Iceland Trip

Iceland F-roads

F347 Kerlingarfjöll road

Closed

Road notes by · Iceland Lead & Content Curator· Updated

F347 Kerlingarfjallavegur is the short spur off F35 Kjölur to Kerlingarfjöll Highland Base and the Hveradalir geothermal valley, about 10 km of gravel with shallow, minor streams. It is in the second water tier, so a standard 4x4 such as a Dacia Duster or RAV4 is enough in summer, it opens mid to late June with Kjölur, and it is the easiest way to see rhyolite mountains and steaming valleys without a super-jeep.

Key facts

Connects
F35 Kjölur (east side, south of Hveravellir) to Kerlingarfjöll Highland Base
Length
10 km, about About 20 minutes in good conditions
Opens
mid to late June
Closes
late September
Rivers
Yes. Water tier 2: small water crossings
Car
4x4 SUV with real ground clearance (Duster class or larger)
Region
Central Highlands (off F35)
Schematic map of F347 Kerlingarfjöll road: F35 Kjölur (east side, south of Hveravellir) to Kerlingarfjöll Highland Base
Where F347 runs and what it connects. Schematic, not for navigation.

Status today

Closed

Source: umferdin.is (Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration), as of 29 Oct 2026, 09:51. Re-check road.is on the morning you drive.

The facts

F347 at a glance
FactValue
ConnectsF35 Kjölur (east side, south of Hveravellir) to Kerlingarfjöll Highland Base
RegionCentral Highlands (off F35)
Length of the F-road sectionabout 10 km
Driving timeAbout 20 minutes
Status nowClosed
Typical openingmid to late June
Typical closinglate September
Difficultymoderate
4x4 requiredYes, by law
River crossingsYes · water tier 2
Car that fitsA standard small 4x4 such as a Dacia Duster or Toyota RAV4, in normal summer conditions.
F347 at a glance. Live status from umferdin.is as of 29 Oct 2026, 09:51, refreshed every 30 minutes.

Reaches: Kerlingarfjöll Highland Base and hot spring · Hveradalir geothermal valley · Snækollur summit hike · Gýgjarfoss waterfall

The road

The spur leaves Kjölur and climbs gently to the Highland Base at Ásgarður, with the Hveradalir car park a further rough track above it. From there the boardwalks and trails lead into the steaming rhyolite valley that rivals Landmannalaugar with a fraction of the visitors.

River crossings and the car

Shallow, minor streams only: second tier, a standard 4x4 in normal summer conditions. The road above the base to Hveradalir is rougher and steep; park at the base and walk if your car is small.

Water tier 2: Small water crossings. A standard small 4x4 such as a Dacia Duster or Toyota RAV4, in normal summer conditions.

When it opens

Mid to late June, with Kjölur, and it closes in late September. The Highland Base is open in summer and, in recent years, for guided winter stays. Recorded dates are below.

F347: first and last day recorded open, by year
YearFirst day openLast day openDays openDays sampled
2026not yet–011
F347: first and last day recorded open, by year. Daily snapshots from 19 Oct 2026 to 29 Oct 2026. A road still open shows the latest snapshot date as its last day open.

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

How itineraries use it

As the overnight on a Kjölur crossing, or as a long day from the Golden Circle: Gullfoss, Kjölur, the Hveradalir hike, the hot spring and back. Plans with 14 days or more fit it between the Golden Circle and the north.

Itineraries that use F347

Editor-picked Highlands plans from real trips drive this road or reach the places on it. Duplicate one and make it yours.

See itineraries with F347

Questions about F347

Can I drive to Kerlingarfjöll in a Dacia Duster?

Yes, in summer: F35 Kjölur is bridged and the F347 spur has only shallow streams. Park at the Highland Base and walk up to Hveradalir if the upper track looks rough.

How far is Kerlingarfjöll from Gullfoss?

About 80 km, roughly two hours on Kjölur and the spur, which makes it a feasible long day trip from the Golden Circle or an easy overnight on a Kjölur crossing.

When does F347 open?

Mid to late June, together with Kjölur, closing in late September; the road is a spur off F35 and opens once the drifts on the approach to Kerlingarfjöll have gone. The live status above shows today, and the Highland Base at Kerlingarfjöll posts the road and trail conditions daily in season.

Read next

Deeper reading on iceland-trip.com

Our sister site covers every place in depth: access, parking, seasons, what to expect. Written by the same team.