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Volcanoes
Skútustaðagígar Pseudocraters
About Skútustaðagígar Pseudocraters
Skútustaðagígar is a cluster of grassy crater mounds on the south shore of Lake Mývatn that look volcanic but never erupted lava of their own. These pseudocraters, also called rootless cones, formed about 2,300 years ago when a lava flow rolled over wetlands and shallow water. Trapped water flashed to steam beneath the hot lava, and the explosions built up the cones that ring the pond today.
The Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters sit beside the hamlet of Skútustaðir on Road 848, about 15 kilometers south of Reykjahlíð. Coming from Akureyri on the Ring Road, turn onto Road 848 after the Laxá bridge, and the craters are about 5 kilometers on. That makes the drive from Akureyri a little over an hour, so they work well as a first stop on a loop around the lake.
Two marked trails start near the roadside. The Crater Ring (Gígahringur) is a 1.5 kilometer loop over and between the nearest cones, and 30 minutes to an hour covers it with time on the rims. The longer Pond Ring (Tjarnarhringur), 3.5 kilometers, circles Stakhólstjörn, a pond almost enclosed by craters and a good spot for birdwatching in spring.
The area has been a protected natural monument since 1973, and the cones erode easily, so stay on the paths and keep off the slopes. The Crater Ring is staked in winter, though snow can hide the edges, and the restrooms nearby are for customers of the hotel and restaurants. Late spring and early summer bring nesting ducks, grebes and red-necked phalaropes to the ponds.
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Good to know
What are the Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters?
They are rootless cones, craters with no vent beneath them. About 2,300 years ago, lava flowed over wet ground at Mývatn, and steam explosions under the lava built the cones.
Where is Skútustaðagígar?
Skútustaðagígar is at Skútustaðir on the south shore of Lake Mývatn in North Iceland, on Road 848 about 15 kilometers south of Reykjahlíð.
How long does it take to walk Skútustaðagígar?
The Crater Ring trail is 1.5 kilometers and takes 30 minutes to an hour. The Pond Ring around Stakhólstjörn is 3.5 kilometers, so allow one to two hours.
Can you visit Skútustaðagígar in winter?
Yes. The Crater Ring is staked in winter, but paths can be icy and snow hides the crater edges, so wear traction and stay on the marked route.
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