Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kjölur Route (Kjalvegur)
If you want to sample Iceland's central deserts but don't like the idea of ford crossings, the
200km Kjölur route has had all its rivers bridged. In summer there are even scheduled
daily buses that use it as a 'shortcut' between Reykjavík and Akureyri. The bus may be an
appealing option at first; however, while the first hour of outback desolation is riveting, the
other nine hours can be snooze-inducing if you aren't planning to disembark anywhere
along the way.
From the south, Rte 35 starts just past Gullfoss, passing between two large glaciers be-
fore emerging near Blönduós on the northwest coast. It reaches its highest point (around
700m) between the Langjökull and Hofsjökull ice caps, near the mountain Kjalfell
(1000m). Its northern section cruises scenically past Blöndulón, a large reservoir used by
the Blanda hydroelectric power station. Road conditions in the north are better than those
in the south.
The Kjölur route usually opens in mid-June, and closes sometime in September, depend-
ing on weather conditions. Note that the route is labelled Rte 35 (not F35); it is still a
mountain road, and while it is technically possible to drive a 2WD along the route, it is ab-
solutely not recommended (there are potholes/puddles that could near-swallow a small car,
you'll do damage to the car's underside, and your journey will be slow and very bumpy).
Car-hire companies expressly forbid the use of 2WD rentals on the route.
Tours
A bit of online digging will reveal hiking, biking and horse-riding tours along the Kjölur
route (also search 'Kjalvegur').
land hiking trips, including a four-day 45km trekking tour along the Kjölur, from Hverav-
ellir to Hvítárvatn (from Ikr130,000).
Hvítárvatn
The pale-blue lake Hvítárvatn, 35km northeast of Gullfoss, is the source of the glacial
river Hvítá - a popular destination for Reykjavík-based white-water rafting operators. A
