Tips for Hiking Iceland’s Incredible Active Volcano
If you’re planning to visit Iceland and would like tips and information about the Fagradalsfjall volcano hike, then this is the article for you. We spent a lot of time researching and planning the hike, so we have plenty of helpful tips.
We visited Iceland in September 2021 about six months after the volcano began erupting. After watching countless videos about the Fagradalsfjall Volcano, we decided that we had to see it for ourselves. It’s rare to see an active volcano erupting, so the volcano hike was what we were looking forward to the most during our trip to Iceland. Don’t get me wrong. Iceland is full of incredible adventures, but getting up close to an active volcano was a huge bucket list item for us.
We did two volcano hikes. Our first hike was on September 9, 2021, and our second volcano hike was on September 16, 2021.
Where is Fagradalsfjall Volcano located?
I’m sure you must be wondering where to find the volcano in Iceland. It is not too far from Keflavik airport. Because we were so antsy to see it, we picked up our Kuku Camper van and immediately made our way to the volcano.
The location of the active volcano is on the Reykjanes peninsula in Southwest Iceland. The eruption started in the Geldingadalir valley of Mount Fagradalsfjall, which is 30 km from the capital of Reykjavik. The volcano has been erupting since March 19, 2021.
Is it safe to do a volcano hike?
Before you set off on your hike, be sure to go to Safetravel. It is a website in Iceland for checking on hiking conditions. Weather and hiking conditions change fast in Iceland. It is a good idea to check the Save Travel website before heading out. We felt more comfortable knowing that the local authorities are constantly monitoring the site, and they will close it off if conditions become too dangerous for hikers.
What should you bring on your Iceland volcano hike?
The most important thing to bring on the hike is water. You could also take a few snacks if you get hungry. Depending on the trail you choose, you might be on the hike for several hours.
For clothing, we recommend wearing layers of warm clothes. Waterproof clothing is the best for Iceland because there is always a possibility for rain. Having sturdy hiking boots with ankle support is also a good idea. Gloves, a warm hat, and a windbreaker will also come in handy if it is cold.
If you plan to stay after sunset, make sure to have a flashlight.
If you plan on taking pictures, bring your camera and a waterproof case to keep it protected.
Where do you park for the volcano hike?
Visit Reykjanes is a good source for hiking maps and parking locations.
There was plenty of parking available at the base of the hiking trail. There was even a small shop selling food and a portable toilet.
What hiking path should you take?
There are three different paths to the eruption site. Before arriving in Iceland, we researched and decided to take path C. At the time, path A was closed, and path B was the backside of the crater. Path C is about 4.5km, and it takes you through the lava field and to the front side of the crater.
If you are only interested in seeing the lava field, it is only about .9km from the parking area.
Are there volcano hiking tours?
There are volcano hiking tours available. After researching, we decided that we could easily do the volcano hike on our own. The hiking path is easy to follow, so we decided not to spend money on a guided tour. If you don’t want to hike, you can always take a helicopter tour. We saw quite a few helicopters flying over during our hike.
How difficult is the volcano hike?
The level of difficulty depends on the weather and your clothing/shoes. On our first hike, the weather was sunny, and it didn’t rain. The weather made the hike easier because we weren’t cold and wet. The ground, however, was slippery because the dirt was loose, so that proved to be challenging. We had to take our time and carefully watch our footing.
You don’t need special hiking equipment, so we’d say that it is a moderate hike if you are in good health and have some experience hiking. If the weather is unpleasant and you don’t have hiking experience, the hike might be more difficult.
If you are unsure, it might be best to go with a guided volcano tour.
What is the lava field?
We started the volcano hike by making our way to the lava field. You will see the lava field from the hiking path shortly after the start of the hike. There is also a path that leads down to the lava field.
At this point along the hiking trail, you cannot see the crater, but you can get great views of the massive lava field.
If you go down a path at the start of the hike, it will take you to the lava field. We got right next to the end of the hardened lava flow.
Even though the lava doesn’t look hot, it can still be dangerous, so always be careful.
Where is the volcano’s crater?
If you continue walking along the hiking trail for a while, you will eventually see the volcano. The volcano wasn’t erupting, so we didn’t see magma, but we could see steam coming out of the top, so it was active.
After hiking for quite a while, we decided to turn around because the volcano wasn't erupting. We were disappointed that we didn't see the volcano erupting, but luckily we had an extra day at the end of our road trip to try the hike again.
Even if the volcano isn’t erupting when you are visiting, we still think that it is worth it to make the hike to see the lava field.
Throughout our Iceland road trip, we closely monitored the volcano's activity. We discovered that the volcano started erupting again. On our last day in Iceland, we attempted the hike again.
This time we saw lava!
The weather was colder on our second volcano hike, but that didn’t stop us. We were determined to see the volcano erupt before we left Iceland. We wore gloves, a hat, and a waterproof windbreaker because the wind was whipping.
How often does the volcano erupt?
When we made it to the part of the hiking trail where we could see the crater, we took a seat to wait for the eruption. It seemed that the volcanic eruptions were happening about every 10-15 minutes. Sometimes the duration was a little shorter. It also seemed as though some volcanic eruptions were more intense than others. We could usually tell right before the eruption occurred because we would see more steam coming from the crater.
A new lava field started to form.
What is the best time of day to see the volcanic eruptions?
The hike is easier if the sun is out, but seeing the lava is harder. We stayed after the sunset because we could see the eruptions better. When the sun started to set, the volcano began to glow, and the glowing lava was something that I’ll never forget.
After watching the volcano erupt several times, we decided to start making our way back to the parking lot before it got completely dark. We only had a cellphone flashlight, so we had to be careful on our way back down.
How long does the hike take?
If you take path C, it should take around 3-4 hours total. Although it is entirely dependent on how long you want to stay and watch the volcanic eruptions and how slow or fast you hike.
Words can't describe how amazing it was to witness this extraordinary event with our own eyes.
Now our Iceland road trip was complete!
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