Siglufjarðarskarð is the mountain pass between Siglufjörður fjord and Fljót district, leading to Skagafjörður fjord. Originally the pass was a steep mountain edge only accessible by foot. There are many tales about the pass, and locals used to believe that evil mythical beings lived there. 
In the year 1735 the priest Þorleifur Skaftason held a sermon and banished all evil creatures from the pass. As the story goes, the malicious creatures fled the priest. The creatures settled in Afglapaskarð pass, a little to the south of Siglufjarðarskarð pass. 
The rough mountain track is about 15 km (9 miles) in length, made in 1947. Before the road tunnel called “Strákagöng” opened and provided better land transport in 1967, Siglufjarðarskarð was the main road between the two fjords, apart from the sea route. It lies in an altitude of approx. 630 meters(2,066 ft) and is quite difficult, both because it’s very steep and there are harsh winter conditions with snow and ice.
Nowadays, the road is open for summertime hiking and is a breath-taking route, filled to the brim with barren natural beauty, history and ghost stories. In Skarðdalur valley, on the northernside of the pass, is a small birch wood, the northern most forest in Iceland.

Siglufjarðarskarð Pass

Safety & Responsibility

Check the weather forecast and road conditions every day.

Weather can be unpredictable

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Follow the Icelandic road rules, and remember that off-roading is strictly forbidden as it damages natural landscapes.

Safe roads, safe people

Keep to marked trails and read any warning and safety signs. If in doubt, use common sense or turn back.