Skógafoss - Básar (Thórsmörk)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 15.87 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,399 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 2,726 ft
- Max elevation
- 3,402 ft
- TrailRank
- 43
- Min elevation
- 66 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 7 hours 45 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2344
- Uploaded
- July 28, 2016
- Recorded
- July 2016
near Skogar, Suðurland (Lýðveldið Ísland)
Viewed 2680 times, downloaded 130 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
28.07.2016 - This is an update of earlier versions of the same track as published by others (eg, Ferrran7) to reflect the changes in track location after the substantial track upgrades recently made (works still ongoing).
This beautiful track has three sections. The first section follows the beautiful river feeding the Skógafoss (waterfall). After an initial 5-10 minute ascent on stairs right next to the falls, the path follows the canyon of the river on a gently rising plateau, passing some 20 or so waterfalls on the way. After 2 hours you reach a bridge that would be a good return point for hikers seeking a shorter round trip. Note: no dogs are allowed on this section... :(
The second section is the least beautiful. After an initial rocky plane the terrain becomes hillier. Even in late July you pass patches of snow between volcanic ash, rocky stretches and sand boxes. Towards the end there is a steep descent towards Godaland with rather slippery sandy stretches. The phenomenal views more than compensate!
The third stretch is the technically most challenging - generally gentle slopes are interspersed with occasional tricky stretches. On 3-4 occasions a chain or rope runs along the path as it is slippery and above a steep flank of the mountain. A couple of times a short stretch of the path is rather exposed, possibly causing trouble for people with extreme fear of height. On the upside, the landscape has otherworldly beauty. Towards the end of the trail, one passes flower meadows and a birch forest before entering the large Thórsmörk campground.
Frustratingly, there is no direct bus back to Skógar. The flybus buses take you to Seljalandsfoss at 15:00 and 20:00 where connection can be made to Skógar. Another bus to Seljalandsfoss leaves at 18:15; from there hitchhiking is an option. (Very few cars leave Thórsmörk in the evening, so hitching a hike from there would take a lot of luck and patience, and still a transfer at Seljalandsfoss where F249 meets the circle road as most people will drive towards Selfoss/Reykjavik.) The buses leave Thórsmörk in front of the Básar hut.
The trail is not suitable for mountain bikes, not least because it is too crowded. For hikers, though, it must be a highlight of any Iceland tour!!
This beautiful track has three sections. The first section follows the beautiful river feeding the Skógafoss (waterfall). After an initial 5-10 minute ascent on stairs right next to the falls, the path follows the canyon of the river on a gently rising plateau, passing some 20 or so waterfalls on the way. After 2 hours you reach a bridge that would be a good return point for hikers seeking a shorter round trip. Note: no dogs are allowed on this section... :(
The second section is the least beautiful. After an initial rocky plane the terrain becomes hillier. Even in late July you pass patches of snow between volcanic ash, rocky stretches and sand boxes. Towards the end there is a steep descent towards Godaland with rather slippery sandy stretches. The phenomenal views more than compensate!
The third stretch is the technically most challenging - generally gentle slopes are interspersed with occasional tricky stretches. On 3-4 occasions a chain or rope runs along the path as it is slippery and above a steep flank of the mountain. A couple of times a short stretch of the path is rather exposed, possibly causing trouble for people with extreme fear of height. On the upside, the landscape has otherworldly beauty. Towards the end of the trail, one passes flower meadows and a birch forest before entering the large Thórsmörk campground.
Frustratingly, there is no direct bus back to Skógar. The flybus buses take you to Seljalandsfoss at 15:00 and 20:00 where connection can be made to Skógar. Another bus to Seljalandsfoss leaves at 18:15; from there hitchhiking is an option. (Very few cars leave Thórsmörk in the evening, so hitching a hike from there would take a lot of luck and patience, and still a transfer at Seljalandsfoss where F249 meets the circle road as most people will drive towards Selfoss/Reykjavik.) The buses leave Thórsmörk in front of the Básar hut.
The trail is not suitable for mountain bikes, not least because it is too crowded. For hikers, though, it must be a highlight of any Iceland tour!!
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