Sprengisandur Highland Track
Iceland's most feared highland crossing
Sprengisandur earned its name – ‘Burst Sand’ – from the way this route breaks both vehicles and spirits crossing Iceland’s most unforgiving highland desert. The track stretches across 150 miles of black volcanic sand and scree between Europe’s largest glaciers, following ancient horse trails where travelers once froze to death or starved crossing this moonscape. Multiple unbridged river crossings including the notorious Tungnaá and Kjallfellsá can trap vehicles for days when snowmelt or storms turn them into raging torrents. The landscape stays dead flat and featureless for hours, broken only by distant glacier peaks and the occasional emergency shelter.
This is expert-level overlanding requiring proper 4WD, recovery gear, satellite communication, and serious expedition preparation. Open only July through early September, with river conditions changing hourly. Carry spare tires, extra fuel for 200+ miles, emergency food, and warm gear – rescue can take days. Weather turns lethal fast with zero shelter from wind or storms. But complete this crossing and you’ve tackled one of the world’s most remote overland routes, experiencing the raw emptiness that shaped Icelandic character for a thousand years.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Sand |
| Features | High Altitude, Remote, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 155 mi / 249.4 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2600 ft |
| Best season | July-August |
| Minimum vehicle | Capable 4WD |
| Nearest town | Selfoss, Iceland |
| Land manager | Icelandic Environment Agency |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| 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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Land Cruiser or lifted 4Runner handle Sprengisandur, or do I need a purpose-built rig?
A stock Land Cruiser 200 or 79 Series can make it, but you need high clearance, a snorkel, and aggressive all-terrain tires at minimum. Lifted with lockers is strongly preferred — the river crossings can exceed 24 inches and the volcanic sand will swallow anything underprepared. A stock 4Runner is a coin flip depending on water levels that day.
When does Sprengisandur actually open, and can I drive it in June?
The Icelandic Road Administration typically opens F26 (Sprengisandur) in late June to early July, but July–August is the only reliable window. June crossings are a gamble — snowmelt keeps the rivers dangerously high and sections of track may still be closed by the Vegagerðin.
Do I need a permit to drive Sprengisandur, and are there any fees?
No permit is required, but F-roads (including F26) are restricted to 4WD vehicles by Icelandic law — driving them in a 2WD or rental not rated for F-roads is illegal and voids all insurance. There are no trail fees, but rangers do patrol and fines for off-track driving in the highland interior are steep.
What's the hardest section of the route and what should I actually expect?
The glacial river crossings — particularly those fed by Hofsjökull — are where rigs get swallowed. Water levels change within hours based on temperature and meltwater, so a crossing that was knee-deep at 8am can be chest-deep by 2pm. Crossing mid-morning after a cold night gives you the lowest water levels; always walk it on foot before you commit.
Is there any fuel or resupply along the 155-mile route, or do I need to carry everything?
There is zero fuel, food, or services on the route itself — carry enough fuel for at least 200 miles to account for heavy sand driving, which tanks your mileage hard. The huts at Nýidalur (roughly the midpoint) have emergency radio contact but no fuel or commercial services. Top off in Selfoss on the south end or Akureyri on the north before you drop in.
Trail track
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