Here are our top 10 routes for hiking around Myvatn:
Along the north shore
Duration: 2 or 3 hours
The path starts on the north shore of the lake, just in front of Hotel Reynihlid. It’s a pleasant walk that takes you through the lava fields around the lake, and this is an excellent opportunity to observe the local birdlife.
Vindbelgjarfjall
Duration: 1 hour
The marked path starts after Vagnbrekka farm when you walk for about thirty minutes.To ascent from the mountain Vinbelgjarfall also takes thirty minutes, and it’s a relatively easy walk even though the path is a bit steep when climbing. At the top, at 529 meters, you can admire the beauty of the lake.
Craters Skútustaðagígar
Duration: 30 minutes – 1 hour
The path leads you around Stakhólstjörn and takes about an hour. There is also a shorter way that doesn’t take more than half an hour. Walking is easy, and you can admire the pseudo-craters and the numerous birds in the area.
Kálfastrandarland and Höfði
Duration: 1-2 hours
This little walk takes an hour or two, along the way you’ll discover strange volcanic formations. The path starts near the farm Kálfaströnd and leads you up Klasar, opposite the small peninsula Höfði. This peninsula is also ideal for bird watching, and it’s one of the few places in Iceland where you can walk through a small forested and semi-dense vegetated area.
Námafjall – Hverir – Hverarönd
Duration: 30 minutes
To the east of the mountain Namafjall, Hverir is a place bubbling hot springs. Please observe the barriers and stick to the marked paths, as the temperatures of these springs are among the highest in Iceland, people have sustained severe burns by getting too close to the boiling soil.
Stóra-Viti and Krafla
Duration: 30 minutes – 1 hour
It is possible to walk around the crater of the Krafla volcano, Stóra-Víti, that formed in 1724. The walk is easy but can be slippery at times so be careful on this rather spectacular walk.
The path Krafla: Leirhnjúkur – Hlíðarfjall – Reykjahlíð
Duration: 4-5 hours
This hike takes you from Leirhnúkur to the lava field to the village of Reykjahlíð, via the pretty mountain Hlíðarfjall. Leirhnjúkur is a gigantic lava field that was formed to 1725-1729. You then walk along the river Elda before beginning the ascent of the mountain Hlíðarfjall. On top of this mountain of 771 meters, you have a great view of the lake and its surroundings. The path is rather steep.
Grjótagjá – Hverfjall – Dimmuborgir
Duration: 4-5 hours
The marked path starts in the village of Reykjahlíð, at the intersection of the number one road leading eastward from Iceland and Egilsstaðir. From there, the trail leads you to cave Grjótagjá, where there are secret hot springs that are too hot to bathe in. You continue the way up Hverfjall crater, to enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Myvatn. You descend the other side of the crater on a steep little slope and continue to the volcanic formations of Dimmuborgir.
Also, you can do the second part of this hike at Dimmuborgir Hverfjall (or vice versa), which is eight kilometers. When you get to Hverfjall, there are two paths; one easy, the other a little harder zigzag path that leads to the summit of the crater.
Leirhnjúkur – Gjástykki
Duration: 1-3 hours
A relatively easy walk around the lava field Leirhnúkur. If you head north, you can admire the small crater Hófur, which formed during a volcanic episode in 1725-1729 years.
Hiking around Myvatn – The path Dalfjall
Duration: 4-5 hours
This walk starts at Leirhnjúkur and ends on the neck of the Namaskard mountain. Walking here delights geologists because it presents a variety of geological phenomena.
Iceland24
© All rights reserved
