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Laugavegurinn: Landmannalaugar - Thórsmörk - Skogar
90 km Trail running in Iceland

Lake of Alftavatn seen from the Golden Mountains of Iceland (© P. Gatta)

Content

Laugavegurinn Trail
Map of the Trail from Landmannalaugar to Skogar
Skaftafell National park
Gullfoss
Sceneries of Iceland

Laugavegurinn Trail: Landmannalaugar - Thórsmörk - Skogar

Laugavegurinn is a beautiful and famous trail in Iceland. It starts at Landmannalaugar and finishes at Thorsmork (Þórsmörk). Instead of stopping at Thorsmork (Þórsmörk), it is possible to continue to Skogar which offers great view over the Eyjafjallajökull glacier and Skógafoss (70 m high waterfall). From Landmannalaugar to Skogar, Philippe measured 86 km and 2,785 m of total ascent.

Lake of Frostastaoavatn seen from Blahnukur, above Landmannalaugar (© P. Gatta)

June 29: Landmannalaugar (600 m) - Blahnukur (940 m) - Landmannalaugar (600 m)

Distance: 6 km, +400 m / -400 m.

We arrived at Landmannalaugar and made a short loop of 6 km up to Blahnukur peak (940 m). From the top of Blahnukur there is great view over Landmannalaugar, the lake of Frostastaoavatn, the lava fields and Brennisteinsalda.

Landmannalaugar and Blahnukur loop (© P. Gatta)

June 30: Landmannalaugar (600 m) - Hrafntinnusker (990 m) - Álftavatn (540 m)

Distance: 24 km, +910 m / -940 m.

The trail starts at Landmannalaugar (600 m), crosses the the hot springs of Landmannalaugar and continues toward the West. It crossed the lava fields of Laugahraunand then turns to the Southwest toward Brennisteinsalda.

Philippe in the lava fields, just after Landmannalaugar (© A. Gatta)

Brennisteinsalda (855 m) (© P. Gatta)

The trails climbs progressively to 1000 m, passes the hot springs of Stórihver and reaches the Hrafntinnusker hut approximately 12 km from Landmannalaugar.

Close to Hrafntinnusker (© P. Gatta)

From Hrafntinnusker hut continue toward the South through some snow fields with some great views over colourful rhyolite.

Hot springs and geyser close to Hrafntinnusker (© P. Gatta)

Half way between Hrafntinnusker and Álftavatn, the trail goes down and offer amazing views over Álftavatn lake and the large glaciers of Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjöll. Continue to Álftavatn hut which is close to the lake.

Descent to Alftavatn lake and hut (© A. Gatta)

July 1: Álftavatn (540 m) - Hvanngil Hut (585 m) - Emstrur Hut (520 m) - Thorsmork (Þórsmörk) (255 m)

Distance: 35.5 km, +800 m / -1080 m.

From Álftavatn go to the East and cross a river 300 m after the hut. Turn progressively toward the South and continue to the Hvanngil Hut, around 3.5 km from Álftavatn.

After Hvanngil take a bridge and join a dirt road crossing, follow the one toward Southwest. Cross a new river which can be wide and strong. Continue to the Southwest on a vast plateau of dark sands with the view of Hattfell hill in the background.

Hattfell between Alftavatn and Thorsmork (© P. Gatta)

Leave the dirt road and continue to the Southwest to Emstrur hut, at around 15 km from Álftavatn.

Leave Emstrur hut toward the Southeast. The trail crosses a canyon (small bridge) and a river coming from the Mýrdalsjökull. Continue toward the South along the Markarfljotfljugur canyon (East side). Cross several rivers and join a hilly and grassy area up to Thorsmork.

Rainbow at Thorsmork hut (© P. Gatta)

July 2: Thorsmork (Þórsmörk) (255 m) - Fimmvörðuháls (1010 m) - Skogar (50 m)

Distance: 28 km, +1080 m / -1260 m.

From Thorsmork take the bridge crossing the river toward the South. Continue on the South side of the valley toward the Mýrdalsjökull and Kattarhrygg, first to the East and progressively to the South.

Kattarhrygg after Thorsmork (© P. Gatta)

Between Thorsmork and Skogar (© P. Gatta)

Climb to the Fimmvorduhals (Fimmvörðuháls, 1010 m) pass between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. There is a Fimmvorduhals hut on the West of the pass.

Climb toward Fimmvorduhals between Thorsmork and Skogar (© P. Gatta)

The 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull volcano took place very close to this area.

2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull volcano (Wikimedia, Creative Commons Attribution 3)

2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull volcano (Wikimedia, Creative Commons Attribution 1)

From Fimmvorduhals descend toward the South to Skogar, there are two options either along a dirt road or further West along the Skogar river. The trail ends at Skogafoss (waterfall).

Descending to Skogar, Skogafoss waterfall (© P. Gatta)

Skogafoss waterfall (© P. Gatta)

Map of the Trail from Landmannalaugar to Skogar

Legend: different stages of the trail, huts and peaks.
Usage: use the arrows or "drag & drop" to move the map. Click on + or - to zoom in or out.
Click on Terrain to get the map with altitudes, Satellite to see the satellite photo, Hybrid to get the satellite photo with the names of cities and road.
Click on the icons to see location's names.

Skaftafell National park

Ascent of Kristínartindar (1126 m)

Kristínartindar (1126 m): 19.5 km, +-1150m, 3h30

Kristínartindar is a peak located in the Skaftafell National park between the glaciers of Skaftafellsjökull and Morsárjökull. From the Skaftafell Visitor Center (close to the road number 1) take the Trail toward Eystragil, Sjónarnípa with great view over the Skaftafellsjökull glacier.

Continue to the top of Kristínartindar with some scree at the end. The top offers great views over the Hvannadalshnúkur, highest peak of Iceland and the huge Vatnajökull (largest glacier in Iceland). From the top, descend toward Nyrðrihnaukur to make a loop. Pass Fremrihnaukur, Skerhóll, Sjónarsker, Svartifoss (waterfall) and go back to the visitor center.