Hljóðaklettar
About Hljóðaklettar
Hljóðaklettar is a jumble of basalt crags in Vesturdalur where the columns run sideways, curl into rosettes and arch over caves instead of standing in neat rows. The name means echo rocks, after the way sound bounces between the cliffs. It sits in the Jökulsárgljúfur section of Vatnajökull National Park in Northeast Iceland, about 15 km south of Ásbyrgi.
The Hljóðaklettar cliffs are the worn-down plumbing of old volcanoes. According to the national park, they belong to a row of craters about 6 km long that erupted 8,000 to 9,000 years ago. Outburst floods on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum later scoured away the loose cinders, leaving the magma that had cooled inside the vents, which is why the basalt columns point in every direction.
A paved road leads to the parking lot at Langavatnshöfði, just off Route 862 between Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi. From Dettifoss it is about half an hour north, and from Reykjahlíð at Mývatn a little over an hour. The short V2 trail (1.2 km, about 30 minutes) reaches the rock called Tröllið, while the V3 Hljóðaklettar circle runs 3 km and takes 1 to 1.5 hours over uneven ground.
Look for Kirkjan, the church, a domed cave framed by curved columns, and for the honeycomb weathering on the rock faces. With more time, the V4 trail continues 5 km to the red Rauðhólar craters, and the longer canyon trail links Hljóðaklettar with Hólmatungur and Dettifoss to the south. Stay on the marked paths, since the park protects the thin vegetation here.
June to September is the time to come, when the trails and the campsite in Vesturdalur are open. Route 862 has limited winter service, so check road.is before driving north in the colder months. Most people pair Hljóðaklettar with Ásbyrgi and Dettifoss on a Diamond Circle day.
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Good to know
What is Hljóðaklettar?
Hljóðaklettar, the echo rocks, is a group of basalt crags in Vesturdalur in the Jökulsárgljúfur part of Vatnajökull National Park. They are the eroded remains of crater vents from an eruption 8,000 to 9,000 years ago.
Where is Hljóðaklettar and how do you get there?
It is in Northeast Iceland, about 15 km south of Ásbyrgi. Take Route 862 between Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi and follow the paved road to the parking lot at Langavatnshöfði.
How long is the Hljóðaklettar hike?
The V2 trail to Tröllið is 1.2 km and takes about 30 minutes. The V3 Hljóðaklettar circle is 3 km and takes 1 to 1.5 hours on rougher ground.
Why are the basalt columns at Hljóðaklettar so twisted?
The columns formed inside volcanic vents, where lava cooled in many directions at once. Glacial floods later stripped away the loose crater material and exposed them.
Can you visit Hljóðaklettar in winter?
Access is easiest from June to September. Route 862 gets only limited winter service, so check road.is before you set out.
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