Svörtuloft Lighthouse

About Svörtuloft Lighthouse

Svörtuloft Lighthouse is a bright orange concrete tower on the black lava cliffs at the far western tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, at the edge of Snæfellsjökull National Park. The color against the dark rock, with the Atlantic breaking below, is what makes the bumpy detour worth it.

On land the lighthouse is officially called Skálasnagaviti. Svörtuloft ("black lofts") is the name of the long cliff face of Saxhólsbjarg, and sailors name the light after those cliffs when they see it from the sea. The first light here was an iron structure from 1914, and the present 12.8-meter tower replaced it in 1931 and is still in service.

The tower is closed to visitors, so you come for the cliffs. Walk along the top and you can see where the swell has carved caves and ledges into the lava, and in rough weather spray shoots well above the edge. In summer, fulmars nest on the ledges below. The edge is unfenced and can be undercut, so keep a few steps back.

To drive there, leave Route 574 at the western end of the peninsula on Road 579 toward Skarðsvík, then take the left fork signed for Skálasnagi. The last few kilometers are a rough, potholed gravel track that a regular car can handle slowly when it's dry, though higher clearance makes it easier. Reykjavík is roughly three hours away, so this works best as part of a full Snæfellsnes loop.

There is no fee and there are no facilities, not even toilets. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes, including the slow drive in and a walk along the cliffs. Summer and early fall are the easiest months, while in winter the track can be icy or snowbound, so check the official road-conditions map before you turn off.

On the way back, stop at the golden sand cove of Skarðsvík on the same road. Saxhóll crater is a short drive south, and Djúpalónssandur beach is farther down the coast.