🧭 Trip Overview
Trip Dates: TBD
Start/End Location: Various
Vehicle: Toyota 4Runner rental – 4WD, high clearance
Travel Style: Mostly huts, occasional campsites, off-grid
Goals: Explore Highlands, photograph landscapes, cross rivers safely, unplug
Risk Level: Medium – dependent on river crossings & weather
🛣️ F-Road Directory (WIP)
Road name | Region | Difficulty | River crossings | River crossing type | Notes | Google maps link | Status | Vehicle recommendation | road.is |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South Highlands | 🔴 Difficult | Medium | Scenic, river crossings, rhyolite hills and black sand plains | ⚠️ Risky | High clearance preferred | ||||
Central Highlands | 🟢 Easy | None | Hveravellir hot springs, Kerlingarfjöll rhyolite mountains | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
West Highlands | 🟢 Easy | None | Langjökull glacier views, volcanic desert | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
South Highlands | 🟢 Easy | None | Access to Landmannalaugar, rhyolite mountains, lava fields | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
South Highlands | 🟠 Moderate | Medium | Mt. Hekla views, access to Landmannalaugar | ✅ Open | High clearance preferred | ||||
Central Highlands | 🟠 Moderate | Shallow | Langisjór lake, Sveinstindur mountain, lunar landscapes | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
South Highlands | 🟠 Moderate | Medium | Fagrifoss waterfall, Laki craters | ⚠️ Risky | High clearance preferred | ||||
South Highlands | 🟠 Moderate | Medium | Laki crater loop, panoramic volcanic views | ⚠️ Risky | High clearance preferred | ||||
South Highlands | 🟢 Easy | None | Eldgjá volcanic canyon, Ófærufoss waterfall | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
Central Highlands | 🟠 Moderate | Shallow | Veiðivötn crater lakes, colorful volcanic scenery | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
Snæfellsnes | 🟢 Easy | None | Snæfellsjökull glacier slopes, coastal views | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
Snæfellsnes | 🟢 Easy | None | Eysteinsdalur valley, glacier viewpoints | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
Central Highlands | 🟢 Easy | None | Kerlingarfjöll geothermal area, Gýgjarfoss waterfall | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
North Highlands | 🟠 Moderate | Shallow | Eyjafjörður valley, Laugafell hot spring | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
North Highlands | 🟠 Moderate | Shallow | Highland moors, Hofsjökull glacier views | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
North Highlands | 🟠 Moderate | Shallow | Remote valley, fjord and ocean views | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
Westfjords | 🟠 Moderate | Shallow | Mountain pass, fjord views | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
Eastfjords | 🟠 Moderate | None | Heathland pass, rugged mountain views | ✅ Open | Super Jeep recommended | ||||
Northeast Highlands | 🟠 Moderate | Shallow | Route to Askja, black sands, lava fields | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
Northeast Highlands | 🔴 Difficult | Shallow | Askja caldera, volcanic desert, Víti crater | ⚠️ Risky | Standard 4x4 | ||||
Southeast | 🔴 Difficult | None | Hairpin climb to Skálafellsjökull glacier | ⚠️ Risky | Super Jeep recommended | ||||
West | 🟠 Moderate | Medium | Haukadalur valley, Viking-age sites | ✅ Open | High clearance preferred | ||||
Northeast Highlands | 🟠 Moderate | None | Final route to Askja/Víti crater, lunar landscape | ✅ Open | Super Jeep recommended | ||||
Central Highlands | 🔴 Difficult | Deep | Longest, most remote F-road; connects north/south; vast desolate landscapes | ⚠️ Risky | Super Jeep recommended | ||||
South Highlands | 🔴 Difficult | Deep | Access to Þórsmörk; lush valleys surrounded by glaciers; multiple deep crossings incl. Krossá | ⚠️ Risky | Super Jeep recommended | ||||
South Highlands | 🟠 Moderate | Shallow | Black sand plains, cone-shaped green volcano Mælifell, iconic photo location | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 | ||||
Northeast Highlands | 🔴 Difficult | Medium | Route to Askja; lunar-like volcanic desert; Víti crater and geothermal area | ⚠️ Risky | High clearance preferred | ||||
Northeast Highlands | 🔴 Difficult | Medium | Lava fields, mountain views, alternate access to Askja | ⚠️ Risky | High clearance preferred | ||||
Northeast Highlands | 🔴 Difficult | Medium | Remote access to Kverkfjöll at the edge of Vatnajökull glacier; extremely isolated | ⚠️ Risky | High clearance preferred | ||||
Northeast Highlands | 🔴 Difficult | Medium | Connects Askja and Kverkfjöll through lava deserts; rough surface and variable weather | ⚠️ Risky | High clearance preferred | ||||
Northeast Highlands | 🟠 Moderate | None | Final spur road to Víti and Öskjuvatn crater lake from Dreki Hut; short but rugged | ✅ Open | Standard 4x4 |
🗺️ Routes
The following are a set of routes with specific focuses. They take into account things like difficulty, timing, proximity to other F-roads and attractions.
Option 1: 🏞️ Landmannalaugar Loop: Rhyolite mountains, river crossings, geothermal hiking
Date | Route name | Start location | End location | F-roads used | Attractions | Lodging | Notes | F-roads used | F-roads used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 1, 2025 | Reykjavik | Landmannalaugar | Drive via F208 South, black sand plains, photo stops, hot spring soak | Check river depth on road.is before entering F208 South | |||||
July 2, 2025 | Landmannalaugar | Landmannalaugar | Full day hike: Bláhnjúkur, Laugahraun lava field, photography | Landmannalaugar Hut / Campsite | Pack lunch, hiking boots, layers | ||||
July 3, 2025 | Landmannalaugar | Hella | Hike Bláhnjúkur, soak in hot spring, return drive | Hella Guesthouse | Alternate exit route if F208 South floods |
Option 2: 🌋 Askja & Lunar Highlands: Craters, lava deserts, and remote huts
Date | Route name | Start location | End location | F-Roads used | Attractions | Lodging | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 1, 2025 | Myvatn | Askja (Dreki Hut) | Drive through lava fields via F88, Herðubreið view, reach Askja | Dreki Hut | River crossing: Lindaá – check flow rate on road.is | ||
July 2, 2025 | Askja | Askja | Explore Víti Crater, Öskjuvatn lake, walk lava fields | Dreki Hut | Bring swimwear for Víti (cold!), no services nearby | ||
July 3, 2025 | Askja | Myvatn | Return via F910, scenic highland pass | Myvatn Guesthouse | Avoid in rain — rough terrain and washouts possible |
Option 3: 🌿 Lakagígar & Langisjór: Green volcanic cones and black sand wilderness
Date | Route name | Start location | End location | F-Roads used | Attractions | Lodging | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 1, 2025 | Kirkjubæjarklaustur | Laki (Campsite) | Drive to Laki craters, stop at Fagrifoss waterfall | Laki Campsite | Multiple river crossings — check clearance | ||
July 2, 2025 | Laki | Langisjór Lake | Loop Laki craters, then drive to Langisjór for sunset photos | Wild camp near lake or remote hut | Langisjór is remote — carry backup fuel and food | ||
July 3, 2025 | Langisjór | Kirkjubæjarklaustur | Drive back out, scenic black sand photos, optional hike | Kirkjubæjarklaustur Guesthouse | Plan for long day — roads can be slow |
Option 4: 🧊 Edge of Ice: Iceland’s Glacier Highlands Route
Date | Name | Start location | End location | F-Roads used | Attractions | Lodging | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 1, 2025 | Skaftafell | F985 Glacier Overlook | Climb steep road to Skálafellsjökull overlook, panoramic views of southeast Vatnajökull | Return to Skaftafell or Höfn | No river crossings; requires good visibility and solid 4x4 traction | ||
July 2, 2025 | Kirkjubæjarklaustur | Langisjór | Drive to Langisjór; hike Sveinstindur for views of Tungnaárjökull arm of Vatnajökull | Wild camp or hut near Langisjór | 2–3 river crossings on F208 South; bring extra supplies | ||
July 3, 2025 | Langisjór | Kverkfjöll Hut | Remote drive along the base of Vatnajökull glacier to Kverkfjöll area | Kverkfjöll Mountain Hut | Extreme remoteness — confirm hut access, no services en route | ||
July 4, 2025 | Kverkfjöll | Egilsstaðir | Drive north out of highlands, panoramic views of northern Vatnajökull, optional Laugarfell stop | Egilsstaðir Guesthouse | Steady descent from glacier edge; allow extra time |