{"id":1643,"date":"2017-07-26T20:53:11","date_gmt":"2017-07-26T20:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.cyclingiceland.is\/?page_id=1643"},"modified":"2023-05-14T05:06:56","modified_gmt":"2023-05-14T05:06:56","slug":"vatnajokull-national-park-north","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cyclingiceland.is\/is\/vatnajokull-national-park-north\/","title":{"rendered":"Vatnaj\u00f6kull National Park – North"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Vatnaj\u00f6kull National Park - North<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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The northern part of Vatnaj\u00f6kull National park and surrounding area is a magnificent landscape full of geological wonders. Around lake M\u00fdvatn, you will find hot springs, abundant birdlife, and a multitude of volcanic structures. J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rglj\u00fafur is a huge canyon formed by the glacial river J\u00f6kuls\u00e1 \u00e1 Fj\u00f6llum, Iceland\u2019s second longest river. H\u00fasav\u00edk is a charming fishing town, also known as the \u201cwhale-watching capital\u201d of Iceland. Cycling around this region is a great experience. It is possible to complete the 212 km round trip\u00a0in three days<\/span><\/span>, but there is so much to explore that it is worth taking your time. Please note that services, campsites and shops are few and far between. Drinking water in this rather dry area can only be obtained at the few campsites and villages. Plan your trip accordingly and bring enough food and water.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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M\u00ddVATN \u2013 J\u00d6KULS\u00c1RGLJ\u00daFUR \u2013 H\u00daSAV\u00cdK \u2013 M\u00ddVATN<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Part 1: Reykjahl\u00ed\u00f0 (M\u00fdvatn) \u2013 \u00c1sbyrgi\u00a0<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>(91 km including 29 km dirt road)<\/span><\/h4>\n

Leave M\u00fdvatn heading east along Route 1. After the short climb over N\u00e1maskar\u00f0 pass, you will reach the Hverir hot spring area with steaming fumaroles and boiling mud pots. Continuing to the east, you will cycle into the vast expanse of M\u00fdvatns\u00f6r\u00e6fi. 26 km after Reykjahl\u00ed\u00f0, turn left onto road 862, and cycle another 24 km to the parking site at Dettifoss (WC, but no water). A 20\u201330 min walk leads to Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Every second, an average of 193 m<\/span>3<\/span>\u00a0of water drop 44 m vertically down into J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rglj\u00fafur canyon. To continue, you need to cycle 3 km back on the same road before turning north onto road 862, which for the next 20 km is a rough dirt road. Vesturdalur is reached on a short 2 km side road, which descends by 100 m of elevation, and has a 15% grade. But Vesturdalur is worth seeing: On a 20\u201360 min hike, you can explore Hlj\u00f3\u00f0aklettar (\u201cecho cliffs\u201d), a distinctive cluster of columnar basalt rocks down at J\u00f6kuls\u00e1 river, and in the valley you will find birch trees and a small campsite with WC and cold water. After you have cycled or pushed your bike back uphill, you will travel another 5 km on gravel and finally 9 km on asphalt to \u00c1sbyrgi, an impressive horseshoe shaped canyon. Here you will find a great campsite, information center and small shop. J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rglj\u00fafur canyon is also great for hiking. You can leave your tent in \u00c1sbyrgi or Vesturdalur, take a scheduled bus and hike back to the campsite. The entire canyon from Dettifoss to \u00c1sbyrgi is a magnificent 2-day hike.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 2: \u00c1sbyrgi \u2013 H\u00fasav\u00edk<\/b><\/span>\u00a0(67 km asphalt road)\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

In the morning, explore \u00c1sbyrgi canyon. You can cycle to the end of the road and walk through the forest to Botnstj\u00f6rn pond under sheer cliffs. Then start your journey to H\u00fasav\u00edk along road no. 85, which will take you around Tj\u00f6rnes peninsula. To the north, there are panoramic views of the Iceland Sea, and in June\/July you will even see the\u00a0midnight<\/span><\/span>\u00a0sun. H\u00fasav\u00edk is a charming fishing town with a well-sheltered campsite. Directly across the road, you will find the public swimming pool\/hot pots, which is a great place to relax after a long day of cycling. A walk to the harbour area is a must. There are many nice restaurants and caf\u00e9s at the waterfront, but the biggest attraction is the abundant whales in the Skj\u00e1lfandi bay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 3: H\u00fasav\u00edk \u2013 Reykjahl\u00ed\u00f0 (M\u00fdvatn)\u00a0<\/b><\/span>(54 km including 11 km gravel road)<\/span><\/h4>\n

Leave H\u00fasav\u00edk heading south on road no. 85, then turn left onto road no. 87 towards M\u00fdvatn. On the way, you can take a break at Hei\u00f0arb\u00e6r, which has a restaurant, campsite and a nice swimming pool\/hot tub. The road travels over a number of hills, and you will spend more time ascending than descending as M\u00fdvatn is 277 m above sea level. You will cycle through the H\u00f3lasandur sand area, where grass has been planted to stop soil erosion. From the last hill, you will have a great view over lake M\u00fdvatn before you finally reach Reykjahl\u00ed\u00f0. Here, you can stock up on provisions and choose between three campsites. Soaking in the warm waters between lava rocks at Jar\u00f0b\u00f6\u00f0in (M\u00fdvatn Nature Baths) is the perfect end to this cycle route.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Vatnaj\u00f6kull National Park – North The northern part of Vatnaj\u00f6kull National park and surrounding area is a magnificent landscape full of geological wonders. Around lake M\u00fdvatn, you will find hot springs, abundant birdlife, and a multitude of volcanic structures. J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rglj\u00fafur is a huge canyon formed by the glacial river J\u00f6kuls\u00e1 \u00e1 Fj\u00f6llum, Iceland\u2019s second longest […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-container-style":"default","site-container-layout":"default","site-sidebar-layout":"default","disable-article-header":"default","disable-site-header":"default","disable-site-footer":"default","disable-content-area-spacing":"default","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1643","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":785,"url":"https:\/\/cyclingiceland.is\/is\/cycling-vatnajokull\/","url_meta":{"origin":1643,"position":0},"title":"Vatnaj\u00f6kull National Park","author":"Nina","date":"j\u00fal\u00ed 6, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Vatnaj\u00f6kull National Park Vatnaj\u00f6kull National Park spans the largest glacier of Iceland, vast highland areas, volcanoes, rivers and lakes. 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