Northeast Iceland · Öxnadalur near Akureyri · Hiked September 2025

Hraunsvatn and Drangafjall

Magical glacial lake, epic vantage point at the top

Grade breakdown

Physical 1160 m ascent over 13.3 km; steepest climb 71% (35°)
Navigation Marked, well-established trail to Hraunsvatn. Unmarked otherwise.
Technical Loose scree on the way to Drangafjall, rockfall possible, exposed

How we grade

Time: 8 h (5.5 h moving)
Length: 13.3 km
Ascent: 1160 m
High point: 1142 m
Route: Loop
Season: Mid-summer to early fall
Popularity: Moderate for Hraunsvatn, low for Drangafjall
Hazards: Exposed

How we measure

Shaded-relief map of Hraunsvatn and Drangafjall with the route — GPS TRACK AS HIKED SEP 2025 · Elevation: ÍslandsDEM (Náttúrufræðistofnun / Landmælingar Íslands, CC BY 4.0) · Lakes: Vistgerðir á Íslandi (Náttúrufræðistofnun, CC BY 4.0)

Overview

Hraunsvatn is a secluded, glacial mountain lake nestled in the Öxnadalur valley in northern Iceland. In spite of being right on route 1, it is not visible from the Ring Road and is therefore less known to mass tourism, while the Drangafjall range above it, with its serrated ridges framing the Hraundrangi spire, is very much visible from the road. This walk has two very different stages. The first is an easy walk from the farm Hraun on the red-staked trail of the Hraun nature reserve, up through Kisubrekka and Drangabollar and down to the lake. The second is a rough, relentlessly steep climb over loose scree from the shores of Hraunsvatn to the Drangafjall plateau. From the 1116 m observation point at its north end you will be looking down on the 1075 m Hraundrangi, and the high point of about 1142 m sits at its south end. The route then drops steeply back to the lake and follows the Hraunsá river down to Hraun.

Photos 12

The route

1 Up through Kisubrekka to Drangabollar 0.0–3.4 km · +331 m · 3 photos

0.0–0.7 km · level, heading W · 228 → 235 m (1%)

Terrain Marked, well-established trail with red stakes all the way to the lake.

the serrated Drangafjall skyline with Hraundrangi, from the valley floor

0.7–2.0 km · steep climb, heading W · 235 → 489 m (18%)

Viewpoint · 1.6 km · 418 m

Excellent view of Drangafjall skyline with Hraundrangi front and center. 1.6 km

the spires above the hanging valley, 1.7 km

2.0–3.4 km · climb, heading WSW · 489 → 559 m (5%)

pinnacles and scree fans in a break of sun, 2.5 km

2 Down to Hraunsvatn 3.4–4.4 km · −55 m · 2 photos

3.4–4.4 km · descent, heading SSW · 559 → 504 m (-6%)

first sight of Hraunsvatn down the valley, 3.5 km

Hraunsvatn framed by the basin walls, 3.9 km

Intersection · 4.2 km · 501 m

Leave the marked trail, continue along the lake shore SSW. 4.2 km

3 Over Drangafjall and back to the lake 4.4–9.7 km · +638 m · −628 m · 6 photos

4.4–7.3 km · steep climb, heading NNW · 504 → 1095 m (21%)

Terrain Starts grassy, turns to scree as you climb.

Intersection · 4.5 km · 507 m

Leave the shore, turn right, climbing steeply uphill. 4.5 km

the lake through the scree gully on the climb, 4.7 km

Hraunsvatn from the scree climb toward the Drangafjall ridge, 5.0 km

Viewpoint · 5.8 km · 1065 m

Ledge overlooking the valley, near the end of the climb. 5.8 km

Viewpoint · 6.8 km · 1113 m

North viewpoint towering above Hraundrangi. 6.8 km

The 1116 m observation point at the north end of the plateau, looking down on the Hraundrangi spire, with Öxnadalur and Hörgárdalur on either side.

the crest line toward the spires, Öxnadalur and Hörgárdalur flanking

7.3–7.8 km · climb, heading SSW · 1095 → 1142 m (9%)

High point · 7.8 km · 1142 m

South viewpoint is also the highest point on the hike. Excellent views over rest of south end of the ridge. 7.8 km

7.8–9.7 km · steep descent, heading SE · 1142 → 514 m (-33%)

summit panorama: the lake far below, flat-top ridges all around

Hraunsvatn deep blue on the way down, 8.5 km

the serrated wall above the outbound valley, 9.6 km

4 Along the Hraunsá back to Hraun 9.7–13.3 km · −290 m · 1 photo

9.7–10.7 km · level, heading ENE · 514 → 499 m (-1%)

the walk out toward the snow-patched headwall, 10.4 km

10.7–11.3 km · steep descent, heading NE · 499 → 385 m (-20%)

Terrain Back on the marked trail, down along the Hraunsá.

11.3–13.3 km · descent, heading ENE · 385 → 224 m (-8%)

Intersection · 12.5 km · 246 m

Turn right on the ascent path, then continue to the parking area. 12.5 km

Parking · 12.7 km · 227 m

Route options

Hraunsvatn only Shorter skips km 4.2–⁠9.5 7.9 km

Skip the Drangafjall climb and walk the red-staked trail to the lake and back down along the Hraunsá, about four hours by the reserve's sign.
Up from Háls on the yellow-staked trail Variant Not walked

Trail 2 on the reserve's board walks south below the old farm Hraun along the Öxnadalsá, crosses the Hraunsá near Háls and climbs gently to the lake, about three and a half hours.

Logistics

Directions

From Akureyri, follow route 1 west into Öxnadalur to the farm Hraun, below Hraundrangi.

Parking

Observation layby on the side of route 1, with the board for the walking routes of the Hraun nature reserve (Fólkvangurinn í Hrauni).

Directions in Google Maps 65.58467° N, 18.53510° W

Equipment

Sturdy boots (backpacking or light mountaineering) are essential for the scree climb to Drangafjall. Hiking poles recommended for balance on the loose scree.

the route board at the trailhead: 14 numbered walks of the Hraun nature reserve (Fólkvangurinn í Hrauni), incl. yellow- and red-staked routes to Hraunsvatn

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