One of Iceland’s iconic landmarks, Lómagnúpur stands 764 meters tall with an almost vertical cliff face, 671 meters high and thus the highest in Iceland. On a clear day, you can see the mountain from more than 40 kilometres away. This colossal palagonite mountain is thought to be the most photographed mountain in all Iceland. The unique shape and its enormous cliff face in the otherwise barren landscape is awe-inspiring and unique. The road to Gígjukvísl is a popular scenic viewpoint of the mountain.
Accessibility
Route no 1 takes you straight to the mountain. You drive 200 meters up a gravel road to access the parking lot at Lómagnúpur. 9 kilometres further east, on the left, is an exit to Gígjukvísl, which is a perfect viewpoint of the mountain.
Services nearby
Close to Kirkjubæjarklaustur so you can find lots of hotels, a gas station and a convenience store. Skaftafell Service Centre is 38 kilometres away, with a restaurant and park rangers if you need one. The south coast has many guesthouses and lodgings. Nearest hospital is in Höfn, 167 kilometers away.
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Basecamp and facilities
There is a big parking lot just on the west side of the mountain. The parking area is also an interesting location as big boulders have fallen from the cliffs above and lie scattered around the area. One kilometre further on route 1 to the east, there is a gravel mine with a big parking lot that can be used and 1.5 kilometre even further, by the bridge over Núpsvötn, a big area that could be used for basecamps. There are no facilities at this location. Phone coverage is excellent.
Risk factors
The cliffs are palagonite rock, which is rather soft and falls easily due to erosion. Climbing Lómagnúpur is hazardous and should not be attempted without a local safety team. The area is notorious for extreme wind conditions and checking the weather forecast is advisable.
Visitors
Lómagnúpur is on Iceland’s most frequented route, the south coast, so many tourists go through here. They tend to stop by the road to take a picture of the mountain and continue on with their journey.
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