Welcome to the North-west Vatnajökull National Park which is influenced by four central volcanoes: Tungnafellsjökull in the northwest; Bárðarbunga in the northeast; Hamarinn in the south; and in the middle is the Vonarskarð volcano. The area is all highland and only about one tenth is vegetated. The main areas of continuous vegetation are at Tómasarhagi/Nýidalur (800 m a.s.l.) and Snapadalur in Vonarskarð (900 m a.s.l.).

 

Access to the area

Driving is only allowed on the roads which are marked on the maps published by the Vatnajökull National Park. Here, as elsewhere, driving off-road is totally banned by law. Since the highland soil is delicate, damage caused by off-road driving may take decades to heal. Should you witness any off-road driving, please report it to a ranger. In winter, however, vehicles may be driven over snow on frozen ground, both on and off roads. The high altitude of the area means that it is not accessible by normal vehicles except during summer and early autumn. See more details at The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration.

Visitors must also take every precaution before travelling to the area as all kinds of weather can be expected, even in July. 

Nýidalur is located roughly in the middle of the Sprengisandur route (F 26) which connects north and south Iceland through the central highland. Its high altitude means that it is not accessible by normal vehicles except during summer and early autumn.

The Iceland Touring Association runs accommodation huts in Nýidalur. A ranger station is also located there, but that‘s about it. No fuel, food or other commodities are available in Nýidalur or anywhere nearby.

The ranger station is located at N64° 44.110' - W018° 04.372'.

The ranger on duty can be reached at mobile number +354 8424377.

Vonarskarð

Hiking paths leads from Nýidalur to Vonarskarð. The northern end of Vonarskarð pass can be reached via a track trom Dyngjufjallaleið (F 910) west of Skjálfandafljót, ending at a car park by Gjósta. The southern end of the pass can be reached from a track which turns off Sprengisandsleið (F 26) at Skrokkalda by Hágöngulón, ending at a car park between Kolufell and Svarthöfði. 

Tungnaáröræfi

Access to Tungnaáröræfi is by the mountain road F 229 from Veiðivötn, or by a track from Sprengisandsleið (F 26) to Þórisós.

Public transport

At the moment there is no public transport in the area.

There are no regular trips to Tungnaáröræfi.