Haukafell Camping Ground and Fláajökull Glacier, Iceland

Haukafell is a small area located in the south of Iceland. It is tucked away from the main bustle of the tourist trail and is a haven for wildlife. There is a hike from the campsite to the glacial lagoon of Fláajökull which is a quiet and secluded glacial lagoon.

a sheep portrait

It’s not often that a campsite in Iceland is deserted when you arrive, but Haukafell is one of those rare places. Set at the end of a valley with mountain peaks starting to climb and the Fláajökull Glacier, part of the UNESCO Vatnajökull Ice Cap just a short distance to the east.

Haukafell Camping Ground

It is a basic campsite; the water may or may not work and if you want a shower then you will be out of luck, but the natural beauty that surrounds the campsite is perfect for exploring and makes up for the lack of first-world necessities.

Sheep wander around, shouting as they arrive. Some even pause for a photograph if they know you are watching. The meadows leading to the woodland and river towards the glacier are full of wildflowers and fungi making the uphill hike a pleasure.

Haukafell Farmhouse existed a short distance from what is now the campsite from 1880 until 1936. It was moved to this location when the glacier threatened the original farmhouse. Life on this small farm was harsh. The land was not the best, the climate was colder than it is today and the hayfields were much smaller.

Many people farmed the land but very few stayed for very long. In 1936 it was abandoned and the materials were used to build other farms nearby. Today the remains are visible if you know where to look.

a sheep standing on a hillside in Iceland
brown mushroom in Iceland
pink heather
the fold of hills surrounding Haukafell
harebell in bottom third of photograph
Haukafell looking down the valley towards Höfn
black sheep with horns eating grass
mountain peaks with snow
lichen on a grey rock

Hiking from Haukafell to Fláajökull Glacier

While it is possible to see Fláajökull Glacier from the campground a 5km circular hike will take you to a spectacular view across the glacier. This glacier has gone under a number of names over the years including Hólmsárjökull, Mýrájökull and Hólsárjökull.

Fláajökull means “Sloping Glacier” and is a small tongue of the much larger Vatnajökull Ice Cap on the east side of Breiðabunga volcano. As with other glaciers, this glacier has receded by over two kilometres in the last century when it threatened Haukafell Farmhouse.

The hike follows the tree line from the campsite before dropping down to the river. There is a metal bridge across the river and from here a trail crosses towards the glacier lagoon. There is a second trail that begins on the far side of the river which is slightly shorter.

the front of a green glacier from a distance

How to Find Haukafell

Haukafell is off Route 1 in southern Iceland. You should see the signs on route 1 for Road 986 to Rauðaberg. This a dirt track but is okay for most vehicles in the summer months even if it is a little bumpy. There are no big drops or hills involved! Follow the road to the very end which is where you will find the camping ground and the start of the trails to the glacier.

I'm Suzanne the traveller and photographer behind Meandering Wild. With over 30 years of experience travelling to different corners of the world in search of wildlife and remote locations nearly all of the advice on this website is from my own exploring.