Accessibility and recreation

Arnaldsstaðir National Forest is situated in the southern off-valley of Fljótsdalur. To reach it, one should turn southwest off road 934 onto a trail located on the north side of the Kelduá River. The forest lies on a steep incline which requires an ascent to reach the wooded area.

History

The forest, previously used for animal grazing, gained protection upon becoming the property of the Icelandic Forest Service in 1977 (now Land and Forest Iceland).

Forestry

The forest lies between 30 and 300 meters above sea level on a steep slope prone to landslides. The average birch tree is over 5 meters tall, with the tallest reaching approximately 10 meters. The forest is naturally occurring, with no artificial plantings. Except for the native birch forest, the Arnaldsstaðir estate is privately owned, and new afforestation projects are underway there, adhering to the Skógarkolefni Forest Carbon Code.

Other points of interest

The birch forest at Arnaldsstaðir boasts a beautiful ground cover of wildflowers and grassland, with an abundance of wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris). Hiking on the steep slopes offers an intimate experience with the dramatic landscape and stunning scenery.