Bægisárjökull in Hörgárdalur: Location and Glacier History
Bægisárjökull is a mountain glacier in Hörgárdalur, in the Tröllaskagi mountains of North Iceland. Its location and documented surge behavior are more useful identifiers than the loose description “a rare northern glacier.”
Find the right part of Tröllaskagi
The USGS glacier-name reference places Bægisárjökull in Hörgárdalur and records its name as coming from the Bægisá farmstead. Use Hörgárdalur as the geographic starting point when checking a map or asking about an approach.
A glacier with a surge history
The reference identifies Bægisárjökull as a glacier known to surge. Its September 6, 2000 aerial photograph looks toward Kerling and distinguishes the glacier from nearby Lambárdalsjökull and Glerárdalsjökull. A surge is a period of unusually rapid ice movement; it is not evidence that the glacier is currently growing because of the climate.
Use the record for identification
The 2008 publication is a historical geographic source. Its photograph and location identify the glacier, but do not establish the present ice edge, snow cover, a trailhead or a safe walking route. For a mountain trip, obtain current local route advice before choosing accommodation or setting a departure time.
Sources and further planning
USGS: Geographic Names of Iceland’s Glaciers: Historic and Modern, Oddur Sigurðsson and Richard S. Williams Jr., 2008, printed page 65. Historical identification checked September 10, 2026.
Continue with the wider region or glacier system, or compare guided glacier activities. For an actual departure, check SafeTravel alerts, weather warnings and road conditions.
Planning help
Glacier questions
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.
What is Bægisárjökull?
Bægisárjökull is a mountain glacier in Hörgárdalur, in the Tröllaskagi mountains of North Iceland.
Does this page provide a current route onto the glacier?
No. Glacier identification and historical photographs do not establish current access. Check official conditions and get advice for the exact route; use the operator’s confirmed meeting point for a guided activity.
Country reference: Iceland statistics.