Hvitserkur

About Hvitserkur

Hvítserkur is a 15-metre basalt sea stack standing just off the eastern shore of the Vatnsnes peninsula in Northwest Iceland. Shaped by wave erosion, from the shore it looks like an animal bending down to drink, and it is often called the rhino or dragon rock. It is one of the most photographed rock formations in this part of the country.

Local folklore says Hvítserkur is a troll from the Strandir region who set out to destroy the church bells at Þingeyrar. He was too slow, and the first rays of the rising sun turned him to stone where he stood. The area is also good for wildlife: seals are often seen along the shoreline, and in summer seabirds nest on and around the rock.

The stack is reached from road 711, which loops around Vatnsnes; most of this road is gravel, and Hvítserkur lies roughly 30 km of gravel driving from the Ring Road. From the small car park at the top of the cliff a short path leads to a viewpoint above the stack. A steeper path continues down to the beach, and at low tide you can walk out closer to the base, so check the tide times before you go and take care on the slope when it is wet.

There is no charge to visit and the site is open all year, although road 711 can be slippery or snowbound in winter, so check road conditions before driving it. Combine it with a drive around the rest of the Vatnsnes peninsula; Hvammstangi, at the base of the peninsula, has a swimming pool and services.