Morsárjökull: The M2 Walk from Skaftafell
Park route figures, trail text and condition sources for the walk from Skaftafellsstofa toward Morsárjökull.
Vatnajökull National Park lists its M2 Morsárjökull walk from Skaftafellsstofa as 19.5 km, an estimated 6–7 hours and Challenging, and its route text leads to the glacial lake in front of Morsárjökull. M2 Morsárjökull (source checked 2026-11-06) M2 Morsárjökull (source checked 2026-11-06)
Key takeaways
- Vatnajökull National Park lists the M2 Morsárjökull route as 19.5 km, an estimated 6–7 hours, Challenging, with a park-labelled elevation of 350 m, starting at Skaftafellsstofa Visitor centre. M2 Morsárjökull (source checked 2026-11-06)
- The park’s M2 route text leads from Skaftafell Visitor Centre toward Sjónarsker and Morsárdalur and follows the marked trail to the glacial lake in front of Morsárjökull. M2 Morsárjökull (source checked 2026-11-06)
- The park describes ice falling off the cliff at Morsárjökull in Morsárdalur valley and a landslide from 2007 lying on top of the glacier. M2 Morsárjökull (source checked 2026-11-06)
- The park lists the S4 Kristínartindar route as 17.9 km, an estimated 6–8 hours and Difficult, and says it is only for experienced hikers. Kristínartindar S4 (source checked 2026-11-06) Kristínartindar S4 (source checked 2026-11-06)
- Vegagerðin’s distance tool gives 326 km from Reykjavík to Skaftafell on its shortest all-paved route; it has no row for Morsárjökull itself. Vegalengdir: Reykjavík - Skaftafell (source checked 2026-11-06)
| Fact | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Route | M2 Morsárjökull (Vatnajökull National Park) | Park route page; the route text leads to the glacial lake in front of Morsárjökull |
| Distance | 19.5 km | Park label 19,5 km (checked November 6, 2026) |
| Estimated time | 6–7 hours | Park estimate (checked November 6, 2026) |
| Difficulty (park label) | Challenging | Park trail difficulty factor |
| Elevation (park label) | 350 m | The park does not say whether this is climb or highest point (checked November 6, 2026) |
| Start | Skaftafellsstofa Visitor centre | Park route page |
| Skaftafellsstofa hours in November | 9–17 | As the park lists them; hours can change, and the sources used do not say whether the M2 trail is open on November 6, 2026 (checked November 6, 2026) |
| Printed position (USGS) | 64°05′N., 16°55′W. | USGS Professional Paper 1746 glacier-name reference, printed page 155; not a trailhead (checked November 6, 2026) |
| Reykjavík to Skaftafell (not to Morsárjökull) | 326 km, all paved | Shortest all-paved route in Vegagerðin's distance tool (its 321 km row uses mountain roads and is marked not passable for passenger cars), which has no Morsárjökull row; no drive time given (checked November 6, 2026) |
What is Morsárjökull?
Morsárjökull is an outlet glacier on the southern margin of Vatnajökull, according to USGS Professional Paper 1746, which prints its position as 64°05′N., 16°55′W. Geographic Names of Iceland's Glaciers: Historic and Modern (USGS Professional Paper 1746) (source checked 2026-11-06) Vatnajökull National Park describes it as a scenic glacier in Morsárdalur valley where the ice falls off the cliff and a landslide from 2007 lies on top of the glacier. M2 Morsárjökull (source checked 2026-11-06)
The sources used give no area, length or retreat figure for Morsárjökull.
How long is the Morsárjökull hike, and where does it go?
Vatnajökull National Park lists route M2 Morsárjökull as 19.5 km, with an estimated 6–7 hours, difficulty Challenging and elevation 350 m, starting at Skaftafellsstofa Visitor centre. M2 Morsárjökull (source checked 2026-11-06) The park’s M2 page does not say whether the 350 m is climb or highest point, and it gives no seasonal rule for the route.
The park’s route text heads from Skaftafell Visitor Centre toward Sjónarsker, continues to Morsárdalur and follows the marked trail between Grjóthóll and the glacial lake in front of Morsárjökull. M2 Morsárjökull (source checked 2026-11-06) The text describes a walk to that lake, and the sources used describe no route onto Morsárjökull itself.
Can you hear or see ice falling at Morsárjökull?
Vatnajökull National Park says the ice falls off the cliff at Morsárjökull and that in summer time hikers can often hear the ice falling. M2 Morsárjökull (source checked 2026-11-06) The park also says a landslide from 2007 lies on top of the glacier. M2 Morsárjökull (source checked 2026-11-06)
On its Falljökull page, Vatnajökull National Park gives a general caution for hiking in front of and on glaciers; it is not a statement about the M2 route:
“Care should always be taken when hiking in front of glaciers and on them. Use appropriate safety gear and go with a guide who has experience with glacier walks.”
How is the Morsárjökull walk different from the Kristínartindar route?
Vatnajökull National Park lists M2 Morsárjökull as 19.5 km, 6–7 hours and Challenging, and S4 Kristínartindar as 17.9 km, 6–8 hours and Difficult. M2 Morsárjökull (source checked 2026-11-06) Kristínartindar S4 (source checked 2026-11-06) The park says the Kristínartindar hike is difficult and only for experienced hikers. Kristínartindar S4 (source checked 2026-11-06)
| Route | Distance | Estimated time | Difficulty | Elevation (park label) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M2 Morsárjökull | 19.5 km | 6–7 hours | Challenging | 350 m |
| S4 Kristínartindar | 17.9 km | 6–8 hours | Difficult | 1215 m |
When is Skaftafellsstofa open?
Vatnajökull National Park lists Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Centre hours for November as 9–17, with September at 9–18, October at 9–18 and December at 10–17. Skaftafellsstofa (source checked 2026-11-06) The park publishes these hours, and none of the sources used states whether the M2 Morsárjökull trail is open on November 6, 2026.
How far is Skaftafell from Reykjavík?
Vegagerðin’s distance tool has no row for Morsárjökull, so its figures are distances to Skaftafell, whose visitor centre is where the park’s M2 route text starts. M2 Morsárjökull (source checked 2026-11-06) The shortest all-paved route Vegagerðin lists from Reykjavík to Skaftafell is 326 km; its shorter 321 km row uses mountain roads and is marked not passable for passenger cars. Vegalengdir: Reykjavík - Skaftafell (source checked 2026-11-06)
| Length (km) | Paved (km) | Gravel (km) | Via, as Vegagerðin lists it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 321 | 233 | 88 | Hellisheiði, Emstruleið, Mælifellssandur, Skeiðarársandur. Vegagerðin’s note on this row, translated from Icelandic: the route goes over mountain roads (open part of the summer) between places and is not passable for passenger cars. |
| 326 | 326 | 0 | Hellisheiði, Skeiðarársandur |
| 340 | 340 | 0 | Þrengsli, Óseyrarbrú, Skeiðarársandur |
Vegagerðin says its watch stations update information on driving conditions and road conditions on umferdin.is, in English and Polish as well as Icelandic. Vegagerðin (source checked 2026-11-06)
Where can you read more about Morsárjökull?
Vatnajökull National Park’s M2 page is the source for the route figures and the ice-fall description used here, and USGS Professional Paper 1746 is the source for the glacier’s description and printed position. The park pages, USGS entry and Vegagerðin tool were all read on November 6, 2026.
Vatnajökull National Park: M2 route, distance and difficulty. Checked November 6, 2026.
Continue with the wider region or glacier system, or compare guided glacier activities. Official pages for conditions: SafeTravel alerts, weather warnings and road conditions.
Planning help
Glacier questions
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.
What is Morsárjökull?
Morsárjökull is an outlet glacier on the southern margin of Vatnajökull, according to USGS Professional Paper 1746, which prints its position as 64°05′N., 16°55′W. Vatnajökull National Park describes it as a scenic glacier in Morsárdalur valley where the ice falls off the cliff and a landslide from 2007 lies on top of the glacier. (checked November 6, 2026)
Does the M2 route go onto Morsárjökull?
Vatnajökull National Park's M2 route text leads from Skaftafell Visitor Centre toward Sjónarsker and Morsárdalur, then follows the marked trail between Grjóthóll and the glacial lake in front of Morsárjökull. The text describes a walk to that lake, and the sources used describe no route onto the glacier.
How long is the Morsárjökull hike?
Vatnajökull National Park lists route M2 Morsárjökull as 19.5 km, an estimated 6–7 hours, difficulty Challenging and elevation 350 m, starting at Skaftafellsstofa Visitor centre. The park's M2 page gives no seasonal rule for the route. (checked November 6, 2026)
How is the Morsárjökull walk different from the Kristínartindar route?
Vatnajökull National Park lists S4 Kristínartindar as 17.9 km, an estimated 6–8 hours, Difficult, with elevation 1215 m, and says the hike is difficult and only for experienced hikers. It lists M2 Morsárjökull as 19.5 km, 6–7 hours, Challenging, with elevation 350 m. (checked November 6, 2026)
When is Skaftafellsstofa open in November?
Vatnajökull National Park lists Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Centre hours for November as 9–17. None of the sources used states whether the M2 trail is open on November 6, 2026. (checked November 6, 2026)
How far is Skaftafell from Reykjavík?
Vegagerðin's distance tool has no row for Morsárjökull. It lists Skaftafell at 326 km from Reykjavík on its shortest all-paved route, and its shorter 321 km row uses mountain roads and is marked not passable for passenger cars. Vegagerðin says its watch stations update road conditions on umferdin.is. (checked November 6, 2026)
Country reference: Iceland statistics.