Thórsmörk and the Tindfjöll hike
Today, we plan to head to the Thórsmörk area, which we visited a few years ago and loved at the time. As we did on our first visit, we’re not taking our Duster to get there, as the vehicle is clearly not suited for crossing the rivers at the end of the F249.
We book a tour with Reykjavik Excursions, and the bus picks us up at 8:20 AM in Hella, with a return around 4:30 PM from Thórsmörk.
We could have taken the bus all the way to Langidalur, which is the actual starting point for the hike we’ve planned, but the bus first stops at Húsadalur, about an hour before. Given the distance (2 km on foot) between the two campsites, we decide to walk to Langidalur, which saves us a lot of time.
The Tindfjöll Circle Hike
We quickly make the 20-minute walk from Húsadalur to Langidalur and arrive around 11 AM. The Tindfjöll Circle hike starts just below the Langidalur cabin, heading towards the meanders of the Krossa River. We follow the well-marked path with orange stakes.
The loop is 9.5 km from Langidalur, and we must quickly choose whether to start with the ascent through the woods or begin with the plain near the meanders of the Krossa. We opt for the first option through the woods.
The ascent is gentle, and the views of the surrounding mountains are stunning. Some sections are a bit slippery, so we need to stay cautious before reaching the small cave of Tröllakirkja.
Over the first three kilometers, we traverse the mountain slopes before reaching a plateau with breathtaking views of the Myrdalsjökull and Katla glaciers.
A final, steeper ascent provides a spectacular viewpoint of the plain and the meanders of the Krossa with the famous Eyjafjallajökull in the background.
The panorama is incredible, and we have a picnic halfway through before beginning the descent on the other side. The second part is very easy and mostly downhill before returning to the stone fields near the river.
The end of the hike is less interesting, with the last two kilometers over the stone fields before reaching Langidalur.
To catch the bus, we could have waited at Langidalur, but instead, we decide to walk the two kilometers to Volcano Huts (Húsadalur).
In total, we hike exactly 13 km during the day, but this hike was absolutely stunning, and we return tired but with our eyes full of memories.
