Hiking trails in east iceland Hallormsstaður forest,

Hallormsstadur


Hiking Trails in Iceland


HIKING TRAILS IN EAST ICELAND
HALLORMSSTADUR FOREST
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LJOSARKINN
Follow yellow markers.  850 metres.
About 500 metres to the west of cove Atlavik, south of the road, is a hiking trail along river Ljosa.  It leads to the 16 metres high waterfall Ljosarfoss.  The cliff near the waterfall is 20 metres high.  Many of the tree species enroute were planted 1965-67 (pinus cembra = arolla pine/Swiss stone pine from Krasnojarsk in Siberia; pinus contorta = beach/shore/contorta pine from Skagway Alaska; picea glauca = white spruce from Alaska).  In the slope to the left is one of the straightest growing larix sukaczewi (= Russian larch from Arkangelsk) in the forest.  Still further up some pinus mugo ssp. mugo = mountain pines.  The forset floor species are varied, i.e. trientalis europaea = chickweed wintergreen, 5-15 cm. high, blooming in July.  You retrace your steps to the main road.

JOKULLAEKUR - GLACIER BROOK
Follow brown markers.  200 metres.
Just to the west of cove Atlavik, along the brook, through a larch grove, to a picea abies = common spruce planted in 1908.  A bit higher up is a collection of species planted in 1963 (picea glauca = white spruce; abies lasiocarpa = alpine fir/Rocky mountain fir/sub-alpine fir; picea engelmannii = Engelmann spruce; tsuga mertensiana = mountain hemlock; pseudotsuga menziesli = douglas fir/Oregon pine; pinus contorta = beach/shore/contorta pine; thuja plicata = western red cedar/California cedar).  A picnic place in the grove.  You retrace your steps to the main road.

ATLAVIKURSTEKKUR – JONSSKOGUR
Follow red markers.  1,5 kilometres.
This hiking trail starts from the main road above cove Atlavik.  First there is a larch grove, where the tallest trees exceed 20 metres, and above it are the ruins of a sheep cot.  Then the trail runs through an area with contorta pine and scots pine until you see several species (douglas fir etc.)  planted in 1940.  Following is a larch grove planted in 1957 and spreads of chickweed wintergreen.  On the cliffs to the left is an ideal picnic place.  Quite a few naturally sown contorta pines and larch trees are in this area. The trail goes on across the Krokalaekur stream and Kerlingarmelur gravel area to forest Jonsskogur from 1951.  This is the second larch patch after grove Guttormslundur was planted in 1938.  Next comes Selvegur (summer pasture trail) past a grove of common/Norway spruce (1970) until you turn left for the main road again.  There the trail through the arboretum starts and continues on the green route to Atlavik or to the petrol station.

ATLAVIK – ARBORETUM – PETROL STATION
Follow green markers.  1,5 kilometres.
The starting point is a steep slope from cove Atlavik.  Then comes the arboretum and the Lambabol area before you reach the petrol station.

IN THE DIRECTION OF REMBA
Follow white markers 1,8 kilometres.  1½ to 2½ hours.
The starting point is at the sport hall.  The first part is somewhat steep to the top of the Lower Kista Cliffs, where you turn to the Upper Kista Cliffs.  Then comes the 21 metres' high waterfall Lambafoss, which cascades into the gully Stadarargil.
You can prolong the hike by continuing along river Stadara to an old dam, from where water was pipelined to a small, 17 Kw, power plant just below the Lower Kista Cliffs.  This power plant provided electricity for the domestic science school and the farm at Hallormsstadur during the period 1936-1955.
From waterfall Lambafoss the trail descends the edge of the gully, where hikers have to be careful.  Then you retrace your steps to the sport hall.
The view from this trail is excellent on a fine day, and the name is derived from an old route to the top of mt. Hadegisfjall.  It continues across ridge Hallormsstadarhals to farm Myrar in valley Skriddalur.

HALLORMSSTADARHALS
Follow orange coloured markers.  7 kilometres to valley Skriddalur.  3-4 hours.  Highest point 450 metres above mean sea level.
An easily traceable and passable route between Hallormsstadur and farm Geirolfsstadir in valley Skriddalur.  In the past, this route was frequented by travellers, some of whom continued on the moorland route Thorudalsheidi to Reydarfjordur.  The Hallormsstadur parish extended into valley Skriddalur, from where the people attended services in the Hallormsstadur church.
The starting point is at the Domestic science school.  The trail passes through Holar to the old bridle path along the Hallormsstadur Cliffs and to the top, where the view is excellent on a fine day.  Hikers, who want to continue, walk all the way to the main road near farm Geirolfsstadir.

HÓLAR
Follow blue markers.  5 kilometres.  2-3 hours.
The starting point is at the Domestic science school.  At first the trail is rather steep to Holar, past a free standing rock (Kerling).  The Holar area show a land slide landscape.  Next comes the forest patch Flatiskogur with tall birches.  From there a yellow marked trail leads to Partur.  Following the blue markers leads to the Lysisholar area with nice views from Falcon Cliff, from where the trail passes through an area with spruces and then an open area.  By the poplar grove the trail turns left into the Holar area and back to the school.

PARTUR
Follow yellow markers.  3 kilometres.  2 to 3 hours.
The area between river Hafursa and brook Borgargerdislaekur is called Partur.  The starting point is at river Hafursa.  The trail continues on a gravel road with a white spruce grove on the right with a natural rowan belt at the edges.  The trail continues along electric masts through a mixed coniferous forest to a crossing.  You turn left to a picnic area with a view down the river gully and over the neighbouring area.  Then you return into the forest to a gravel road, where there is a connecting trail to Holar (a blue trail).  You continu down to the right to a grove of European larch (from Switzerland 1850m).  Down below is a nice dell for a picnic.  The trail continues descending depicting Siberian larch (1959) and common spruce (Norway 1958).  You turn left off the gravel to the main road above Langisandur, where you turn right along the road to the first part of the trail to the starting point.

THE ARBORETUM in MORKIN
Mr Carl Ryder, a Danish Captain, assisted in the establishment of a tree nursery in the Mork area.  During the decades, various species of trees from different corners of the world have been planted there.  Nowadays this area displays an unique collection of more than 80 species, many of which are marked with the time of planting, species, and point of origin.  The trail through the arboretum has stone bridges, a memorial commemorating the poet Thorsteinn Valdimarsson from farm Teigur in the Vopnafjordur area. open grassy areas, and benches and tables.
The entrance of the arboretum is from a parking area by the main road.

GUTTORMSLUNDUR
This is a larch grove to the east of cove Atlavik, an area of 0,7 hectares, was planted in 1938.  Natural larch trees can be found above and below the grove.

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Source:  The Icelandic Forestry Service's Website.

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