Lake Úlfljótsvatn

Úlfljótsvatn is a small lake on the Sog river immediately south of Þingvallavatn, where Route 360 along the western shore of Þingvallavatn meets Route 36 on its way south towards Kerið and Selfoss. It sits about 30 minutes' drive south of Þingvellir, and it is the quiet bottom end of the lake country that most Golden Circle traffic never sees. Lake Úlfljótsvatn has no ticketed sight, but it does have a pretty lakeside church, the national scout and adventure centre and an old hydroelectric station with a free summer exhibition.

The lake takes its name from Úlfljótr, whom medieval Icelandic sources credit with bringing the first law code to the Alþingi at Þingvellir in 930. That gives it a neat connection to the parliament site at the other end of the water.

Where is Úlfljótsvatn?

Water leaves Þingvallavatn through the Steingrímsstöð power station and the upper Sog, and almost immediately widens into Úlfljótsvatn before flowing on to the Ljósafoss station at the lake's outlet. Route 36 runs along the eastern side, while Route 360 (Grafningsvegur efri) comes in from the west after following the shore of Þingvallavatn.

That makes Úlfljótsvatn a natural link between two halves of a Golden Circle day. From here the campsite puts Kerið at about 15 minutes, Selfoss at 20 minutes and Reykjavík at about 50 minutes by car. No coach tour stops at the lake itself, but our Golden Circle tour with Kerið visits the crater a short drive to the south-east.

Things to do at Úlfljótsvatn

Most visitors stop for half an hour: a look at the church, a walk along the shore and on to Kerið. If you have more time, the adventure centre and the power station add a bit of substance.

Úlfljótsvatn church

The small white timber church with its red roof stands on a grassy headland on the western shore, the view most photos of the lake show. It is a parish church, not a staffed attraction, so treat the churchyard with respect and enjoy it mainly from outside.

Úlfljótsvatn Scout and Adventure Centre

The Icelandic Scout and Guides Association has used land by the lake since the early 1940s, and the centre hosted the World Scout Moot in 2017. Today it welcomes families and independent campers as well as scout groups. Activities include the tallest climbing tower in Iceland, kayaking on the lake, archery and walking trails.

The campsite is one of the largest in Iceland, built to take up to 5,000 people during scout camps. In normal use it has over 170 pitches in 18 zones, many with electricity. The fee includes hot showers and wi-fi, plus fishing in the lake within the campsite in summer.

The season runs from 20 May to 13 November, after which a winter camping area on the car park stays open. Staff lead daytime activities at weekends from mid-June to mid-August.

Ljósafoss power station

Ljósafoss, at the outlet of the lake, is the oldest of the three hydroelectric stations on the Sog. It began operating in 1937 to supply electricity to Reykjavík, which raised the level of Úlfljótsvatn by about a metre. The functionalist building carries a relief by the sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson.

Inside the station, Landsvirkjun's energy exhibition is a hands-on display about how Iceland makes electricity, and admission is free. It opens daily from 10:00 to 17:00 in summer and is closed for winter 2026/27.

How to get to Úlfljótsvatn

From Þingvellir, the fastest route is Route 36 south along the eastern side of Þingvallavatn. The more interesting one is Route 360, which leaves Route 36 west of the lake and follows the western shore of Þingvallavatn past the steam vents of Nesjavellir before dropping to Úlfljótsvatn. It is paved, but slower and more winding than Route 36.

To see Úlfljótsvatn itself you need your own car, since our coach tours between Þingvellir and Kerið do not stop here.

Is Úlfljótsvatn worth visiting?

Yes, if you are driving yourself and want to swap the busy Route 36 return for a lake-shore loop. The best plan is Þingvellir in the morning, then down Route 360 past the Nesjavellir geothermal area to Úlfljótsvatn, and on to Kerið. If you are on a coach tour or short of time, you lose little by skipping it, because the church and the lake view are the main sights.

Photo: Christian Wirth, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons