This largest national park in Europe spans 14,000 square kilometers of glaciers, active volcanoes, and lava fields. Visitors can hike trails or explore ice caves in the Icelandic wilderness.
Vatnajökull National Park spans 14% of Iceland's territory, making it Europe's second-largest national park. You can walk through naturally formed ice caves, watch seals swim between floating icebergs at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, or feel the spray from Dettifoss waterfall as it plunges 44 meters down. The park's landscape continues to transform through the interaction of volcanic activity and glacial ice, leading to its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2019.
Geography and Layout
Four territories make up Vatnajökull National Park. In the north, you'll find the 25-kilometer Jökulsárgljúfur canyon and the volcanic Askja caldera. The eastern section encompasses the Kverkfjöll mountains with their geothermal areas. The southern region extends from the 688-meter Lómagnúpur mountain to Lón, while the western area contains the 25-kilometer-long Lakagígar crater row, formed during the 1783 eruption.
The Vatnajökull Glacier
The Vatnajökull glacier covers 8,100 square kilometers, with ice reaching depths of 950 meters. Beneath this massive ice sheet, the Grímsvötn and Bárðarbunga volcanoes remain active. When these volcanoes erupt, the heat melts the surrounding ice, creating vast underground water channels and reshaping the glacier's surface.
Wildlife and Natural Formations at Jökulsárlón
At Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, you can watch ice fragments break from Breidamerkurjokull glacier and float toward the Atlantic Ocean. Harbor seals dive between the icebergs, catching fish in the -2°C water. Arctic terns catch small fish near the surface, while great skuas search for prey from above. Follow the ice fragments' journey to Diamond Beach, where they wash up on black volcanic sand.
Hiking Trails and Seasonal Activities
The Morsárdalur Valley trail extends 21 kilometers (13 miles) round trip, taking 6-8 hours to reach Morsarjökull glacier and its lagoon. The 5.5-kilometer Svartifoss trail winds through a birch forest before reaching the waterfall, where water cascades over 20-meter-high hexagonal basalt columns. From November to March, you can join guided tours into natural ice caves. Between June and September, you can take guided hikes on the glacier or climb in the surrounding mountains.
Planning Your Visit
The Skaftafell visitor center operates year-round, with staff who can advise you about current trail conditions and safety measures. Visit the centers at Ásbyrgi and Skriðuklaustur between May and September, when rangers lead daily walks. Pack warm, waterproof clothing - highland areas can experience snowfall even in July and August. To reach Skaftafell, drive 327 kilometers east from Reykjavík on Route 1 (Ring Road). The visitor center has a large parking area and basic facilities including restrooms and a small café.
