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Súluvegur - Fálkafell hut - Gamli hut - Kjarnaskógur forest

An impressive and scenic trail above the cliffs connecting the Kjarnaskógur woods to the Glerárdalur valley, with a stop by two scout huts Fálkafell and Gamli.

From Kjarnaskógur woods:
There are several routes which can be chosen, the most common starting just below Kirkjustein, where the trail climbs a steep ridge, Kjarnakambur, up onto the rocks. From there, the path continues across glacially carved rocks, through wooded areas, and up to Gamli, the scouts’ cabin.

The route shown here is slightly further north and a bit longer (about 2 km longer). It follows the trail above Hamrar toward Naustaborgir, then turns off the path up a hill and into the forest along a track that ends at Gamli. The trail is marked “Gamli”; see the map below.

From Gamli, the trail continues north along the rocky ridge up to Fálkafell, another scout cabin. From there, there is a great view over the town and out across the fjord.

An optional detour from Gamli can be taken to Steinmenn, large boulders higher up in the area. This path is quite steep and can be slippery in wet or icy conditions.

When at Fálkafell Scout Cabin, you can choose between two routes: the mountain biking trail down to the parking area for the hike up to Súlur, or the path that passes a large cairn and continues down to Súluvegur, near the hot water utility sheds of Norðurorka (this route is shown on the map).

From Glerárdalur valley:
If starting this hike from opposite direction - that is the Glerárdalur side, it is most common to begin at Súluvegur near the Norðurorka hot water sheds and then follow the above directions in reverse. This route passes through varied terrain: trails, sheep tracks, rocks, bridges, marshes, and moorland. A large portion of the trail runs along the rocky ridge above Naustaborgir and Kjarnaskógur, offering magnificent views. <

General information:
Note that the trail is used by both walkers and cyclists.

The scout cabins are locked and used for scout activities, but it is fine to use the deck at Gamli or shelters near the buildings as a rest spot, as long as it does not disturb scout activities.

Points of Interest: the Scout Cairn, Fálkafell, and Gamli (the scouts’ cabin), viewpoints, and the impressive trail along the rocky ridge, Kjarnaskógur.


You can access GPX fiel for this hike here.

See also on Wikiloc and on Google Earth

The starting point of the hike on the Kjarnarskógur side is shown on the map below.

Further info

Distance: 8,3 km (One way)
GPX file (for downloading)

Time (hike): 2 -3 hours
Time (cycle): 30-60 minutes

Elevation: 390 m

Terrain: Gravel/mud tracks, sheep tracks, moor, cliffs / rock

Start/End point: Súluvegur road or Kjarnakot (Kjarnaskógur)

Parking: By Súluvegur or by parkingarea by Kjarnakot (Kjarnaskógur)

Interesting sights: Fálkafell hut, Gamli hut, Crain, View, Kjarnaskógur.