Hoffellsjökull Glacier Lagoon – A hidden beauty
Hoffellsjökull Glacier Lagoon is located on the southeastern end of the Vatnajökull Ice Cap in Iceland and is a little more difficult to reach. This means that this small glacial lagoon is quiet and peaceful. In some ways the proximity of the glacier to the shoreline of the lagoon and the narrow valley makes it feel all the more intense.
The UNESCO-listed Vatnajökull ice cap dominates the skyline of the south of Iceland producing more meltwater than any other glacier in the world. There are a number of lagoons where the meltwater collects before tumbling away to the ocean in a brown mass of energy. One small lagoon, at the base of a glacial outlet called Hoffellsjökull, is tucked away from the mass of tourism that the more famous Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and Diamond Beach see each day.
The track from the main Road 1 is rough, just a dust track heading inland. The glacier is not visible, it is a journey of faith and belief that the signs are right. Small incline after small incline leaves you wondering if the next will show you the glacier. Eventually, the road ends and you have to walk over the final rise.
Below is the most beautiful glacial lake. Even in the half-light of a grey summer evening, the beauty of this area is undeniable. The ice breaking away from the glacier is a deep blue with streaks of black ash, contrasting with the murky brown meltwater flowing from the glacier in a continual stream. All that can be heard is the distant flow of water, nothing more as the sunlight dances across the curve of the glacier tongue in the distance. No bustling tourists, no buses or convoys of cars. Just natural calm and beauty.
How To Get To Hoffellsjökull Glacier
The glacier can be reached by taking a rough signposted road from Route 1. This passes the village of Hoffell and the Hoffell Hot Tubs before crossing a cattle grid.
In Hoffell there are a number of small places to stay including chalets that are cosy but basic and provide a great start for exploring the area.
Once the cattle grid has been crossed the road becomes a track. This is an easy drive in good weather in a 4WD but can become difficult in a 2WD vehicle and should not be attempted in the winter months without experience.
The road ends in a small car park with an information board and a clear track to follow to view the glacier. This path leads down to the edge of the lagoon.
- Off Road 1, 20km north-west of Höfn
- Hoffellsjökull Viewpoint on Google Maps
- Visit the Vatnajökull Website