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Walking routes East of Akureyrarpollur and River Eyjafjarðará (Vaðlaheiði)

There are many walking possibilities in this area; along old routes across Mt. Vaðlaheiði, on the banks of the River Eyjafjarðará or to the summit of Mt. Staðarbyggðarfjall. The following descriptions apply to summer conditions. When travelling through hayfields and pastures, please close all gates behind you and keep to available paths. No attempt is made to give walking times. An average walker may walk 4 km per hour and in addition one should add one hour for every 450 m of climbing.

The routes are grades according to how strenuous they are:
u                     Easy walking
uu                   More strenuous walking
uuu               Strenuous walking or scrambling

Route 1: Through the Vaðlareitur forest plantation: u
Distance: 2,5 km, vertical ascent: 80 m.
Set off from a car park just south of the Ring Road, walk to the southern edge of the plantation, then climb a path up through the wood. From there, follow a path north through the entire length of the plantation across rocky outcrops with fine views, to the car park at the Húsabrekka camping site.

Route 2: East across Mt. Vaðlaheiði through the Geldingsárskarð pass: uu
Distance: 12 km, vertical ascent: 560 m.
Set off from the car park at the Húsabrekka camping site, walk SE up the old main road, then turn N onto the old Vaðlaheiði road. Just above the Veigastaðir farm, turn right up a track N of a patch of woodland and ascend across the hayfield to an old path, which winds up the hill. Follow the path up to an old horsecart track, which goes straight N along a terrace on the mountain for approx. 3-4 km. The track then turns SE on to the highest part of Vaðlaheiði (630 m), offering fine views to the W and N. Follow the track E off Vaðlaheiði to the farm Skógar in Fjnóskadalur.

Route 3: Þingmannavegur across Mt. Vaðlaheiði: uu
Distance: 10 km, vertical ascent: 600 m.
Set off from just N of the farmhouses at Eyrarland farm, ascend the S bank of a shallow gorge, follow a jeep track to old hay fields, then bear right up the hill to the remains of an old fence on the N bank of Þingmannalækur stream. Cross the stream and join the very old track, which goes zigzag up the hill, then turns N across the stream up onto Mt. Vaðlaheiði (680 m), offering fine views across Eyjafjarðará-estuary and Akureyri. Then follow the old track NE down into Fnjóskadalur valley, crossing a very interesting old stone bridge from 1871. You finally reach the main road in Fnjóskadalur between the Hróarsstaðir farm and the recent bridge across River Fnjóská.

Route 4: Across Mt. Vaðlaheiði through the Bíldsárskarð-pass: uu
Distance: 10 km, vertical ascent: 530 m.
Set off from the Fífilgerði farm, walk up a track to a horse pen, then ascend the slope N of the stream (Bíldsá) to a small terrace. Once on the terrace, cross the stream and ascend the old riding path which zigzags up the slope to a prominent cairn on the edge of the mountain. There is a fine view from the cairn across Eyjafjörður valley and Akureyri. Follow the path E across the pass, S of the stream, to the watershed (630 m), downhill and then SE to reach the main road in Fnjóskadalur valley near an old deserted farm (Grjótárgerði).

Route 5: Across the Gönguskarð pass: uuu
Distance: 26 km, vertical ascent: 450 m.
Set off from the Garðsá farm, follow sheep tracks SE above the gorge of River Þverá, past the deserted farm Þröm, then follow the riverbank to the foot of the Gönguskarð pass, approx. 11 km from Garðsá farm. Ascend the scree to the S of the stream which comes down from the pass, then follow sheep tracks to the watershed on the pass (570 m) where there is a fine view SE down the Skarðsdalur valley. Descend on the N of the River Skarðsá down to River Fnjóská in Bleiksmýrardalur valley, then follow a jeep track N to the Reykir farm.

Route 6: To Mt. Staðarbyggðarfjall: uuu
Distance to summit: 8 km, vertical ascent: 1000 m.
Start at Öngulsstaðir farm, ascend a jeep track E to a summerhouse overlooking the community, then turn S up to a prominent cairn on a hilltop (Haus). Now the summit Uppsalahnjúkur (1100 m) on the N end of Mt. Staðarbyggðarfjall figures prominently on the horizon to S. Climb the summit up the NE ridge from where there is an exceptionally fine view of the whole surrounding area.

Route 7: Along the banks of River Eyjafjarðará: u
Distance: 13 km, vertical ascent: 40 m.
Start from the Brunná cottage, taking the old main road E across River Eyjafjarðará. Once across the 3rd bridge, turn right along the E bank of River Eyjafjarðará, following a track to the hot water pipe for Akureyri town where it crosses River Eyjafjarðará. Peaceful surroundings, rich bird life. Then follow the track immediately W of the hot water pipes to Laugaland farm. From there take the main road leading W across Eyjafjarðará to the café Vín by Hrafnagil.

Compiled by the Walking Route Committee of the Touring Club of Akureyri in May 1998.

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