Iceland F-roads
F570 Jökulhálsleið (Snæfellsjökull)
Closed
Road notes by Nimrod Ron · Iceland Lead & Content Curator· Updated
F570 Jökulhálsleið is the short, steep gravel road over the shoulder of the Snæfellsjökull glacier between Arnarstapi on the south coast of the peninsula and Ólafsvík on the north. It has no river crossings but it climbs to about 800 m, holds snow into July and is the starting point for glacier tours, so it needs a 4x4, opens mid-June to July and is the only F-road on a standard Snæfellsnes loop.
Key facts
- Connects
- Arnarstapi (Route 574, south) to Ólafsvík (Route 574, north) over the Jökulháls pass
- Length
- 18 km, about About 45 minutes in good conditions
- Opens
- mid-June to July
- Closes
- September to October
- Rivers
- None (bridged or dry)
- Car
- 4x4 required by law; a standard 4x4 SUV is enough
- Region
- Snæfellsnes Peninsula
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
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Connects | Arnarstapi (Route 574, south) to Ólafsvík (Route 574, north) over the Jökulháls pass |
| Region | Snæfellsnes Peninsula |
| Length of the F-road section | about 18 km |
| Driving time | About 45 minutes |
| Status now | Closed |
| Typical opening | mid-June to July |
| Typical closing | September to October |
| Difficulty | moderate |
| 4x4 required | Yes, by law |
| River crossings | None |
| Car that fits | Any 4x4 the rental contract allows on F-roads |
Reaches: Snæfellsjökull glacier and the summit tour start · Sönghellir cave · Views over Breiðafjörður and the south coast · Arnarstapi and Hellnar below
The road
From Arnarstapi the road climbs quickly on loose gravel and volcanic sand to the Jökulháls saddle beside the glacier, then drops to Ólafsvík. It is steep and rutted rather than long, with snow drifts late into the season and cloud that can close in within minutes. The glacier tour operators use the pass as their meeting point.
River crossings and the car
None; the difficulty is gradient, loose surface and snow. Any 4x4 the rental allows on F-roads will do in summer. A 2WD is illegal and uninsured, and the paved Route 574 around the peninsula is the alternative for everyone else, 40 minutes longer.
When it opens
Mid-June to July depending on the snow, and it closes in September or October. Recorded dates are below.
| Year | First day open | Last day open | Days open | Days sampled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | not yet | – | 0 | 11 |
Download the data (CSV) · free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link back.
How itineraries use it
As the short cut across the peninsula on a Snæfellsnes day in a 4x4, or as the way to the glacier tour. 2WD plans take the coast road and lose little.
Itineraries that use F570
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 F570Questions about F570
Do I need a 4x4 for F570?
Yes, by law, like every F-road, though it has no river crossings; the climb to the pass beside Snæfellsjökull is steep gravel with sharp bends and loose stones. In a 2WD take the paved Route 574 around the tip of the peninsula instead; it adds about 40 minutes and passes Djúpalónssandur and Lóndrangar on the way.
Can you drive onto Snæfellsjökull?
No. F570 reaches the pass beside the glacier at about 800 m, with views over the peninsula on a clear day; the ice itself is visited on guided snowcat or snowmobile tours that start from the road in summer, and on foot only with a guide. The pass is often in cloud, so check the forecast: the view is the point.
When does F570 open?
Mid-June to July, later after a snowy winter because the pass holds drifts, and it closes in September or October with the first snow. Check the live status above before you plan the crossing; when it is closed, Route 574 around the peninsula is paved, open all year and only about 40 minutes longer.
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.
- Snæfellsnes PeninsulaThe glacier-capped peninsula with lava caves, fishing villages and basalt cliffs.iceland-trip.com
Vatnshellir Lava CaveDescend into Vatnshellir, an 8,000-year-old lava tube hiding beneath the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Helmet on, torch lit, and into the underground you go.iceland-trip.com · Snaefellsnes Peninsula- Renting a car and driving in IcelandWhich car to rent, the insurance that matters, gravel and F-road rules, fuel, speed limits and the mistakes that cost visitors money.iceland-trip.com