Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Þórsmörk
Hidden from the rest of the world by encircling glaciers and mountain wilderness,
Þórsmörk
covers a highland valley north of Eyjafjallajökull, watered by a host of
multistreamed glacial rivers that flow west off Mýrdalsjökull's heights and down into
the Markarfljót. Green-sloped, covered in dwarf willow, birch and wildflowers, with icy
peaks rising above, this is one of Iceland's most beautiful spots and, through the
summer months, it's a magnet for everyone from hard-core hikers coming to tackle the
numerous trails to equally energetic partygoers here to unwind in a bucolic setting.
Þórsmörk is laid out west-east along the 7km-long
Krossá river valley
, the river splitting
the reserve into two distinct sections: the area to the north is
Þórsmörk
proper, while
south is
Goðaland
. Aside from local hiking routes described below, Þórsmörk sits at the
southern terminus of the multi-day
Laugavegur trail
from Landmannalaugar (see p.117),
and at the northern end of the nine-hour trail up over
Fimmvörðuháls
to the Ringroad at
Skógar, via still-steaming lava from the 2010 eruption under Eyjafjallajökull (see p.128).
2
North of the Krossá
Húsadalur
, at Þórsmörk's western end, comprises a
bus stop
and accommodation, but
is actually outside the main valley with no views to speak of; best to hike 2km east
- either on a direct path or via a steep trail over the summit of knuckle-like
Valahnúkur
- to Ferðafélag Ísland's
Skagfjörðsskáli
hut and ranger station. You'll also
wind up here at the end of the hike down from Landmannalaugar, in which case the
Landmannalaugar
ÞÓRSMÖRK
0
1
Rjúpnafell
(824m)
kilometre
ÞÓRSMÖRK
HAMRASKÓGAR
Tröllakirkja
Húsadalur
TINDFJÖLL
Húsadalur &
Bus Stop
Skagfjördsskáli
Hut
Valahnúkur
á
Álfakirkja
Réttarfell
Básar
Hut
G O ÐALAND
Útigönguhöfði
N
CAMPSITES
Básar Campsite
Húsadalur Campsite
Skagfjördsskáli Campsite
3
1
2
MORINSHEIÐI
Heljarkambur
Eyjafallajökull
Fimmvörðuháls & Skógar
