
Driving the Scenic Road 832 Through Vadlaheidi Pass in North Iceland
Iceland, europe
19 km
544 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure-seekers, listen up! Just a stone's throw from Akureyri, hugging the east coast of the stunning Eyjafjörður fjord in northern Iceland, you'll find the wild Vaðlaheiði mountain pass. This bad boy tops out at 544 meters (that's 1,784 feet!), making it one of the loftiest drives Iceland has to offer.
Forget pavement, because Road 832 (aka Vaðlaheiðarvegur) is all about that rugged, unadulterated off-road experience. This 19-kilometer (11.8-mile) stretch connects Road 833 and Road 828, serving up insane mountain vistas and river scenery. Photographers, get ready to max out your memory cards!
Now, heads up: the Ring Road takes the easy way out through a tunnel, but where's the fun in that? This pass throws down a gauntlet with 14 hairpin turns, seriously steep grades, and even a cheeky little stream crossing with no bridge! Summer is your only window for this adventure.
While you *might* get away with a 2WD in perfect conditions, this is 4x4 territory, folks. And even then, keep it under 5 tons. If you're not a fan of mountain driving, maybe stick to the Ring Road. But if you're itching for a raw, unforgettable Icelandic experience, Vaðlaheiði is calling your name!
Where is it?
Driving the Scenic Road 832 Through Vadlaheidi Pass in North Iceland is located in Iceland (europe). Coordinates: 64.7365, -18.9428
Road Details
- Country
- Iceland
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 19 km
- Max Elevation
- 544 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 64.7365, -18.9428
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