Öxi Pass, aka route 939, is a short mountain pass that saves you about 60 km of driving between Höfn and Egilsstaðir. Be forewarned though, while this pass is usually listed as little more than a gravel road, it is not for the faint of heart.
Let me reiterate that first part. You’re literally driving up and over a mountain. From sea level to over 500 meters as you zigzag your way up various steep inclines along a ravine. Did I mention there were very few guard rails?
The paved 1 along that leads you to Öxi is deceiving, as we’re about 50 meters above the ocean below. There were also a few guard rails dangling down to the beach below.
Hjálmar Guðmundsson lead construction on the Öxi. My poor attempt at a translation leads me to believe this is not only a monument to the man, but the symbolic first stone moved for the pass.
While the drive is gorgeous albeit, a bit scary, it’s recommended you avoid this pass outside of Summer and during bad weather. Please be careful!
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