Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FIMMVÖRÐUHÁLS TREK
Fimmvörðuháls - named for a pass between two brooding glaciers - dazzles the eye with
a parade of wild inland vistas. Linking Skógar and Þórsmörk, the awesome hike is 23.4km
long, and can be divided into three distinct sections of somewhat equal length. Figure
around 10 hours to complete the trek, which includes stops to rest, and to check out the
steaming remnants of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. It's best to tackle the hike from July to
mid-September. Pack wisely; you can experience all four seasons over the course of this
hike. If in doubt, go with a guide, as there are two treacherous passes, and tours here are
great (
Click here
)
.
Part 1: Waterfall Way
From Skógafoss to the 'bridge'. Starting on the right side of
splashy Skógafoss, the path zooms up and over the falls quickly, revealing a series of wa-
terfalls just behind. Stay close to the tumbling water as you climb over small stones and
twisting trees - there are 22 chutes in all, each one magnificent. The path flattens out as
the trees turn to windswept shrubs. Then, set your sights on the 'bridge', which is a crude
walkway over the gushing river below. It's imperative that you make the crossing on the
walkway otherwise you won't make it over and down into Þórsmörk later on.
Part 2: The Ashtray
From the 'bridge' to the eruption site. After crossing the crude
bridge onto the left side of the moving water you start to enter the gloomy heart of the
pass between two glaciers: Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. The weather can be quite
variable here - it could be raining in the pass when there is sunshine in Skógar. Expect to
bundle up at this point as you move through icy rifts in the earlier parts of summer; from
August on the region feels like some kind of giant ashtray. If you want to break up the hike
over two days, there's a 20-person hut positioned 600m away from the main trail about
halfway through this section of the walk (not to be confused with the easily noticeable
63°37.320', W 19°27.093';per person Ikr4200), and it's run by Útivist (who often fill it with their
clients; book ahead). Unfortunately, in bad weather it can be difficult to find. There's no
campsite. Continuing on, the initial eruption site from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption reveals
itself; here you'll find steaming earth and the world's newest mountains - Magni and
Móði. Climb up to the top of Magni and roast some wieners over one of the sizzling vents.
Part 3: Goðaland
From the eruption site down into Þórsmörk. After climbing down from
Magni, the last part of the hike begins. The barren ashiness continues for a while, then an
otherworldly kingdom reveals itself - a place ripped straight from the pages of a fairy tale.
Here in Goðaland - the aptly named 'Land of the Gods' - wild Arctic flowers bloom as
stone cathedrals emerge in the distance. Vistas of green continue as you descend into
Þórsmörk to complete the journey.
