Gæsavatnaleið F910 — Sprengisandur to Askja via Gæsavötn
Glacier-edge highland track nobody warns you about
Gæsavatnaleið was never meant to be a tourist road. It started as a rough link across the interior highlands, and it still behaves like one. You leave the Sprengisandur route (F26) near Nýidalur and head east across lava, volcanic sand and braided glacial outwash, keeping the ice cap of Vatnajökull on your right. Waypoints include the Gæsavötn lakes, the stark Dyngjuháls ridge, and the final run toward Askja and Drekagil. The track is faint in places, and it crosses several unbridged glacial rivers where depth and current change by the hour. Treat every one as an obstacle and walk it first.
This is a difficult route and not a place for a first highland trip. You want a lifted 4×4 on 33-inch tires or similar, a winch or recovery gear, a snorkel if you can get one, and a second vehicle if possible. Offroad driving is illegal in Iceland, so stay on the marked track. Fuel and food are not available on the route, and there’s no cell coverage, so carry a satellite communicator. The road typically opens in July once snowmelt allows, and conditions are posted by the Icelandic road authority. The reward is empty, almost lunar country that few people ever see. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 70 mi / 112.7 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3300 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Lifted 4x4 with 33-inch tires and recovery gear |
| Nearest town | Mývatn, Iceland |
| Land manager | Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration / Vatnajökull National Park |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | Icelandic Road Administration — F-road status Vatnajökull National Park |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or similar SUV do the F910?
No. The route needs a lifted 4x4 with 33-inch tires, a winch or recovery gear, and real river-crossing experience. Stock SUVs get stuck or damaged in the glacial fords and soft sand, and rental agreements generally ban F910 outright.
When is the F910 open, and can I drive it in winter?
Not in winter. The highland roads typically open to traffic from early July and stay passable into September, depending on snowmelt and conditions. Check road.is for current F-road status before you commit, because the opening date moves from year to year.
Do I need a permit or pay a fee to drive Gæsavatnaleið?
There is no driving permit or toll for the route. Off-road driving is illegal in Iceland and carries heavy fines, so stay on the marked track even when it braids across sand. Part of the route lies in Vatnajökull National Park, where camping is limited to designated sites.
What is the hardest part of the F910?
The unbridged glacial river crossings, along with soft black sand and rough lava stretches. River depth and the riverbed change daily, and meltwater rises through the afternoon, so cross early in the day and walk the ford first. Navigation also gets tricky where tracks split across open sand.
Can I get fuel, food, or cell signal along the route?
No. There are no services and no cell coverage along the whole 70 miles (112.7 km). Fill up before you leave (Mývatn is the nearest town), carry extra fuel, food, water, and a satellite communicator, and tell someone your timeline. Plan on 1-2 days, with camping at designated sites only.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
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