Quick FactsOverview
About Jarlslaug
Jarlslaug, Iceland is a small natural geothermal pool located on the Reykjaströnd shoreline of Skagafjörður fjord at Reykir farm in North Iceland. The pool sits a few metres from the larger Grettislaug pool, and the two are fed by the same natural hot springs that have supplied the site for centuries. Jarlslaug holds around 5 to 6 people comfortably and maintains a temperature of 39 to 42 degrees Celsius throughout the year, though conditions can shift slightly with the weather.
The name Jarlslaug means the Earl's Pool in Icelandic. It commemorates Jón Eiríksson, the farmer who owned Reykir and who rebuilt both pools in 1992 after a major storm in 1934 had destroyed the originals. Jón was known locally as the Earl of Drangey because of his lifelong knowledge of and connection to the nearby rock island Drangey, which rises from the fjord a few kilometres offshore. He earned the nickname through decades of guiding visitors and locals to the island and passed away in recent years. The smaller pool was formerly called Reykjalaug and was renamed Jarlslaug in his honour. Both pool names are embedded in the identity of the farm and the surrounding landscape.
Drangey Island is visible from the pools and forms the central feature of the view. In the Icelandic Sagas, the outlaw Grettir Ásmundarson is said to have swum the full distance from Drangey to the Reykjaströnd shore, approximately 7.5 kilometres through cold water, and warmed himself in the natural hot spring here. That spring, now channelled into the two pools, has been in use since at least the time of the sagas, making the site one of the historically richest natural hot springs in Iceland. Reykir is also a starting point for boat trips to Drangey, connecting the two elements of the saga landscape for visitors exploring this part of North Iceland.
Location & Access
Getting to Jarlslaug
Jarlslaug is reached by driving to Reykir farm at the end of Road 748, also known as Reykjastrandavegur, on the Reykjaströnd coast of Skagafjörður. From the Ring Road, turn north onto Route 75 at Varmahlíð and follow signs toward Sauðárkrókur, then continue north on Road 748 until it ends at the farm. The total distance from the Ring Road to Reykir is approximately 40 kilometres. The final section of Road 748 is partly unpaved gravel but is generally passable by standard 2WD vehicles in summer. Conditions on the gravel section can be variable in winter, and drivers should check road conditions before travelling in shoulder or winter seasons.
From Sauðárkrókur, the nearest town and the closest base for hot springs near Sauðárkrókur, the drive to Reykir takes around 30 to 40 minutes depending on conditions. There is no public transport to the farm. Parking is available at Reykir. The pools are a very short walk from the car park, essentially beside it, so no hiking is involved once you arrive. Entry is paid at the small café on site. If no staff are present, a donation box is located between the pools. Opening hours are approximate rather than fixed and may vary seasonally; the pools are generally accessible during daylight hours in the warmer months and may be closed or unstaffed in early spring.
The drive north along Route 748 offers views of the Skagafjörður fjord and the increasingly prominent outline of Drangey Island as you approach the coast. The farm sits at the end of the road with open fjord views in front and the Reykjaströnd hills behind. The setting is rural and remote, with no commercial development beyond the farm facilities.
Suitability & Accessibility
Who Can Visit Jarlslaug
Jarlslaug suits most visitors who are comfortable with a simple, rural natural pool setting, including families with children, as the terrain is flat, no hiking is required, and the pool is supervised through the paid entry system at the farm. The water temperature of 39 to 42 degrees Celsius is appropriate for adults and older children, though the warmer end of that range is hot and supervision of younger children in the pool is advisable. The nearby Grettislaug pool is larger and holds more visitors; both pools are available with the same entry fee, making it practical to use both during a single visit.
Wheelchair access is not documented for Jarlslaug. The approach from the car park is on flat ground, but the pool area is a natural rural site without paved paths or formal access infrastructure. Visitors with specific mobility needs should contact Reykir farm directly before travelling to confirm what is possible on arrival. For family hot springs near Sauðárkrókur with the additional context of Icelandic saga history and fjord views, Jarlslaug and Grettislaug together offer an experience that is difficult to replicate anywhere else in the region.
The campsite at Reykir is open approximately from April through mid-October, and visitors staying overnight at the campsite receive unlimited access to both pools as part of the camping fee. The farm also has a guesthouse and a shared kitchen. Day visitors pay a separate pool entry fee. The combination of camping, pool access, boat trips to Drangey Island, and the saga landscape makes Reykir a practical multi-activity stop for travellers exploring North Iceland rather than a simple hot spring visit.
Safety & Etiquette
Safety and Etiquette at Jarlslaug
Jarlslaug is a natural geothermal pool in a remote area of North Iceland, and visitors should approach the trip with the preparation appropriate for that setting. The pools themselves are stable and well-maintained by the farm, but the surrounding area is rural and exposed, and the road to Reykir is partly gravel and can be affected by weather and seasonal conditions. Checking road conditions before travelling, particularly outside the main summer season, is sensible practice.
Water temperatures in both Jarlslaug and the adjacent Grettislaug can reach 42 degrees Celsius, which is at the warmer end of the safe soaking range. One pool tends to be hotter than the other at any given time, so testing the water before stepping in is advisable. Visitors who are pregnant, have cardiovascular conditions, or have heat sensitivities should exercise caution. Children should be supervised at all times in and around the pools. There is no lifeguard on site.
The pools sit on private land at Reykir farm. Entry is paid, and the fee supports the maintenance of both pools and the associated site facilities. If no staff are present at the café when you arrive, the donation box between the pools should be used. Visiting without paying is contrary to the terms of access and risks the ongoing availability of the pools for future visitors. The farm has maintained and improved the site for decades, and respectful use is part of what keeps it open.
There are changing rooms and restrooms on site, which distinguishes Jarlslaug from many wilder pools in Iceland. A small café provides basic refreshments. The access road passes through farm gates; close gates behind you and do not drive off the road surface. The narrow lanes of Road 748 leave limited room for passing, so drive at a pace appropriate for rural single-track conditions. The rock wall beside the pools on the sea side provides protection from waves and wind but limits the fjord view from the pool itself; the view of Drangey is clearest from the area around the pools rather than from inside them.
