GUNUNG · Iceland

Kerlingarfjöll

Information

Elevation: 1.477 m
Country: Iceland (IS)
Location / Range: Dataran Tinggi Islandia — sistem vulkanik Hofsjökull
Mountain type: Volcano
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: 64.6500, -19.2500
Difficulty: Sedang
Best Season: Pertengahan Juli–pertengahan September
Permits & Rules: Tidak perlu izin khusus; kawasan cagar alam sejak 2017 (~367 km²) — patuhi aturan menjaga area geotermal.
Hazards: Padang salju sisa, cuaca dataran tinggi yang cepat berubah, penyeberangan sungai, dan tanah panas/uap di area geotermal Hveradalir.

Description

Kerlingarfjöll (highest peak Snækollur, 1,477 m) is a volcanic massif in the Icelandic Highlands beside the Kjölur highland road, generally regarded as part of the Hofsjökull volcanic system. Roughly 20–30 km across and built of tuya formations, it is famous for its red rhyolite rock, two calderas, and the Hveradalir geothermal field of hot springs, fumaroles and mineral-stained yellow-red-green ground. Formerly home to a summer ski resort (closed in 2000), it now operates as a highland resort and is one of the most popular day-hiking destinations in Iceland's interior. The area became a nature reserve in 2017.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Loop Austurfjöll via Kastali

Sedang–berat

7.00 km Sekitar 5 jam 30 menit

A roughly 7 km loop starting from the Kastali hut/car park (the second parking lot), climbing the steep slopes of Loðmundur and Fannborg toward the Snækollur summit area. It is one of around twenty trails in Kerlingarfjöll, ranging from a 1-hour walk to multi-day routes.

Source

Loop Geotermal Hveradalir

Mudah–sedang

Sekitar 1–3 jam

A marked loop trail through the Hveradalir geothermal valley, starting from the Hveradalir car park, descending steps into the valley and crossing the Ásgarðsá river on footbridges. It passes hot pools, bubbling mud pots, steam vents and fumaroles. Iceland's environment agency (Umhverfisstofnun) publishes the official Kerlingarfjöll trail map.

Source

Pendakian Puncak Snækollur (titik tertinggi Kerlingarfjöll)

Sedang–berat: melintasi padang salju dan medan licin; butuh kondisi cuaca baik

9.30 km 4–7 jam pulang-pergi

An out-and-back of about 9.3 km to Snækollur (1,477 m), the highest peak of the Kerlingarfjöll massif. It usually starts from the Fannborg car park (an alternative unmarked line starts near the Hveradalir hot springs). The route crosses snowfields and slippery slopes, so mid-July to mid-September — when most snow has melted — is the best season.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Hiking in Kerlingarfjöll centres on the Hveradalir geothermal field — a valley of fumaroles, boiling hot springs and colourful rhyolite slopes that earn it a reputation as one of Iceland's interior 'hidden gems'. The most popular outing is the relatively short Hveradalir loop, while summit-seekers climb Snækollur (1,477 m), the massif's highest point. Access is via the summer-only Kjölur (F35) highland road, usually with a 4x4, and many visitors combine it with the nearby Hveravellir hot springs. Weather changes fast and some trails cross snowfields, so mid-July to September is the best window.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.