Mountains in Iceland

Kirkjufell

Kirkjufell is a 463-meter mountain on the north shore of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, standing on its own about 3 km west of Grundarfjörður. Its name means Church Mountain, and from the east its narrow ridge looks like a steeple. The drive from Reykjavík takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes, and you have almost certainly seen its arrowhead shape in photos before you arrive. The postcard view comes from Kirkjufellsfoss, a small, stepped waterfall across Route 54 from the mountain. A short path from the parking lot leads to the falls in a few minutes, and a footbridge crosses the river so you can line Kirkjufell up behind the water. For a quieter angle, drive the shore road around the mountain or look back at it from Grundarfjörður harbor. Timing matters more than usual here. Tour buses crowd the viewpoint around midday, so come early in the morning or in the evening, when the light is lower and warmer. On clear winter nights, Kirkjufell mountain is one of the most photographed northern lights spots in Iceland, and 30 to 45 minutes covers the walk and photos. The lot beside Kirkjufellsfoss charges for parking, with license-plate cameras and payment by app or online, so check the signs for the current rate. There are no services at the site itself. Grundarfjörður, a few minutes east, has gas, a supermarket, cafés, a swimming pool and a campsite. Climbing Mount Kirkjufell is a serious undertaking. The route crosses loose scree and exposed rock with fixed ropes, and several people have died on it. Since 2022 the landowners have closed the mountain to hikers for much of the year, so check the current rules locally, and only attempt it in summer with experience or a local guide.

Fagradalsfjall

Fagradalsfjall is a flat-topped mountain on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 10 kilometers northeast of Grindavík and roughly 50 minutes by car from Reykjavík. In March 2021 lava broke through at its foot, the first eruption on the peninsula in about 800 years. That eruption in Geldingadalir ran for six months, and the Fagradalsfjall volcano system erupted again in Meradalir in August 2022 and at Litli-Hrútur in July and August 2023. The name means mountain of the beautiful valley. What you hike to today is the aftermath: black lava fields that filled valleys which were grassland a few years ago. Since December 2023 the activity has moved a few kilometers west to the Sundhnúkur crater row near Grindavík. The most recent eruption there ended on August 5, 2025, and magma has kept building under Svartsengi since, so a new one can start with little warning. The trails start from two parking lots on Route 427 (Suðurstrandarvegur) east of Grindavík, P1 (Geldingadalir) and P2 (Stóri-Leirdalur), where parking costs 1,000 ISK per car for 24 hours, paid online. Path A to the 2021 craters is about 6 to 8 kilometers each way, two hours or more in each direction, while Path C up Langihryggur reaches a viewpoint over the 2021 to 2023 lava after about 4 kilometers. The Nátthagi path is the shortest, about 2 kilometers to the edge of the older lava. Path E to the Meradalir and Litli-Hrútur sites is a full day of 18 to 20 kilometers round trip. Expect gravel, loose lava and steep climbs, along with weather that turns fast, so wear hiking boots and windproof layers and carry water. Summer gives the longest days and easiest footing, while winter brings short daylight and icy trails. Stay off the lava, since a solid-looking crust can hide heat and cavities underneath. Before you set out, check the Icelandic Met Office's gas forecast along with the latest trail-closure notices and official safety alerts. Access can close at short notice when the ground shifts or gas levels rise. If the hike is too much, the Blue Lagoon and Seltún are both within a short drive.

Fimmvörðuháls

Fimmvörðuháls is a mountain pass between the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull ice caps in South Iceland, crossed by a 25 km trail from Skógar to Þórsmörk. Few day hikes in the country pack in as much: a gorge full of waterfalls, a climb to roughly 1,000 meters, craters from the 2010 eruption and a steep descent into the green valleys of Þórsmörk. The first 8 km are the reason many people come. From Skógafoss the path follows the Skógá river upstream through a gorge lined with waterfalls, each one different from the last, until a footbridge marks the end of the green and the start of the real climb. Above it, gravel and lingering snowfields lead up toward the pass. Near the top, the Fimmvörðuháls trail crosses ground younger than many of the people walking it. A fissure eruption opened on the pass in March 2010, weeks before the larger summit eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, and left two new craters, Magni and Móði, along with a lava field the trail now crosses. From there the route descends the exposed Heljarkambur ridge, where a chain helps on the steepest section, and the narrow Kattarhryggir before reaching Goðaland and Þórsmörk. Ferðafélag Íslands splits the route into two legs: Skógar to its Baldvinsskáli hut (12 km, 4 to 5 hours, about 1,000 meters of ascent) and Baldvinsskáli to Þórsmörk (13 km, 4 to 6 hours). Fit hikers do the whole crossing in one long day. Others spend a night at Baldvinsskáli, which has 16 beds, or at Útivist's Fimmvörðuskáli near the top of the pass, and both huts must be booked in advance. On average the trail is open from about June 25 to September 15, though snow cover shifts the dates every year. Even in July, fog, strong wind or snow can close in on the pass within hours, and the Brattafönn snow slope can stay slippery all summer. Outside the season, the crossing is winter mountaineering for experienced, well-equipped parties only. The Fimmvörðuháls hike is free, but it runs one way, so sort out transport before you start. Skógar is on Route 1, about 2 hours' drive from Reykjavík, while Þórsmörk can only be reached by highland bus or a suitable 4x4 because the road has unbridged river crossings. Before you set out, leave a travel plan with ICE-SAR and check the weather warnings for the pass.

Herðubreið

Herðubreið is the flat-topped mountain that rises alone out of the Ódáðahraun lava desert in Iceland's northeast Highlands, and its outline is easy to pick out from far across the plain. At 1,682 m, it's a tuya, a volcano that erupted beneath the Ice Age glacier, which explains the steep sides and the level summit. Most travelers see Herðubreið from the F88 on the way to Askja, and the best stop is Herðubreiðarlindir, a spring-fed oasis about 4 km east of the mountain. Grass and wildflowers line clear streams here, in the middle of black sand and lava. The Akureyri Touring Association runs the Þorsteinsskáli hut, which has a campsite nearby and summer wardens, and the hut is closed in winter. The F88 leaves the Ring Road west of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum bridge, and Herðubreiðarlindir is about 60 km down this rough mountain road. It's open only in summer and is meant for high-clearance 4x4 vehicles, with river crossings along the way. If you'd rather not drive it, guided 4x4 day trips to Askja from Mývatn and Akureyri stop at Herðubreið and the oasis. Climbing Herðubreið mountain is a serious undertaking. Vatnajökull National Park rates the route difficult and puts it at about 12 hours round trip from Herðubreiðarlindir, including the drive to the trailhead west of the mountain and about three hours up. The park warns of a great risk of falling and rockfall, so wear a helmet, start early and talk to the rangers before you go.

Hjörleifshöfði

Hjörleifshöfði is a 221-meter headland of tuff on the Mýrdalssandur sand plain in South Iceland, about 15 km east of Vík. With its cliff sides and green cap, it looks like an island stranded on dry land. It formed in an eruption under the ice late in the last Ice Age, and floods from the Katla volcano have since built the sand plain out around it. The big 1918 eruption pushed the coast farther south, creating the spit of Kötlutangi below the headland. The name means Hjörleifur's Headland. The medieval Book of Settlements says that Hjörleifur Hróðmarsson, sworn brother of Iceland's first settler Ingólfur Arnarson, landed here and was soon killed by his own slaves. A mound on the summit is traditionally called his grave. That summit is the reason to stop. A marked trail climbs from the parking lots on the west side, and a loop over the top takes most hikers two to three hours with time for the view. From up there you look across the sand to Mýrdalsjökull, along the coast toward the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, and down onto the old farm site, so expect wind on the open plateau and keep back from the cliff edges. The road to Hjörleifshöfði is a signposted gravel track that turns south off the Ring Road, roughly 2 hours 45 minutes from Reykjavík. Ordinary cars usually manage it in good weather, but it gets rough after heavy rain or snow. The land is private and the parking lots charge a fee, so read the signs when you arrive. Summer is the easiest time to hike, though the headland is worth a look in any season. There are no toilets or services, so stock up in Vík first and check the official wind forecast and weather warnings, because Mýrdalssandur is known for sandstorms. Since the Gígjagjá cave sits at the foot of the cliffs a short walk from the parking, most people see both on the same stop.

Hlíðarfjall Ski Resort

Hlíðarfjall is the main Akureyri ski resort, on the slopes of Hlíðarfjall mountain about 15 minutes' drive up Hlíðarfjallsvegur from central Akureyri in North Iceland. It's the best-known place to ski outside the capital area, with floodlit runs for night skiing. The Hlíðarfjall ski resort has 26 marked pistes graded green, blue, red and black, plus groomed cross-country tracks from 1.2 to 10 km. The vertical drop is 455 meters, and the longest run is more than 2.5 km. A four-seat chairlift and several surface lifts carry you toward the top, where the upper lift reaches about 980 meters. So, can you ski in Iceland? Yes, and Akureyri skiing is the easiest place to start. Snow cannons help Hlíðarfjall open early, and the season normally runs from the end of November until early May. Floodlights keep the slopes open through midwinter, when daylight lasts only a few hours. Opening hours change day to day with weather and snow, so check the resort's daily status before you drive up. Lift passes go on a SKIDATA card, which you can buy online with your ticket and collect at the ticket office. Ski rental and a ski school operate on site, so you can come without your own gear. For skiing in North Iceland, February to April is usually the best stretch, when days are longer and the snow base is deeper. In summer the lower chairlift runs on set days for mountain bikers and hikers, which makes the mountain worth a visit even without snow.

Kjölur Route

Kjölur is the highland route across the middle of Iceland, a gravel road between the Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers that runs from Gullfoss in the south to Blöndudalur in the north. It crosses a bare plateau of gravel, sand and lava with ice caps on both horizons, and it is the gentlest way to drive through the interior. The road itself, Kjalvegur, is about 165 kilometers long and is numbered 35 by the Icelandic Road Administration, though many maps and rental companies still call it F35. Its rivers are bridged, so most cars can manage it in summer. Long stretches are rough gravel, though, and many rental contracts allow only 4x4 vehicles on the Kjölur route, so check your terms before you set out. Kjalvegur opens in summer only, usually in June or July once the ground has dried, and closes again when the fall snow arrives. Opening dates change every year, so check the official road-conditions map on the morning you leave. Without stops the crossing takes about five hours, and services along the way are limited to the highland huts, so fill your tank before you start. People have crossed Kjölur since the settlement era, and for centuries it was a main link between the north and south of the country. The old horse trail, Kjalvegur hinn forni, still runs a little to the west for hikers and riders. Near Beinahóll, the Reynistaður brothers and their companions died on the crossing in the late 18th century, and the spot is still said to be haunted. The main stop is Hveravellir, a geothermal area with a hot pool and huts in the northern half of the route. Kerlingarfjöll, a mountain range with steaming hot springs, sits on a side road off the southern half, and Hvítárvatn lake lies below an outlet glacier of Langjökull near the south end. Plan a full day if you want to stop, or split the crossing with a night at Hveravellir or Kerlingarfjöll.

Mount Esja Parking Lot

The Mount Esja parking lot at Mógilsá is the main trailhead for hiking the mountain that rises across the bay from Reykjavík, about 20 minutes' drive north of the city center on Route 1. Esja is a long volcanic ridge rather than a single peak, topping out at 914 meters, and the Esjustofa café by the parking area is handy for coffee or soup once you're back down. The classic Esja hike climbs to Steinn, a large boulder below the summit ridge. The route is 6.2 kilometers with 575 meters of ascent and takes about three hours of walking. At roughly 225 meters the path splits: the eastern branch crosses a bridge over the Mógilsá river and climbs more gently, while the western branch goes straight up beside the river, and the two meet again below Steinn. Fit hikers can carry on from Steinn to the Þverfellshorn viewpoint at 780 meters, a steeper scramble with a wide view over Reykjavík and Faxaflói bay on a clear day. Many people go up one branch and down the other to make a loop. Add an hour or more if you go beyond Steinn, and pack warm layers and wind protection even in July. Esja can be hiked all year, but winter changes the rules. Once snow arrives, ice spikes are essential, and the western path is the safer choice in winter and spring because of lower avalanche and rockfall risk. Above Steinn, winter conditions are only for experienced mountaineers with proper gear. Public buses no longer stop at the trailhead, so plan on driving or taking a taxi.

Sprengisandur Route

Sprengisandur is a high plateau of gravel and sand in the central highlands of Iceland, between the Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull ice caps. The F26 highland road crosses it from south to north, and driving the Sprengisandur route means about 200 km of track without a single village, with glaciers on the horizon whenever the clouds lift. In Icelandic the road is Sprengisandsleið. Its southern end is near Lake Þórisvatn, where it meets Route 26 (Landvegur) about two and a half hours' drive from Reykjavík, and its northern end is in the Bárðardalur valley in North Iceland, where it joins Route 842 close to Aldeyjarfoss waterfall. Side routes branch off toward Askja (F910) and Skagafjörður (F752). F26 is an F-road, so Icelandic law allows only four-wheel-drive vehicles on it, and no insurance covers damage from crossing a river. The road opens only in summer, once the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration declares it passable, and the date shifts with snow and meltwater every year. Check the official road-conditions map and travel alerts before you set out. Roughly halfway across, at about 830 meters, the Ferðafélag Íslands huts at Nýidalur are the main stop. The two huts sleep 54 and have a campsite, showers and a summer warden, and they are usually open from early July to early September. Meltwater from Tungnafellsjökull crosses the track near the huts, so look at the depth before you drive in. July and August are the best time to drive Sprengisandur, when the road and huts are open and the long days give you light for the whole crossing. Plan on a full day with stops, and start with a full tank, food and water, because there are no villages or shops between the two ends. In winter the plateau is an expedition for specialist vehicles and experienced crews only.

Stórurð

Stórurð is a field of giant boulders and turquoise ponds beneath the jagged Dyrfjöll mountains in East Iceland, between Egilsstaðir and Borgarfjörður eystri. The name means great scree, and the blocks of tuff scattered across its grassy meadows were most likely left behind by retreating glaciers. For a full day on foot in the Eastfjords, few hikes repay the effort as well. You can only reach Stórurð on foot, on one of five marked trails: two from the Vatnsskarð pass on Road 94, one from Njarðvík and two from Borgarfjörður eystri. The round trip takes about 4 to 5 hours. The Stórurð trailhead most people use is the parking lot at Vatnsskarð, a drive of under an hour from Egilsstaðir. Timing matters more than fitness here. Because Stórurð sits over 400 meters above sea level, snow lingers well into summer, and the best time to visit is from mid-July until the first real snowfall of fall. Wear proper boots, since the trails cross wet ground and rocky slopes, and check the forecast, as fog can roll over the pass quickly. The Stórurð hike pairs well with a night in Borgarfjörður eystri, the small village at the end of Road 94, where you can see puffins at the harbor in summer. If you would rather hike with a guide, the women-only Víknaslóðir trek in East Iceland starts with a day at Stórurð.

Vestrahorn

Vestrahorn is a jagged mountain of scree peaks on the Stokksnes peninsula in Southeast Iceland, about 15 minutes' drive east of Höfn. It rises straight out of the black sand at Stokksnes beach, and on a calm day the whole ridge reflects in the wet sand below, which is why photographers plan whole trips around it. A short gravel road leaves Route 1 and ends at the Viking Café, the gateway to the beach. From Reykjavík it is a long day on the road, so most people visit while staying in or near Höfn on a Ring Road trip. Stokksnes is private land, and the owners charge a per-person entrance fee, with children under 16 free. You buy tickets at the Viking Café during opening hours or at the self-service kiosk outside, and each ticket is good for one entry. Check the current price at the café before you head out to the dunes. Beyond the café, a track leads to the grassy black sand dunes that frame most photos of Vestrahorn mountain, and on to the beach and the point. Near the café is a replica Viking village, built in 2009 as a film set for a movie that was never made and later used to film The Witcher: Blood Origin. Sunrise and sunset light up the scree, and low tide leaves the wet sand that mirrors the peaks. On clear winter nights, the northern lights can appear over the ridge. Plan on one to two hours, longer if you are waiting for light. For camping around Vestrahorn, the Viking Café runs a campsite with showers, cooking facilities and electricity, along with a guesthouse. Overnight guests can walk onto the beach at any time without buying a separate ticket.