The road to Nesjavellir is one of Iceland’s most picturesque scenic routes. Specifically, a 7.5 kilometres stretch of it. It lies through a very large and beautiful area, called Hengilsvæði and is named after an enormous active volcano, Mt. Hengill, that towers majestically over the area. The road is number 435 and starts by Iceland’s main road number 1, but after 22 kilometres you arrive at a very large gravel parking lot at the entrance to numerous valleys that make the next 7.5 kilometres so spectacular. The journey takes you through deep, dramatic scenery with tuff boulders towering over you, mossy black lava and graphic rock formations in between green meadows and hills. The road winds through the landscape, up steep hills and quick turns, ending in a fantastic long stretch, downhill towards Lake Þingvallavatn, with the steam from Nesjavellir Energy plant rising from the hillside. In the middle of the area is a hill that provides 360° panoramic view of all the valleys and of Lake Þingvallavatn in the distance.
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Accessibility
The road is paved the whole way but closed during winter months due to snow and ice. In the middle of the area, on top of a hill with two big water tanks, lies a rough gravel road 400 meters, that leads you to the top of the area for a view in every direction.
Services nearby
This location is 35-50 minutes from Reykjavík, so hotels, gas stations and convenience stores are in abundance. Nearest hospital is also in Reykjavík.
Permits
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Basecamp and facilities
22 kilometers up the road, there is a large gravel parking lot that can be used as basecamp. The valleys have various small parking lots that can be used as tech bases or offloading area. The phone coverage in the valley is not great but at the viewpoint and the basecamp parking lot, it is good. There are no facilities at this location.
Risk factors
The area is an active volcanic area. The hills have loose volcanic rocks that make the ground slippery and easy to fall. The block lava in some places is hollow, sharp and covered with moss. If fumaroles or steam vents open, you should not go near them.
Visitors
This area is very popular with the locals who take long hikes through the area and may leave their cars in the parking spaces for long periods of time. If you need the valleys empty of cars, you need to close the area the day before shooting there.
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