Vigdísarvellir
A remote Krýsuvík-area valley with the ruins of the old farms Bali and Vigdísarvellir, walking routes and a campsite reached by seasonal Road 428.
About
About Vigdísarvellir
A remote Krýsuvík-area valley with the ruins of the old farms Bali and Vigdísarvellir, walking routes and a campsite reached by seasonal Road 428.
Combine old farm ruins, a remote volcanic valley and access to quieter Reykjanes walking country in one seasonal destination.
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Photo Gallery
Background
History & Background
The Vigdísarvellir area contains the ruins of the old farms Bali and Vigdísarvellir. The area later became a recreational and camping destination with access to multiple hiking routes in the Krýsuvík interior. Road 428 is seasonal and closed in winter.
Vigdísarvellir lies in the interior of the Reykjanes Peninsula within the broader Krýsuvík landscape. Today it is valued for quiet outdoor recreation, but the area also preserves the remains of earlier settlement. Visit Reykjanes specifically identifies the ruins of the old farms Bali and Vigdísarvellir, giving the site a cultural layer that is easy to miss if it is described only as a hiking trail. The surrounding landscape consists of low volcanic mountains, old lava and open valleys, with numerous possible walks toward areas such as Djúpavatn, Sogin and the Krýsuvík highlands. A campsite has also operated at Vigdísarvellir, making it a traditional base for people exploring this less-developed part of the peninsula. Access is a major practical consideration. Vigdísarvellir is reached by Road 428, and Visit Reykjanes states explicitly that the road is closed during winter. Road conditions can also vary outside the formal closure period, so travellers should check current road information before setting out and should not assume that an ordinary sightseeing car can always reach the area comfortably. At the ruins, visitors should avoid disturbing stonework or archaeological remains. The appeal of Vigdísarvellir is the combination of abandoned settlement, open landscape and access to a network of quieter walks rather than one headline attraction.
Folklore
Story & Folklore
Vigdísarvellir shows how quickly a lived-in place can return to open landscape. Farms once stood here in the interior of Reykjanes, including Bali and Vigdísarvellir, but today their ruins sit among hills, lava and walking routes. Modern visitors arrive for camping and hiking, often experiencing the area as wilderness. The surviving farm remains are a reminder that the same valleys were once part of a working human landscape. That contrast — abandoned settlement and renewed outdoor recreation — is what gives Vigdísarvellir its character.
💡 Did You Know?
Visit Reykjanes lists the ruins of both Bali and Vigdísarvellir at the site and notes that Road 428 is closed in winter.
Local Legend
The Farms in the Quiet Valley
Vigdísarvellir can feel remote today, but the ruins of Bali and Vigdísarvellir show that this was once a lived-in landscape. The old farm sites give a human scale to the surrounding volcanic hills. What now looks like a wilderness stop was once part of the everyday geography of people who worked and travelled through the Krýsuvík area.
Location
Location
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