Icy Adventures on Drangajökull Glacier

Glaciers are icy landscapes scattered all across Iceland, making up the other dramatic half of the Land of Fire and Ice. We have many famous glaciers, such as Vatnajökul, which holds the title of the largest glacier in Europe. But we also have many others, just as impressive, that people don’t know about; the hidden glacier gems of Iceland. One of these glaciers is the Drangajökull Glacier.

Drangajökull Glacier has quite a few prestigious acclaims attached to it, and its incredible surroundings are certainly the cherry on top. Find out what makes this glacier one of the must-visit spots in Iceland and what to do to have the safest and most memorable trip.

A Quick Overview of Drangajökull Glacier

Drangajökull can be found in the southwestern part of the Hornstrandir Peninsula in one of the most remote parts of Iceland: the Westfjords. It is roughly 232 kilometers from the capital city of Reykjavik and 335 kilometers from Akureyri (the so-called capital city of the north). As mentioned, Drangajökull has a few official titles.

It is the northernmost glacier in Iceland, and it’s also the lowest-lying glacier. The glacier stretches out over an area of roughly 200 square kilometers (making it Iceland’s fifth-largest glacier, even though it’s still considered pretty small), and reaches a height of 925 meters (the latter giving it its second title since all other glaciers in Iceland are at least over 1000).

Inspirational Drangajokull

Iceland’s northernmost glacier has actually inspired one of 66North’s most popular clothing items: the Drangajökull GORE-TEX Parka. It is a waterproof parka that promises to keep you warm in subzero temperatures. This would probably be the perfect outfit for your trip to Drangajokull.

Local Wildlife and Flora at Drangajokull

The Westfjords is still a fairly untouched region in Iceland, and therefore, you will find all sorts of wildlife around Drangajokull. You could spot a wide variety of bird species, including the Puffins during their breeding season, or catch a glimpse of our little elusive predator, the Arctic Fox.

Accessibility: How to Get to Drangajökull Glacier

First, we must make it very clear that any icy adventures you wish to have on the glacier will have to be via guided tour due to safety concerns. It is, however, still possible to go to the glacier just to view it and explore the surroundings by yourself. Whatever your preference, the following are ways to reach the glacier:

Taking a Tour

This is not the same tour as we mentioned above, although it may include it. We have many tour operators and guides on the island offering tour packages. Many have all sorts of glacier adventures included in their packages. But since Drangajökull is in such a remote part of the country, the tours will be fewer than, for example, Myrdallsjokull and the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.

Your best bet is to book a multi-day tour around Iceland or a hiking tour (but more on this a little later). The other option would be to request a customized private tour for yourself or your group. Tours usually depart from the larger cities on the island, such as Reykjavik and Akureyri.

Driving Yourself

Driving yourself is the best way to keep 100% autonomy over your time and trip itinerary. Although you will find many day outing options here in Iceland, we would definitely not suggest attempting one in the Westfjords. The Westfjords is simply too vast, too remote, and too beautiful to try and cram all its interesting attractions and activities into one day.

Do a Westfjords Way road trip in which you dedicate the entire road trip to the Westfjords region. Or you can take on our popular Ring Road route, allowing you to travel all around the island and get a taste of every region. Then just spend a couple of days in the Westfjords once you get there.

Just remember that you will need a 4x4 vehicle to travel the Westfjords, and many roads are closed throughout the colder months of the year. Most will kickstart their Ring Road road trip from Reykjavik once they’ve landed at Keflavik Airport. Getting to Drangajökull from Reykjavik will take you about 7 hours. That is why it’s best to make the journey with a few pitstops in between.

How was Drangajökull Glacier Formed?

Drangajökull formed in much the same way as other glaciers in Iceland. A glacier is essentially made of layers of snow compressed together. Imagine a thick layer of snow falling on the ground. It then melts slightly when it gets warmer. Then, freezes again when it gets colder. But when it freezes again, it’s no longer a layer of snowflakes. It’s now a solid layer of ice.

Then, another layer of snow falls on top of that layer. After a while, the weight of the upper layers also helps compress the lower layers even further. Imagine this process going on for thousands and thousands of years till you have the large, dense, ice masses we see today. Once you’ve envisioned the process of glaciers forming, you begin to understand the geological and historical significance glaciers have.

Environmental Impact: Drangajökull and Climate Change

As you’ve seen from the formation of glaciers, there will always be an element of melting to it, albeit slowly. But in the past years, we’ve seen a concerning trend where global warming has exhilarated glacial melting at alarming rates. When it comes to the Drangajökull Glacier, things get pretty interesting.

When comparing Drangajökull to its glacier counterparts located in the south of Iceland, it seems like the glacier is barely receding. This has prompted many researchers, geologists, and other scientists to delve into what makes Drangajökull so unique. It turns out that the difference might merely be short-term.

Because of Drangajökull’s location, it deals with much lower sea temperatures than the glaciers in the south. Therefore, it seemingly recedes much slower than the glaciers in the south. However, when zooming out of the situation and taking a look at the much larger picture of the glaciers in Iceland, it’s clear that Drangajökull Glacier has had similar growth and retreat patterns to the rest of the glacier gang on the island for the past 10 000 years.

What Climate Change Means for the EcoSystem of Drangajökull Glacier

Ultimately, the receding of any glacier will impact the surrounding ecosystem, and it is no different for Drangajökull. The glacier feeds many streams and rivers flowing through the Westfjords, so the receding glacier will impact the area’s freshwater resources.

The receding glacier will also have an inevitable impact on its surrounding landscape of deep fjords, steep mountains, and coastal cliffs, and what the landscape would look like when the glacier is gone is still a bit of a guessing game among the experts.

Drangajökull via the Kaldalon Trail

The Kaldalon Trail is one of the most famous hiking trails in Iceland to explore the scenic Westfjords and get close to a glacier. Kaldalon is an out-and-back trail that’s roughly 8 kilometers long. It will take about 2 hours to complete, depending on your pace.

The trail is considered moderate when it comes to difficulty level, so most will be able to take it on. Just be prepared to cross many streams. The trail will also be very muddy, so proper waterproof hiking boots are essential. The trail starts at Kaldalon in the Westfjords and heads up to the Jökuholt summit, 382 meters above sea level.

Unique Experiences at Drangajökull Glacier

Iceland is famous for two natural phenomena: the Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights. These make for incredible experiences at Drangajökull Glacier. But you can’t experience both during one trip to the island (unless you’re planning on staying 6+ months). The Midnight Sun is exactly what it sounds like.

You will experience daylight at midnight. This is because darkness never quite falls during mid-summer on the island, and you will experience 20-22 hour “days.” These days are usually great for those with a jam-packed trip itinerary, especially if it consists of a lot of outdoor adventures such as Drangajökull. The Northern Lights are bright, neon lights that snake across the sky here in Iceland under the right conditions.

These conditions include a combination of dry air, cold, and, of course, darkness. That’s why the best time to see the lights is during the colder months, especially the winter. Because of Drangajökull’s remote location without any light pollution, anyone that goes Northern Lights hunting there is really in for a show.

The Best Time to Visit Drangajökull Glacier

Although it may seem counterintuitive to visit something like a glacier during the warmer months of the year, you can explore the glaciers all year round here in Iceland. But when you prefer to visit Drangajökull will depend on the following:

Whether You Can Get There in the First Place

Exploring the Westfjords and the northern parts of the island can be a bit of a balancing act. Many of the roads in the Westfjords are what we call F-roads in Iceland. These unpaved roads can get pretty rough at times (hence the need for a 4x4 vehicle). But when you add snow, ice, and our legendary winds of 35+ kilometers during the colder months of the year, these roads become practically unusable.

That’s why they are now annually closed. You will usually find them closing anytime from mid-September, and some only reopen in July. As you can imagine, this and other sudden road closures because of the weather will heavily impact a road trip around the Westfjords and whether you get to Drangajökull Glacier at all.

Whether You Can Deal with Crowds

Since most prefer the warmer and milder weather of the summer in Iceland with its plenty of daylight hours (especially if they want to go on some outdoor excursions), summertime attracts the most visitors and is considered peak season here in Iceland. This inevitably means peak season crowds everywhere you go, and you’ll need to book things such as accommodation, transport, tours, etc., well in advance to avoid disappointment.

The benefit that you have with Drangajökull is that it’s in such a remote part of the country where fewer people go. Still, it will be much busier during the summer months than any other time of the year (especially since all the roads in the Westfjords are guaranteed to be open).

Whether Your Pocket Can Take the Punch

Peak season also means peak season pricing. So, summertime might not be the best option for those traveling on a tight budget. For this reason, as well as in an attempt to avoid the peak season crowds, many opt to visit during a shoulder month such as September. This means you will still get the tail end of the good summer weather with its many daylight hours and catch all the roads open without breaking the bank.

Other Things to Do Near Drangajökull Glacier

There are a few other exciting things to see and do near the Drangajökull Glacier that you can add to your road trip itinerary. They are:

• The Memorial Stone for Sigvaldi Kaldalons

• Birdwatching (the Westfjords is a favorite among avid birders for its diverse birdlife, including Puffins during their breeding season)

• Kaldalon (the Cold Lagoon)

• Dynjandi Waterfall

• The small fishing village of Thingeyri

Places to Stay Near Drangajökull Glacier

Because of the remote region, it can be very challenging to find accommodation. Below are a few options that come highly recommended and will get you as close to the action as possible:

• Hotel Isafjordur

• Hotel Horn

• Isafjordur Hostel

• Managisting Guesthouse

• Gamla Guesthouse

• Lonafjordur Campground

A Couple of Westfjord Itinerary Options that Include Drangajokull

Below, we have provided you with 2 different 3-day trip itineraries that include Drangajokull, which you can use to explore the Westfjords thoroughly and even continue further north if you’d like:

3-Day Westfjords Trip Itinerary Version 1

Day 1

• Enter the Westfjords from the lower fjord.

• Spend the morning relaxing at Hellulaug Hot Spring.

• Grab lunch at Hotel Flokalundur (close to the hot spring).

• Drive along the fjords for roughly an hour till you reach Raudasandur (Iceland’s Red Sand Beach).

• Move on to the Latrabjarg Cliffs (the westernmost point in Iceland and Europe and a favorite stop among avid birdwatchers).

• Travel further to Patreksfjördur in the southern part of the Westfjords, where you can catch some dinner in town before sleeping over at one of the accommodation options there.

Day 2

• Kickstart your day with an early morning whale-watching boat tour that takes you out on the Arnarfjordur Fjord.

• Once done, take a drive all along Reykjarfjördur (known for being one of the most scenic).

• Turn off to Reykjafjardarlaug for a quick dip in the hot springs and geothermal pools.

• Travel to Hrafnseyri and visit the Museum of Jon Sigurdsson (the leader responsible for Iceland’s independence from Denmark). This is a must-visit spot for the history buffs among us.

• Continue on to Dynjandi Waterfall.

• Grab lunch in Pingeyri.

• Visit and explore Isafjördur (what is referred to as the capital city of the Westfjords, but still doesn’t even have a population of 3000). This is also where you’ll be spending the night.

Day 3

• Head north to Heydalur Valley.

• Stop at the Arctic Fox Center.

• Consider going on a horseback riding tour of Heydalur. Alternatively, you can opt for kayaking. Both these tours will offer incredible views of Drangajokull. (Ensure that you’ve packed a lunch to enjoy after your outdoor activities in Heydalur).

• Go on a Heydalur hike. You can pick between the Heydalur Trail which is fairly easy or the Ausuvatn Trail which is a bit more challenging. Both will take between 3.5 and 4.5 hours, depending on your pace.

• Spend the afternoon soothing those achy muscles in one of the local hot springs (Heydalur Geothermal Pool, Heydalur Hot Spring, or the Heydalur Indoor Pool).

• Have dinner and retire to your accommodation in Heydalur.

Day 4

• Head back, but ensure that you allocate enough time if you’d like to make a few stops along the way.

3-Day Westfjords Trip Itinerary Version 1

Day 1

• Take the Seatours Ferry from Stykkisholmur to Brjanslækur (yes, with the car).

• From there, visit the shipwreck of Gardar BA 64.

• After that, head on out to Raudasandur Beach.

• Then make a stop at the Latrabjarg Cliffs.

• Grab a bite to eat before retiring at your accommodation in Patreksfjördur. 

Day 2

• Start the day off by deciding whether you will head out on Road 62 or tackle Road 63 (only suitable for 4x4 vehicles).

• Make a stop at Dynjandi Waterfall.

• Then, visit the Old Bookstore in Flateyri.

• Arrive at Isafjördur where you will spend the rest of the day exploring the town before spending the night.

Day 3

• Today will be a busy day as you head out to your first stop: the Arctic Fox Centre.

• From there, you’ll travel to Litlibær Café, but don’t forget to stop at the seal-watching viewpoint on your way).

• Next up is an hour's detour to Drangajokull. You can either visit the viewpoint or take the F-road (once again, only suitable for 4x4 vehicles) to get a closer look.

• As you get back on the main road and head further north, you will find Kolugljufur Canyon.

• If you still have enough time after exploring the canyon, make a stop at the famous Hvitserkur Rock Formation.

• Continue on to Blonduös where you will be spending the night. 

Day 4

• Day 4 can either be spent traveling back or you can continue your exploring by traveling further north via the Ring Road and making Akureyri (the so-called capital city of the north) your first stop.

A Few Helpful Tips for Traveling the Westfjords to Drangajökull Glacier

If this will be your first time to the Westfjords and Drangajökull, the following advice will be helpful:

• Download offline maps of the area. Although you’ll have a signal for most of the island, technology may start letting you down in the more remote regions. Better be safe than sorry.

• Pack extra water and snacks when traveling through these remote parts. If anything should happen and you find yourself stranded, you’ll need to be able to eat and drink till the rescue team shows up.

• Chat with your rental agent about your routes so they can advise you on which car will be best for your trip and which rental insurance coverage you will need.

• Stay on designated trails and roads. The remote regions of Iceland, especially when it comes to glaciers, are not places where you want to start making your own “road less traveled.” Not only is this incredibly dangerous, but it can cause incredible damage to our sensitive ecosystem.

Time to Explore the Majestic Drangajökull Glacier!

Drangajökull and the Westfjords promises to be an experience like no other. This icy giant and its serene, remote surroundings are a must-visit for any adventure seeker and nature enthusiast.

To embark on an unforgettable road trip, rent a car in Iceland, take on the Westfjords Way or the Ring Road, and make Drangajökull Glacier one of the stops along the way. Just remember to book your vehicle well in advance if you’re planning on road-tripping around the island during our peak summer season. May you have the Icelandic adventure of a lifetime cruising through the picturesque landscapes of the Westfjords!