Hverfjall Crater Hike

There are many volcanos in Iceland and walking along the rim of a crater is something you have to do at least once during your visit to the land of ice and fire. In this guide, I will explain my experience with the Hverfjall Crater Hike, which will give spectacular views of the crater and its surroundings.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT HVERFJALL

Hverfjall is a crater with a diameter of 1000m and 90-150m high.
The crater consists of mostly tuff layers with gravel and sand coating it due to weather conditions.
It was formed around 2500 years ago during an eruption of the Krafla volcano.
The Icelandic word hver means hot spring and fjall means mountain, its name can be translated as Hot Spring Mountain.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE HIKE

GETTING TO HVERFJALL

Hverfjall is located next to Lake Myvatn in the North of Iceland.

The best way to reach it is by renting a car and driving there yourself. Otherwise, some guided tours may include a visit to Hverfjall but they will most probably not complete the hike around the rim.

Driving times will vary depending on where you are coming from.

From Akureyri, it is approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes drive to reach Hverfjall.
From Reykjahlid, the main village near Myvatn, it is only a 10 minute drive.

eQUIPMENT NEEDED

You don’t need specific equipment for this hike. However, the following might become handy_

Hiking shoes: You will be walking in between lava rocks, so good hiking shoes will be very useful.
Different layers: During this hike, you will be in an exposed area, so it is recommended to wear different layers to adjust to the changing weather. As you can see from my photos, during the hike, we experienced warm weather and really cold wind.

HIKE STATS

Trail Start/End – Hverfjall Parking Lot (exact location at the end of this blog)

Distance – 4,2 km

Elevation Gain – 150 m

Level – Easy

Route Type – Circular Route

Estimated Time Needed – 1,5 hours (including plenty of time to stop for photos). Remember to stay within the marked trails.

Best Time To Visit – July to September to ensure the best weather conditions.

HIKE MAP

I always use the AllTrails App during my hikes. The app has a GPX map that can help you stay on the right trail during your hikes. For this hike, we followed the Hverfjall Volcano Crater Trail.

Good to know: There is are two different trails that will bring you to the rim of this crater. The first one is the one shown in this blog, and the second one starts from Dimmuborgir site. The climb from Dimmuborgir is much more difficult than the one from this blog and it will involve some rock climbing. Only use this trail if you are an experienced hiker/rock climber.

MY EXPERIENCE HIKING HVERFJALL - STEP BY STEP GUIDE

Reaching the rim

The hike begins with a steep climb up to the rim of the crater. Depending on your level of fitness, it will take you between 10 to 20 minutes to reach the top. We decided to take it slowly and stop a few times along the way to enjoy the view from different levels.

The crater rim

Once we were at the top, we chose to do the rim counterclockwise. In total, it took us approximately two hours to complete the crater but we stop constantly to take photos and eat our sandwiches enjoying the magnificent views.

As you turn around the crater, you get to enjoy 360º views of the area. This includes the beautiful lake Myvatn, Dimmuborgir caves, and Hverir Sulfur Fields.

ACCOMMODATION IN MYVATN

There are many things to see and visit around Lake Myvatn. To be able to enjoy this beautiful region in the North of Iceland, I recommend spending a minimum of one night here. Here are some hotel and guesthouse recommendations.

Skútustadir Guesthouse (€€)

Skútustadir Guesthouse is family-owned guesthouse set on a farm by the southern shore of Lake Mývatn. Rooms are cleaned and comfortable and you can choose between rooms with a private or shared bathrooms. They also offer a shared kitchen where you can cook your own meals and save some extra morney.

We stayed 2 nights here and we had a fantastic time there. The staff here was super helpful and friendly.

Photos from Booking.com

Fosshotel Myvatn (€€€)

If you’re looking for a more traditional hotel experience, then I recommend you stay at Fosshotel Myvatn. All rooms are super comfortable and have every amenity that you might think of.

Photos from Booking.com

MAP WITH ALL LOCATIONS

HOW TO USE THIS MAP: Click the star next to the map title to add this map to your google maps account. To view it on your phone while traveling, open Google Maps, click on the menu button and go to “Your Places”, click on Maps and you’ll see this map in your list.

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links. Clicking and buying from them will be at no additional cost to you but I will get a small commission.

HVERFJALL CRATER HIKE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT HVERFJALL

PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE HIKE

GETTING TO HVERFJALL

eQUIPMENT NEEDED