Getting There
Forty kilometers (25 miles) east of Höfn, the Ring Road crosses the main branch of the Jökulsá í Lóni River. Northeast of the river valley, just past the main bridge, a road branches off inland and leads a few kilometers into Lónsöræfi, past several summer houses. Some short hikes can kick off from here, but the best routes are accessed by mountain road F980, which meets the Ring Road on the southwest side of the river valley. Route F980 is 25km (16 miles) long and ends at Illikambur, a 1-hour hike from the Múlaskáli mountain hut. The route is technically passable in a 4WD vehicle with good clearance, but definitely not advised, because the river crossings are volatile and dangerous. From mid-June to early September this route is covered daily by Ragnar (tel. 864-4215) and his custom-built bus. From June through August, Þingvallaleið (tel. 511-2600; www.bustravel.is) runs a daily bus between Höfn and Egilsstaðir that stops at Stafafell.
Visitor Information
The best source of information and advice is the Stafafell Youth Hostel . Basic information can be found at www.ust.is; click "Protected Areas" and then "Lónsöræfi." From June to August a warden is stationed at Múlaskáli hut, where there is no phone reception. Currently the warden is Helga Davids (tel. 470-8030 or 822-4036; helgadavids@ust.is). The best map of Lónsöræfi is made by Mál og Menning, but a better, small-scale map is in the works.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
