Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The tourist information centre at Kirkjubæjarklaustur works in conjunction with the
park. The best websites for visitors planning a visit to the southern area of the park are
Vatnajökull National Park
(
www.vjp.is
) and
Visit Vatnajökull
(
www.visitvatnajokull.is
).
History
The historical Skaftafell was a large farm at the foot of the hills west of the present camp-
site. Shifting glacial sands slowly buried the fields and forced the farm to be moved to a
more suitable site, on the heath 100m above the sandur. The district came to be known as
Hérað Milli Sandur (Land Between the Sands), but after all the farms were annihilated by
the 1362 eruptions, the district became the 'land under the sands' and was renamed Öræfi
(Wasteland). Once the vegetation returned, however, the Skaftafell farm was rebuilt in its
former location.
Skaftafell National Park was founded in 1967 by the Icelandic Government and the
WWF. In June 2008 it merged with the Jökulsárgljúfur National Park in Iceland's north to
form the massive wilderness area of Vatnajökull National Park.
Activities
Skaftafell is ideal for
day hikes
and also offers
longer hikes
through its wilderness re-
gions. Most of Skaftafell's visitors keep to the popular routes on Skaftafellsheiði. Hiking
in other accessible areas, such as the upper Morsárdalur and Kjós valleys, requires more
time, motivation and planning. The park produces good maps outlining shorter hiking
trails (Ikr350), and stocks larger topo maps from various publishers.
Limited wild-camping is allowed in the park - ask at the visitor centre, where you can
also obtain a compulsory camping permit (free) for Kjós (note: Kjós is only accessible via
a 12km hike). Also enquire about river crossings along your intended route.
Other possibilities for hikes include the long day trip beyond Bæjarstaðarskógur into the
rugged Skaftafellsfjöll. A recommended destination is the 862m-high summit of the
Jökulfell ridge
, which affords a commanding view of the vast expanses of Skeiðarár-
jökull. Even better is an excursion into the Kjós dell.
There is now a trail where
mountain biking
is permitted. It follows a 13km route that
crosses the dry riverbed of Skeiðará and travels through Morsárdalur to the woods at Bæ-
