Sprengisandur, route F26, is one of three main roads in the Interior of Iceland.

Understand

Sprengisandur is a mountain road which requires drivers to ford some of the rivers along the way. It requires an off-road vehicle. The road is only open during summer, as with the rest of the Interior. There is only one restaurant along the route, Hrauneyjar at the start of the road. No shops or gas stations are present, requiring drivers to have prepared in advance. The route is 400–600 m (1,300–2,000 ft) above sea level and temperatures are 3–10 °C (37–50 °F) in season.

Prepare

Prepare for entering this route by buying equipment and food. Low cost supermarkets are Bónus in Akureyri in North Iceland and Krónan in Selfoss in North Iceland. Pricer grocery stores are at Reykjahlíð in the North. The last gas station in the south is Hrauneyjar and the last gas stations in the North are in Akureyri, Reykjahlíð and Fosshóll (near Goðafoss). Out of the northern gas stations Fosshóll is the closest to the start of this road. Akureyri and Selfoss are the closest places to shop the equipment needed, see Interior (Iceland)#Gear for a list of what you should bring.

Along the route, you have a choice of mountain huts, camp sites or a single motel, which you can book in advance.

Get in

By car

From Akureyri to Sprengisandur follow road 821 in a southern direction. The road then continues as F821. Turn right into F881 and left into F26. Next fuel stop is after 242 km, at Hrauneyjar.

From Selfoss to Sprengisandur follow road 1 in an eastern direction, then turn right into road 30, then left into road 32. The road number will change to Road 26. Fuel up at Hrauneyjar and continue on road 26, which will change to F26. Next fuel stop is after 242 km, at Akureyri.

See

Oases - birds and fauna:

• 1 Þjórsárver. (updated Feb 2022)

Waterfalls (from north to south):

• 2 Aldeyjarfoss. Waterfall with basalt columns along the river (updated Feb 2022)
• 3 Hrafnabjargafoss. (updated Feb 2022)
• Dynkur
• Hvanngiljafoss

Do

Fishing/swimming:

• 1 Þórisvatn. Fishing permits from fishpartner.is (updated Feb 2022)
• 2 Kvíslavatn. Fishing permits from fishpartner.is (updated Feb 2022)

Natural pools:

• 3 Laugafellslaug. 0.4-1.5 m deep pool with toilet facilities 700 kr. 
• 4 Hitulaug. 0.6-0.7 m deep pool without facilities Free. 
• 5 Lægðin. 0.5 m deep pool without facilities Free. 

Sleep

Mountain huts/camping grounds:

• 1 Nýjidalur. Has showers, tap water and a camp site (updated Feb 2022)
• 2 Laugafell. Has showers, tap water and a camp site (updated Feb 2022)

Motel:

• 3 Hrauneyjar. Motel with a restaurant and a gas station. (updated Feb 2022)

Stay safe

See also: Interior (Iceland)#Stay safe

Three things need to be considered to be safe: being adequately prepared, the weather and natural disasters. Since there are very few services and shops in the region, you are on your own. The weather is cold due to the high elevation compared to the rest of the country and the weather can also change. Several active volcanoes are in the area, and the area is also on a tectonic plate. 112 is the national emergency number.