About
Héraðsvötn, whose name is often shortened to Vötn or Vötnin is a glacier river in Iceland. It is formed by the confluence of Austari-Jökulsá and Vestari-Jökulsá rivers.
A unique Icelandic experience. Worth your time.
Check local conditions before visiting. Iceland's weather changes fast.
Map of Héraðsvötn
Map
65.4753°N, 19.2798°W · North Iceland
Plan your visit
Off the main road
- 7.2 km from Route 1
Nearest town
- Varmahlíð — 11.5 km away
Distance from Reykjavík
- 194 km in a straight line
What else is close
- 99 mapped places within 20 km
Tours near Héraðsvötn
Extreme River Raftingfrom 33.000 ISK · 4 h 30 min
Family River raftingfrom 22.000 ISK · 3 h
Kayak tripfrom 14.900 ISK · 2 h 15 min
Family Rafting (West)from 21.990 ISK · 3 h 30 min
Give me 5from 31.000 ISK · 3 h
Ride & Raftfrom 35.400 ISK · 8 h
River Deltafrom 28.000 ISK · 3 h
The Viking-Ride- All in Onefrom 15.000 ISK · 1 h 30 min
Lake Myvatn, Dettifoss,Selfoss, Godafoss & morefrom 29.900 ISK · 9 h 30 minHéraðsvötn weather and conditions
Last updated
2°Cmostly clear · feels -1°C2 m/swind8 h 33 mdaylight · 08:45 – 17:17
Tonight
Northern lights forecast by region

In season now · Winter in IcelandGodafoss Waterfall & Earth Lagoon (Myvatn Nature Baths) Tour with Admissionfrom 28.990 ISK · 6 hAll 1,631 tours
Cars & campers
−12%exclusive discountFree cancellation
KEF airport pickup 24/74.8
Photos & videos
No verified videos yet — we only show footage confirmed to be Héraðsvötn, no lookalikes. Search YouTube
Nearby
km column = your drive
- 1
Norðurá (Skagafjörður)6 km
- 2
Djúpadalsá9 km - 3
Húseyjarkvísl11 km - 4Vestari Héraðsvötn20 km
- 5
Sæmundará20 km
Hot springs
All hot springs →
Fuel
- 1
Varmahlíð12 km · 308.7 kr/L - 2
Sauðárkrókur34 km · 310.9 kr/L - 3
Sauðárkrókur Borgarflöt34 km · 308.7 kr/L
Tours
(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafossfrom 25.300 ISK · 6 hours 30 minutes
(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyrifrom 25.900 ISK · 6 hours
Adventure snowmobile tour Akureyrifrom 166.750 ISK · 5 hours
Frequently
asked
questions
Where is Héraðsvötn?
Héraðsvötn is a river in North Iceland, Iceland. Check the map on this page for its course and the nearest access points.
Can you fish in Héraðsvötn?
Fishing any Icelandic river needs a permit sold per river or beat. Salmon rivers book far ahead and can be expensive; trout and char are more accessible. Never fish without a permit, and disinfect gear brought from abroad.
Is Héraðsvötn safe to cross?
If Héraðsvötn is crossed by an unbridged highland ford, treat it with real caution: glacial water is cold, fast, deeper than it looks and higher by afternoon. Cross only with the right 4WD and experience, watch another vehicle first, and if in doubt turn back.
When does Héraðsvötn run highest?
Glacial rivers peak on warm summer afternoons, after rain and during the spring melt. A ford that is passable in the cool morning can be dangerous by late afternoon. Check road.is before highland driving.
Data & sources
Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.
Wikimedia CommonsHero & gallery photography · Backe0112 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
VegagerðinVisitor access & practical facts
VegagerðinLive road status & cameras · Icelandic Road Administration
Open-MeteoWeather forecast · CC BY 4.0
NOAA SWPCAurora (planetary Kp) forecast · public domain
OpenStreetMapInteractive-map data · ODbL
Esri, Maxar & Earthstar GeographicsSatellite imagery for the 3D terrain render · GIS User Community
Spotted an error, or have something to add? Help us keep this page accurate.
Iceland nowfrom 19 Sep 06:10



