Kolbeinsdalur

Kolbeinsdalur is a valley on the eastern side of Skagafjörður, Iceland. It reaches north and east of Hjaltadalur, which it runs parallel to (running east south east) until Hjaltadalur curves south near Hólar, while Kolbeinsdalur continues directly eastward. There is a long ridge, often simply called the Ásinn ("the ridge") between the two valleys where they run parallel to one another. A hollow named Hálsgróf (or just Grófin, which means "hollow") is to the east between the ridges and mountains and there is a drivable road over it. A little ways in, the valley curves again to the southeast. The tributary valleys Heljardalur and Skíðadalur are on the eastern side of Kolbeinsdalur, and a little farther in there is the so-called Ingjaldsskál.

Kolbeinsdalsá river, also called Kolka, runs through the valley, which is said to be named for the settler Kolbeinn Sigmundarson. The bottom of the valley, back against the property, is believed to have been settled by Sleitu-Björn Hróarsson, and the land in the mouth of the valley, Sleitustaðir or Sleitu-Bjarnarstaðir, is named after him. The land of Smiðsgerði, which is nearby, is also settled, but otherwise the valley is now completely deserted.

The center of Kolbeinsdalur splits in two near the Tungnahryggur ridge, and the valleys are often called Austurdalur and Vesturdalur (East Valley and West Valley). Off the ridges, in front of the valley floor, is Tungnahryggsjökull glacier. In Tungnahryggur, a short distance from the glacier, there is a cabin or refuge house, called Tungnahryggsskál, which was pulled into place in 1982, and expanded in 1991. The old, well-traveled mountain road through Heljardalsheiði from Svarfaðardalur and to Hólar runs partially through the lower part of Kolbeinsdalur.

Heljadalur ("death valley") is a side valley off of Kolbeinsdalur. There is a road along the valley over Heljardalsheiði [is] plateau. According to local folklore, the valley got its name because many people from the entourage of the Bishop of Hólar, Guðmundar góði ("the good") Arason had died there from exposure to the elements.

There is another valley of the same name off Heljardalsfjall mountain and Stakfell in Þistilfjörður.

Before highways were built, the main roads out of Kolbeinsdalur were:

There is also a road for jeeps down the western side of the valley, but it is difficult to travel.

Kolbeinsdalur used to be fully settled but has since become deserted.