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Hengill: Vörðuskeggi - hringur frá Sleggjubeinaskarði

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Trail photos

Photo ofHengill: Vörðuskeggi - hringur frá Sleggjubeinaskarði Photo ofHengill: Vörðuskeggi - hringur frá Sleggjubeinaskarði Photo ofHengill: Vörðuskeggi - hringur frá Sleggjubeinaskarði

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Trail stats

Distance
12.11 mi
Elevation gain
2,484 ft
Technical difficulty
Very difficult
Elevation loss
2,484 ft
Max elevation
2,631 ft
TrailRank 
69 4.7
Min elevation
879 ft
Trail type
Loop
Time
4 hours 8 minutes
Coordinates
1737
Uploaded
October 23, 2012
Recorded
October 2012
  • Rating

  •   4.7 4 Reviews

near Hveragerðisbær, Suðurland (Lýðveldið Ísland)

Viewed 23724 times, downloaded 312 times

Trail photos

Photo ofHengill: Vörðuskeggi - hringur frá Sleggjubeinaskarði Photo ofHengill: Vörðuskeggi - hringur frá Sleggjubeinaskarði Photo ofHengill: Vörðuskeggi - hringur frá Sleggjubeinaskarði

Itinerary description

A truly epic tour that has it all. All-in-all the distance is only 20 km but with more than 800 m of total ascend to the top of Hengill mountain and some serious climbs this tour clearly defines the term "hike assisted biking"

You start by driving to the end of the thermal power plant Hellisheiðavirkjun and park the car at the bottom of Sleggjubeinaskarð. First you head back a few 100 m on pavement until you get to the first climb - a pretty steep stretch of about 1,2 km and 120 m of ascend. But the whole climb is on tarmac so its not too hard.
After about 3 km of warming up you exit the tarmac - heading east around the mountain Skarðsmýrarfjall leading into Innstidalur. This part is quite easy on a good gravel road which later turns into a rough jeep track.
As you approach Innstidalur you can see a hut to the north-east end of the valley. Follow the jeep track leading up to it.

The hut is a good place for a short stop to refresh (you can also dip in the nearby warm creek if you feel like it) as this is where the big climb begins. Take a deep breath before shouldering the bike for the sometimes near vertical 320 m climb ahead. Fortunately you are rewarded with some amazing views that ease the pain of the climb :) After the big climb there is a short ride-able stretch before you have to shoulder the bike again for another small and comparatively easy climb of approx 100 m. (I guess after the first climb anything will seem alot easier :)

The top of the Hengill mountain is cycle-able and offers a spectacular view over to Eyjafjallajökull and Hekla in the east, Þingvellir-lake and Hofsjökull and Langjökull to the north and all over west to Snaefellsjökull. While you are up there use, the opportunity to climb up to the Vörðuskeggi peak - even if only to say you've done it.

From there the descend begins. A part of the way (particularly higher up) is really gnarly and not cycle-able as the track passes through deep gorges and dark jagged cliffs on paths high up in the mountain that are only a few inches wide. Not for the faint hearted or those suffering from vertigo.
The final 6 km or so are all very much rideable - with some parts more technical than others - but all of it really good fun. Particularly the last bit down Sleggjubeinaskarð which again is both steep and technical.

In summary this route is very demanding. A lot of steep climbs and very rough sections. However the view is amazing and difficult to find anything comparable.

Rating: 1-5 points
View: 6 points
Difficulty: 5
Technicality: 5
Flow: 3
Overall 5 points

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Comments  (6)

  • Photo of Larusarni
    Larusarni Oct 23, 2012

    I have followed this trail  View more

    The authors description is accurate. For those who are happy to carry the bike on steep extended sections the rewards are well worth it.

  • snussi Aug 17, 2014

    I have followed this trail  View more

    Fantastic!

  • Gunnhildur I. Georgsdóttir Sep 12, 2016

    I have followed this trail  View more

    Amazing view! The downhill at the end well worth the big climbing parts :)

  • Photo of regine.volkelt
    regine.volkelt Aug 5, 2018

    Die Runde ist der Hammer! Tolle Tour mit Baden im warmen Bach und tolle abwechslungsreiche Tour.
    Tragen und schieben gehört dazu. Einfach nur TOLL!

  • Photo of Chanlibel گردنه مه آلود
  • Photo of Andrés Nói Arnarsson
    Andrés Nói Arnarsson Aug 15, 2022

    I have followed this trail  verified  View more

    Það eru komnar tröppur í singletrackið í sleggjubeinaskarði sem eyðileggur flowið annars er þetta fimm stjörnu túr.

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