Mývatnssveit: Hofsstaðir – Hofsstaðaheiði – Sandvatn – Hólkotsgil – Hofsstaðir

Difficulty: 1–2 boots

Date: Sunday, 12 July

Departure: 8:00 by private cars from FFA, Strandgata 23
Start of hike: 9:30 from Hofsstaðir

Guide: Egill Freysteinsson, Vagnbrekka, Mývatnssveit

The hike starts at Hofsstaðir and goes up onto Hofsstaðaheiði, with views over Lake Mývatn and Sandvatn, continuing to the western end of the lake. From there, the route descends along Hólkotsgil down to the Laxá river.

After a lunch stop by the Laxá, the walk continues upstream along the river, midway up the slopes, offering good views over the Laxá and down through the upper part of the Laxárdalur valley.

There will be discussion of past hydropower development plans and the impacts they would have had on the area. A stop will be made at “Áslaug,” a warm spring, where some participants may be able to enjoy a footbath.

The hike then returns to Hofsstaðir, where there will be an introduction to the history of the farm and the archaeological remains that have been found there.

The section from Hofsstaðir to Sandvatn follows a vehicle track; after that the terrain is moorland, and on the slope above the Laxá there is heather moor and possibly remnants of old sheep paths.

The hike ends at Hofsstaðir between 14:00 and 15:00.

Distance: 10–12 km
Elevation gain: 150 m