Kerlingarfjöll: Snækollur Summit

For serious Kerlingarfjoll hiking, Snækollur is the summit to aim for. At 1,477 m it is the highest peak of the Kerlingarfjöll range in the central highlands of Iceland, and on a clear day the view from the top takes in the Langjökull and Hofsjökull ice caps, the plains of Kjölur and, far to the east, the edge of Vatnajökull. Few viewpoints reachable on foot in a few hours show so much of the interior at once.

The out-and-back route from the Hveradalir car park is about 9 km with roughly 700 m of ascent, and takes four to five hours. Because you start high, the climb is shorter than the summit altitude suggests, but the terrain is loose rhyolite scree and snowfields, and the final ridge is exposed to every wind that blows across the highlands. Allow time for route-finding on the snow.

Combine it with the Hveradalir geothermal loop for a superb full day. This is a summer-only route that should be saved for clear, settled weather; in fog the summit ridge is disorienting and the view is the whole point. If cloud is sitting on the peaks, the lower Hveradalir trails are a far better use of your day. Start early, too, since cloud often builds over the peaks in the afternoon.

Highlights

• The highest summit of Kerlingarfjöll at 1,477 m
• Views to Langjökull, Hofsjökull and towards Vatnajökull
• Colourful rhyolite ridges above the steaming Hveradalir valley
• Snowfields lingering through the summer

The route

Getting to the trailhead

Kerlingarfjöll is reached via the Kjölur highland road (F35) from Gullfoss and then F347 to the resort and the Hveradalir car park. These are F-roads that require a 4x4; rental agreements forbid 2WD cars on them. Highland bus services along Kjölur have in some summers stopped at Kerlingarfjöll, so check current schedules. Super jeep tours visit the area too.

Where to stay

Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll, the mountain resort below Hveradalir, has hotel rooms, huts and a campsite, and is the natural base for the climb. Book ahead in summer. Wild camping is not permitted in the nature reserve.

Best time to hike

July to early September is the practical window, once the F-roads are open and the worst of the snow has melted. Even then, snowfields remain on the upper mountain. Pick a clear, calm day; the summit is often in cloud while the valley is clear, so check the forecast and look up before committing.

Safety

The summit ridge is exposed, cold and windy, and visibility can drop to a few metres in minutes. Carry a map and GPS, warm and waterproof layers, gloves and a hat. Snowfields can be hard and icy in the morning; microspikes are useful early in the season, and avoid cornices on the ridge. Check vedur.is, leave a travel plan at safetravel.is, and call 112 in an emergency.