! It is said that the canyon was created by Odin’s eight-legged horse as they sped across the landscape one day. But that’s not where the folklore ends at Asbyrgi.
It is also said that the cliffs are where the Hidden Folk (what we call the Icelandic Elves) have made their homes. So, be respectful of the area and be careful where you tread because elves are not to be trifled with and can make your life a living nightmare if you get on their bad side (this many locals, especially those in construction, can attest to).
Some of the Most Exciting Activities One Can Do in Jokulsargljufur
Whenever you have such a spectacular outdoor area with so much contrasting terrain, you are bound to have plenty of exciting outdoor activities. These are just a few you can consider adding to your Jokulsargljufur National Park trip itinerary:
Hiking
You will find a wide variety of hiking trails in Jokulsargljufur, and it doesn’t matter how old you are, what your fitness level is, or how much hiking experience you have – you’re bound to find a hiking trail that’s the right fit. The difficulty level of a trail can be distinguished by the color on its trail markings and on maps:
Red
These trails are extremely challenging, can be fairly long, and are generally not recommended for the amateur hikers among us.
Vesturdalur to Botnstjörn Pond
Type of Trail: Out-and-back Trail
Distance: 18.3 kilometers
Duration: +/- 4 hours and 30 minutes
Orange
These trails are not quite as long or challenging as the red trails but will still require someone who’s relatively fit.
Svinadalur Circle
Type of Trail: Loop Trail
Distance: 7.1 kilometers
Duration: +/- 1 hour and 40 minutes
Eyjan Hill
Type of Trail: Loop Trail
Distance: 1.9 kilometers
Duration: +/- 35 minutes
Botnstjörn Pond & Asbyrgi
Type of Trail: Loop Trail
Distance: 1.3 kilometers
Duration: +/- 30 minutes
Raudholar Circle
Type of Trail: Loop Trail
Distance: 5.1 kilometers
Duration: +/- 1 hour and 30 minutes
Through the Woods Trail
Type of Trail: Out-and-back Trail
Distance: 8.3 kilometers
Duration: +/- 2 hours
Green
These trails are short and easy and will generally be able to be completed by anyone who doesn’t have significant age (your child might be gifted, but he’s not going to be crawling his way into the Guinness Book of Records here) or physical drawbacks.
Hljodaklettar Circle
Type of Trail: Loop Trail
Distance: 2.7 kilometers
Duration: +/- 45 minutes
Eyjan Hill (not to be confused with the orange version)
Type of Trail: Out-and-back
Distance: 4.8 kilometers
Duration: +/- 15 minutes
Photography
With breathtaking sceneries like at Jokulsargljufur National Park, it’s no wonder it draws photography enthusiasts (whether pros or amateurs). You can just use some of the attractions mentioned above as your go-to subjects.
Birdwatching
With the different terrain, it’s not surprising that you can find a wide variety of bird species at Jokulsargljufur National Park. In fact, many hiking trails mentioned above are not just a favorite among avid hikers but the go-to for many birdwatchers wanting to tick another item off their bird checklist. Some of the birds you can spot at Jokulsargljufur include the Eurasian Golden Plover, the Rock Ptarmigan, and the Gyrfalcon.
Spotting the Wildlife
Iceland may not be known for its wide array of free-roaming wildlife But as with the birds, the different terrain has resulted in visitors being able to spot most of what the island has to offer in Jokulsargljufur National Park. These include Reindeer and our elusive Arctic Fox, which is our version of a predatory Pomeranian.
Important Visitor Information
Below, you will find the essential information needed for planning your visit to Jokulsargljufur National Park:
How Much It Costs to Visit Jokulsargljufur National Park
You won’t be receiving any printed Jokulsargljufur National Park entrance tickets, but fees are charged per vehicle:
- Category A – Passenger Car, up to 5 seats = 1000 ISK ($7.20/€6.70)
- Category B – Passenger Car, between 6 to 9 seats = 1300 ISK ($9.35/€8.70)
- Category C – Bus, between 10 to 19 seats = 2500 ISK ($17.95/€16.75)
- Category D – Bus, between 20 to 32 seats = 4700 ISK ($34.00/€31.45)
- Category E – Bus, 33+ seats = 8500 ISK ($61.00/€56.85)
- Motorcycle = 400 ISK ($2.90/€2.70)
How to Get to Jokulsargljufur National Park in Iceland
Many tour operators and guides can get you to Jokulsargljufur National Park as part of a day tour, a multi-day holiday tour, or even a customized private tour. But as you can see from the pricing above, most prefer exploring the area by themselves. This way, they are in complete control of their Jokulsargljufur adventure.
If you would like to make Jokulsargljufur National Park a stop along a bigger Iceland adventure, we recommend you road trip the Diamond Circle. Whether you decide to visit Jokulsargljufur as part of a road trip or as a day outing, you’ll be coming from either Husavik or Akureyri (both less than an hour’s drive away). Directions are simple:
From the Direction of Husavik
*This route will take about 50 minutes.
- Drive southwest towards Gardarsbraut.
- Turn right at Gardarsbraut and continue to Hedinsbraut.
- Continue onto Route 85 till you turn right at Asbyrgi.
- Follow the signs to the Visitor’s Center.
From the Direction of Akureyri
*This route will take about an hour and 45 minutes.
- Take Skipagata to Drottningarbraut.
- Continue onto Podvegur.
- Then continue onto Nordausturvegur.
- Finally, continue onto Route 85.
- From there, you follow the same directions as when driving from Husavik.
The Best Time to Visit Jokulsargljufur National Park
Jokulsargljufur National Park remains open to the public all year round as long as there are no unforeseen events. But since Jokulsargljufur is an outdoor adventure that lies fairly north here on the island, we’d recommend that you stick to the warmer months of the year (April to September), which also offers plenty of daylight hours for exploration. But please note, this period also includes our summertime (June to August), which is considered peak season.
Peak season is usually characterized by peak-season crowds and peak-season pricing. So, if this is something you’d like to avoid, we suggest you keep to the shoulder months (April, May, September, October). These months still have many weather and daylight perks, but none of the peak season cons. The winter turns Jokulsargljufur into a magical place draped in white with frozen water features.
But as beautiful as the area becomes, just as harsh and unforgiving this season can be to travelers. Besides the extreme cold and severe weather conditions, certain attractions and parts of the park can become inaccessible, and road conditions getting to the park in the first place can be extremely challenging.
The Visitor Center and Other Facilities
While the park may (technically) be open all year round, facilities such as the Visitor Center and others are not. As a general rule of thumb, the Visitor Center and the campsites are closed during the winter.
For the rest of the year, you can expect operating hours to be 06:00 to 19:00 (during the summer) and 11:00 to 15:00 (during the shoulder months). But please note that these times are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, the weather, or public holidays, so call in advance to double-check before just heading out.
Jokulsargljufur National Park: the Ideal Motorhome Destination
Jokulsargljufur National Park is 100% a road-tripping adventure as you drive through the park, taking in the breathtaking landscape and captivating natural wonders. With the camping options inside the park, you’ll also get the chance to have all of this quite literally outside your front door. The most affordable and convenient way of taking advantage of all these opportunities is by renting a campervan in Iceland.
Whether you’ll be sticking to a mini-road trip inside the park or venturing out onto the bigger Diamond Circle road trip route, will remain up to you. But there truly is no better way to explore this region than via motorhome. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions, need some general guidance, or want assistance with planning and prepping your trip.
