Jokulsargljufur National Park
Jokulsargljufur National Park
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5.0
33 reviews
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Sandy S
Albuquerque, NM1,038 contributions
July 2023
This was the most classically touristic day of our Adventure Canada expedition cruise around Iceland, but there was a good reason. We were taking a portion of the iconic Ring Road to the foot of the Fjallsarlon Glacier, which covers an eighth of Iceland. During the more than two-hour bus ride, we heard about the elves and the "invisible people." Many Icelanders take both categories of mythical creatures seriously. Passing through dramatic Tolkienesque scenery, we saw wild whooping swans and two reindeer.
Once at our destination, part of the national park that occupies a tenth of Iceland, we had a Zodiac tour of the lagoon at the foot of the glacier. The icebergs floating there included ones rendered sooty by volcanic rubble and ash
Once at our destination, part of the national park that occupies a tenth of Iceland, we had a Zodiac tour of the lagoon at the foot of the glacier. The icebergs floating there included ones rendered sooty by volcanic rubble and ash
Written 14 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom G
Wallingford, CT420 contributions
July 2013 • Couples
We followed road 862 northward (along the west side of the Jokulsa a Fjollum river) through Jokulsargljufur National Park. In the southern part of the park, there are 3 beautiful waterfalls: Dettifoss, Selfoss and Hafragilsfoss. Each one of these waterfalls can be accessed after a short walk. In the center of the park, we visited Hljóðaklettar(Echo or Whispering Rocks) and Rauðhólar (Red Hills). Hljóðaklettar consisted of spectacular geological formations consisting of basalt configurations with well-developed columnar jointing. If you follow the hiking paths through Hljóðaklettar, they lead to Rauðhólar, a crater row tinted with brightly colored red gravel (scoria). We continued heading to the northern end of the park where we visited the Asbygi Gorge. This canyon/gorge forms a broad "U" shape about 2 miles (3.5 km) north to south and 1/2 mile (1 km) across. Geologists believe this gorge was gouged out by catastrophic flooding from the melting of Vatnajokull several thousands of years ago. The Vikings believed the Asbyrgi Gorge was formed when the god Odinn's horse, Sleipnir had left an enormous hoof print with one of his eight legs. Next, we traveled south on Road 864 (on the east side of the Jokulsa a Fjollum river) and stopped to get another very nice view (even better than from the west side of the river in our opinion) of Dettifoss. This round trip through
Jokulsargljufur National Park will take you the better part of a day, especially if you incorporate a few hikes into your schedule.
Jokulsargljufur National Park will take you the better part of a day, especially if you incorporate a few hikes into your schedule.
Written 31 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jjo
Chicago829 contributions
July 2014 • Couples
After seeing Asbyrgi (just O.K.) we headed south on 862. First stop was to hike the full circle in Vesturdalur, which includes the red hills of Rauðhólar. You'll see beautiful rock formations along a churning river. It takes 2-3 hours to do the whole circle. Get there early as when we left there were 20-30 people arriving. We hiked it and just saw 2 or 3 others. Then we took the road to the Hólmatungur area. You'll need a 4WD or park at the top and talk to the trail head. We did a short hike to Katlar, a magical area where the river narrows into a small canyon with waterfalls everywhere. The we stopped to see all three waterfalls, Hafragilsfoss, Detifoss and Selfoss. All three are worth some time.
This itinerary took all day but was WELL worth it. A 4WD helps a lot but is not essential.
This itinerary took all day but was WELL worth it. A 4WD helps a lot but is not essential.
Written 21 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HotEarth
Melbourne, Australia681 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
We took Route 862 from Dettifoss to this NP in Asbyrgi. Driving along this section of the road is treacherous, especially when it was snowing heavily and most of it was unpaved with some parts purely of gravel only and single lane! The snow turned into rain at the lower elevations and as we arrived at the visitor center of this park.
The view of the faraway high cliffs protuding out suddenly from the open plains just look like a pick out of one of the scene in the movie The Maze! Our intent of doing a hike here was literally drenched away by the rain. We decided to drive another 5km towards the cliff. From the carpark there we took a short hike to a small lake at the edge of the cliff.
Overall this place offered quite a unique sight indeed, despite the bad weather.
The view of the faraway high cliffs protuding out suddenly from the open plains just look like a pick out of one of the scene in the movie The Maze! Our intent of doing a hike here was literally drenched away by the rain. We decided to drive another 5km towards the cliff. From the carpark there we took a short hike to a small lake at the edge of the cliff.
Overall this place offered quite a unique sight indeed, despite the bad weather.
Written 18 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sergeyontheroad
London, UK149 contributions
May 2015
One of the most interesting and beautiful places I have been to. Just breath taking. Bring your camera and allow a plenty of time to explore!
Written 12 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rap_mom
Brooklyn, NY148 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
I've traveled a fair amount and usually come to the conclusion that parks in the US offer just about anything you could want to see in the rest of the world. (Arrogant American, I know). This place, seen in late October, was an exception. The view of the canyon, with the snow turning a color photograph into monochrome, was amazing. Despite the cold, I could have stayed there for a long time, just gong "Wow." It's great to know that there are places on earth with such spectacular beauty that they can't be described. Worth the hike, 4WD or whatever it takes.
Written 12 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
taqqie
Utrecht, The Netherlands3,460 contributions
July 2014 • Solo
Made a small (2 hour) hike half-way the national park, near Vesturdalur. There's a nice camping and the hiking trails start not too far from it. The hike towards Raudholar is not easy and requires some climbing. Nevertheless most people will be able to finish it. Really fabulous views!!
Tip: follow the path counter-clockwise, so go down to the river first. Halfway it's safer to climb up than to descent down...
Tip: follow the path counter-clockwise, so go down to the river first. Halfway it's safer to climb up than to descent down...
Written 20 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
iamface
Aberdeen, UK1,757 contributions
June 2018 • Solo
just short hike to watch Hljóðaklettar Echo Cliffs, that is ok. and overall environment is peaceful. good for short visit
Written 27 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ncgneissguy
Brevard, NC20 contributions
Aug 2018
I've been here many times. The photo shows Hljóðaklettar, the Echo Cliffs. A short loop trail will take you back to view some amazing, contorted Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene columnar basalt formations. They formed when water leaked into the magma chambers beneath a crater row. Later, a jókulhlaup (glacial outburst flood) washed away the cinder cones and left the magma chambers exposed.
The dry waterfall at Ásbyrgi is another must-see!
The dry waterfall at Ásbyrgi is another must-see!
Written 3 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Danielle
United States1,413 contributions
July 2017 • Friends
Note this is not the lagoon as some other reviews have read. Jokulsargljufur National Park offers a lot of scenic rock formations and hiking trails. There are some shorter trails if you' don't wish to do any strenuous hiking, but there are also longer hiking trails that start and come through the area. We spent a couple of hours walking around in the park before heading to Dettifoss. All the trails area easily marked, there is a bit of climbing you'll have to do in some cases but it's not too difficult.
Written 25 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We will be traveling from the north (leaving from Husavik). Can the Park be seen (both west and east side) in one day? Also, what would be the closest rooms leaving the park from the south end on Rt. 864? Thanks for any input you might have.
Written 17 October 2015
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