Hvalnes Lighthouse
About Hvalnes Lighthouse
Hvalnes Lighthouse is a short orange tower on a gravel spit in Southeast Iceland, and it is one of the easiest photo stops on the Ring Road east of Höfn. Behind it, the dark, jagged peaks of Eystrahorn rise almost straight from the shore, while a pebble beach and a quiet lagoon lie on either side.
The light dates from the mid-1950s and still guides ships along this part of the coast. At about 12 meters, it is small next to most Icelandic lighthouses, and you can walk around the base but not go inside. The land around it, often called the Hvalnes nature reserve, marks the eastern end of the Lón district.
Hvalnes sits right beside Route 1, about 50 kilometers east of Höfn, which is roughly 45 minutes by car. Coming from the Eastfjords, it is about 50 minutes south of Djúpivogur. A short track leads to a small parking area by the lighthouse, and there are no facilities, so plan restrooms and coffee in Höfn or Djúpivogur.
Most people spend 20 to 30 minutes here, walking out to the black pebble beach and back. Wading birds feed along the lagoon shore, and whooper swans gather on the water in late summer. Wind can be fierce on this exposed spit at any time of year, so hold on to your car door when you open it.
Hvalnes fits neatly into a day on the Southeast coast with Vestrahorn, closer to Höfn, which has a similar mountain-and-beach setting. Heading east, the Ring Road runs below the steep scree slopes of Hvalnesskriður on its way toward Djúpivogur and the Eastfjords.
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Good to know
Where is Hvalnes Lighthouse?
It is in Southeast Iceland, right beside Route 1 at the foot of Eystrahorn, about 50 kilometers east of Höfn. The drive from Höfn takes roughly 45 minutes.
Can you go inside Hvalnes Lighthouse?
No. The lighthouse is still in use and is closed to visitors, but you can walk around it and down to the beach.
How long should you spend at Hvalnes?
About 20 to 30 minutes is enough for the lighthouse, the pebble beach and a few photos. Photographers waiting for good light on Eystrahorn often stay longer.
Is Hvalnes worth visiting?
Yes, if you are driving between Höfn and the Eastfjords. It is a short stop right on the Ring Road, with a lighthouse, a beach and one of the most striking mountains on the coast.
What is the mountain behind Hvalnes Lighthouse?
It is Eystrahorn, a jagged peak of roughly 750 meters made largely of gabbro and granophyre. It mirrors Vestrahorn, which stands on the other side of the Lón district.
Is there a beach at Hvalnes?
Yes. A black pebble beach runs along the spit between the open sea and the lagoon, and it is an easy walk from the parking area.
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