Traveling the Ring Road in Iceland: First Up Traveling Clockwise from Reykjavik are Waterfalls and a Lava Tunnel

First decision for hitting the Ring Road?  Do you travel west or east?

There are a number of recommendations to travel in a counterclockwise direction on the Ring Road in Iceland, and they are all valid.  However, we'll make the argument for driving in a clockwise direction.  First up, what you'll see heading west towards Snæfellsjökull National Park and the Snæfells Peninsula.

As you travel towards the peninsula on Route 1, the road begins to take definition.  GPS and maps are a must, as there are few sticky spots along the way.  The first we landed on is a tunnel that winds itself under a Fjord.  It was slightly nerve-wracking to think about.  As luck would have it,  the tunnel closed and we were rerouted around the water.  This proved to be an excellent detour, as we began to find waterfalls along the way!

First up, Fossárrétt and Viking Ruins in the Kjosarhreppur region.  With very little information and new to Iceland, we simply would stop when we saw something in front of us.  The hike to Fossárrétt was easy enough, and passed through Viking sheep pen ruins.  There's not a lot of information on them, but they were a great first day find.

Hraunforssar is next on the stops towards the peninsula.  On first glance, the waterfalls run along the side of s seemingly low cliff, creating a variety of falls along the river that runs below.  It isn't until you give the falls close inspection that you realize there are no rivers above the cliffs, and the water is actually pouring out from the side.  We learned later the waterfalls are created by a series of underground, hidden watersheds which flow from the lava fields nearby. 

Just a short walk from Hraunfossar is a second set of waterfalls.  Barnafloss is slightly difficult to photograph, as the walk ways don't quite allow you to catch all of them.  The waterfalls have a sad history, being named after the loss of children who had come to play from a nearby home.  It's a place to definitely pause and give reflection.

The last stop of day one on the road was an unexpected tour at The Cave.  We'll write a more in depth post about this growing company.  The Cave takes you down into a lava tunnel.  We have been hiking through a variety of caves the last few years.  Lava tunnels have a uniqueness about them unlike anything we have seen so far.  Well worth the trip with the team running the tour.  You definitely need waterproof hiking boots and rain jackets.  Find ours HERE.  (We are Amazon Affiliates and do make a small compensation for qualifying purchases.)

Still continuing to learn how to manage a campervan life and jet lag playing a role in waking up extremely early in the morning, we found our first true campground.  Simple with just bathrooms, we learned quickly showers would be part of the adventure.  

We do recommend the Happy Camper Campsite Map.  We are not affiliated with Happy Camper, and we highly recommend using the map to help locate your spots to stop for the night!
​https://happycampers.is/resources/campsite-map/

Planning your Iceland Trip

Iceland's Golden Circle

Reykjanes Peninsula

Campervan and Costco