Frostastadavatn Scenic Viewpoint is a roadside stop on the F208 in the highlands of South Iceland, close to Landmannalaugar. It looks over the lake Frostastadavatn, which reads blue and green, with lava fields and rhyolite mountains around it. The crater of Stútur stands on the opposite side of the road. The panorama opens straight from the parking pull-off, and ten to fifteen minutes is enough for it, which makes the viewpoint an easy break on the drive to or from Landmannalaugar.
Frostastadavatn Scenic Viewpoint
Local name: Frostastaðavatn útsýnisstaður
One bend in the F208: the lake on one side, the crater of Stútur on the other, and no walking between them.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible.
- Parking
- Makeshift roadside pull-off at the viewpoint, with a second pull-off about 150 m along the road.
- Difficulty
- No walking to reach the view — it opens from the parking pull-off. Climbing the Stútur crater is a separate outing.
- Transport
- Nearest bus stop: Landmannalaugar, about 2.7 km away.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours.
- Address
- F208, 851 Iceland
What makes it special
The viewpoint sits on a bend of the F208, and the whole panorama opens from the pull-off. Frostastadavatn lies below, blue and green at once. Behind it stand rhyolite mountains, banded in ochre, rust and grey-green rather than one colour, and lava fields cover the ground between the road and the shore. Turn round and the crater of Stútur is on the other side of the road. The site is fully exposed, and the wind blows hard across the water. This is a stop rather than a walk: nothing here needs more than a quarter of an hour unless you climb the crater.
Good to know
- No facilities — no toilets and no drinking water at the viewpoint or within 5 km of it.
- Wind — the pull-off is fully exposed. Hold car doors when you open them and keep hats and loose gear inside.
- Time needed — ten to fifteen minutes covers the viewpoint. Allow longer only if you climb the Stútur crater.
- Information board — a board stands about 130 m from the viewpoint.
Getting there
You drive to this one. The viewpoint is on the F208 itself, on a bend, and the parking is a makeshift pull-off right at the view. A second pull-off lies about 150 m along the road. Neither is a marked car park, so pull fully clear of the carriageway and take care getting back out into traffic. There is no walk at the end: the lake and the crater are both visible from where you park. The nearest bus stop is at Landmannalaugar, about 2.7 km away.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Frostastadavatn Scenic Viewpoint on the map
The pull-off is on a bend of the F208 and sits at the edge of the road. Park fully clear of the carriageway, and check for traffic before stepping out or crossing to the crater side.
Get directions
Your whole travel map in one place
Get inspired by new places around the world and find the ones worth the journey
Frequently asked questions
How long is it worth stopping here?
Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for the viewpoint itself. Plan more time only if you intend to climb the Stútur crater.What can you see from the viewpoint?
Frostastadavatn in blue and green, the lava fields around it and the rhyolite mountains beyond. The crater of Stútur rises on the opposite side of the road.Are there toilets or drinking water?
No. There are no toilets and no drinking water at the viewpoint or within 5 km of it. An information board stands about 130 m away.How close is Landmannalaugar?
Close. The campsite is a short drive along the F208, and the bus stop at Landmannalaugar is about 2.7 km from the viewpoint.