The Sveinstindur Hike
Located in the central Highlands of Iceland, the hike to the summit of Sveinstindur offers fantastic views of Lake Langisjór. The summit of Sveinstindur, which rises to 1,089 meters (3,573 feet) above sea level, provides panoramas considered among the most beautiful in all of Iceland.
Often overlooked by tourists due to its isolation in the heart of the island, the Langisjór region and the hike leading to the summit of Sveinstindur offer a truly unique experience.
How to get to Sveinstindur?
To reach the Langisjór region, you must take the famous F208 track, either starting from the Landmannalaugar region or from the south near Vík. There are therefore two ways to get there:
- Either take the F208 south between Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur, then turn right onto F235
- Or take the F208 from Landmannalaugar and turn left onto F235.
The F235 is considered one of the most beautiful tracks in the country.
A 4x4 vehicle is absolutely necessary to come here. Be aware that there are several river crossings on the F208 and the track is very rough. The F235 is not very long nor particularly difficult, and it takes about 45 minutes to drive from the junction with the F208 to the main parking area at Langisjór. There are no major difficulties on this track and only two river crossings, which are usually shallow.
The F235 is one of the tracks that typically opens late in the season, often between late June and early July. Therefore, it’s pointless to attempt to come here during the winter season!
The panorama near the main parking lot
Upon arrival at the main parking area, you will find only a small hut and usually a few park rangers. From the hut, a first short hike allows you to admire the Langisjór lakes without any major climb, just behind a small hill.
The hike to Sveinstindur summit
The ascent to the summit
Completely isolated from any settlement, the most striking thing when you arrive at Langisjór is the absolute silence. There are no sounds here except for the wind. This setting allows you to fully appreciate the incredible landscapes, featuring vast black sand deserts and lush green mountains.
To fully enjoy the panorama, there is a hike that leads to the summit of Sveinstindur, the large mountain you can see on your right when arriving at the Langisjór campsite (parking area).
The two starting points in red that lead to the summit in blue
Actually, it’s important to know that there are two ways to climb Sveinstindur:
- A shorter, steeper trail that starts directly from the parking lot and climbs straight up
- A longer, slightly less steep trail that begins a bit further away from the parking area and follows a ridge before reaching the summit.
The ascent to the summit of Sveinstindur via the shortest path
This is probably the most popular route taken by travelers to reach the summit. The round trip between the parking lot and the summit will take approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, covering a total of about 4.2 km. The trail is well-marked and already visible from the parking lot; the trail markers are painted in yellow.
The ascent begins with a very steep climb for a few hundred meters before reaching a first plateau from which to admire the lakes below, including the immense 20-km-long Langisjór.
After this first section, the second most difficult part of the trail begins. From here, the path becomes more slippery in places, and the final climb is truly steep. At the summit, there's a cairn, and the 360-degree panorama is absolutely breathtaking, revealing iconic sites such as Hvannadalshnúkur, Lakagígar, and Laki.
On a clear day, you can see both the Vatnajökull ice cap to the northeast and the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap to the southwest. Outstanding.
It is strongly recommended to attempt this climb only on a clear day, as if the sky is too overcast, the view from the summit will inevitably be less spectacular.
The ascent to the summit of Sveinstindur via the longer trail
Here, the starting point is on the other side of the mountain, near another hut. The hike leads to exactly the same spot, but starts from the other side and is much less steep (apart from the end, which is the same).
The elevation gain is the same, about 530 meters, but the hike is longer, and it takes about 3 hours to complete the 6.2 km round trip. The ascent climbs more slowly to the summit and is also well marked.
Along the trail, you can see the vast expanses of Vatnajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, and the immense black sand deserts as far as the eye can see, contrasting with the blue of the meandering Skaftá and the green of the mosses.
Where to stay around Langisjór?
It's worth noting that there's been a campsite near the Langisjór car park for a few years now, catering to those who enjoy camping. Otherwise, there's very little accommodation nearby.
There are only two! One on the road north on the 208, the other heading to Eldgja on the F208.
The nearest village, in this case Hrauneyar in the north, has a hotel called the Highland Center. It is an hour's drive north on the 208 (see the map of Landmannalaugar below in the article). Due to it's excellent reputation, this hotel is quickly full in summer and it is often necessary to book well in advance. Also, as it is perfectly located and there are very few accommodations in the area, it is rather expensive.
Further south, the other option is the Hólaskjól Cabin, just 7 km from Edlgja. This is the closest and ideal option for Langisjór. The cabins are very well maintained and the site is widely renowned in the region.
