F26 Sprengisandsleið (Sprengisandur)

Sprengisandur is the emptiest road in Iceland: a track across the sand and lava plateau between the Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull ice caps, at 700 to 800 m, with the only hut at Nýidalur halfway. It is rougher than Kjölur, with rocky sections, washboard and soft sand after dry spells, and it is fully exposed to weather that can turn a summer day into sleet.

The northern end drops into Bárðardalur past Aldeyjarfoss, one of the finest basalt waterfalls in the country and a reason to drive at least the last stretch from the north.

Several fords, with the Hagakvísl the one that changes most: shallow in the morning, dangerous after a warm afternoon or rain. F26 sits in the third water tier, which means a high-clearance 4x4 (Land Cruiser, Hilux, Defender class) rather than a compact one, and never a camper. Water damage is excluded from every rental insurance.

Water tier 3: Medium to large water crossings. A high-clearance 4x4 — Toyota Land Cruiser, Land Rover Defender, or Toyota Hilux.

Late June to early July most years, among the last of the major F-roads because its rivers run high with melt, and it closes from mid-September to early October. The road authority sometimes opens the southern part first. Recorded dates are below.

Download the data (CSV) · free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link back.

Rarely, and only in plans of two weeks or more with a capable car: as the crossing between the Landmannalaugar area and the north, replacing the East Fjords. Most travelers who want the interior take Kjölur instead and keep Sprengisandur for a second trip.