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Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike: Recently Active Volcano in Iceland

ByElizabeth

Have you always wanted to see a real volcano with real lava rock? Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike in Iceland is the perfect place to check that off of your bucket list.

This volcano started erupting in 2021 and has errupted 2 more times since then. When our family visited Iceland in June 2023, we missed the second erruption by just a few weeks. It would have been so cool, and a little bit scary, to actually see it errupting instead of just seeing the hardening lava.

We could see the steam still coming from the hardening lava. If you are looking for a cool volcano experience, then this is the hike for you!

Fagradalsfjall Iceland Volcano

About Fagradalsfjall Volcano

If you are headed to the beautiful country of Iceland, chances are that you will be landing at Keflavík International Airport (KEF) on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Iceland is known as “The land of fire and ice” for good reason. It is full of glaciers, snow, and volcanoes.

Just 20 miles (33 km) southeast of the airport lies the most recently active volcano, Fagradalsfjall. After laying dormant for 815 years, it started spouting lava in March 2021. It continued emitting lava periodically for 6 months.

The second eruption of Fagradalsfjall started in August 2022 and lasted just 18 days. The lava from this eruption was still cooling and hardening when we visited, almost a year later.

The third eruption happened July 2023 and lasted just under a month. There continues to be techtonic activity in the area.

Getting There

Eruption of Fagradalsfjall

Fagradalsfjall erupted in March 2021, after lying dormant for 815 years, and continued spewing lava for 6 months. It erupted a second time in August 2022, this time only lasting 19 days. When we visited in June 2023, there was still steam coming from the middle of the lava field where the rock was still cooling. It actively started erupting in July 2023. Hiking to the Fagradalsfjall Volcano provides an extraordinary opportunity to get up close and personal with this amazing force of nature.

Fagradalsfjall Iceland

Cost of Visiting Fagradalsfjall Volcano

There is no fee for the Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike, but there is a 1000 ISK fee to park.

Parking at Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike

There are three parking lots that you can use to access Fagradalsfjall. P1 has two lots and they are on the southwest side of the lava field. P2 is on the southeast side of the lava field. There a 1000 ISK fee for parking in any of the parking lots. You pay this fee in the Parka App. Download this app before going to save yourself a headache. There are port-a-potties in the parking lots, but they did not have toilet paper in them when we went.

Fagradalsfjall Parking

Hiking Trails

There are four different hiking trails you can choose from. They all have gravel, steep hills, and uneven ground. Each path offers different views and are varying difficulty.

Path A

Path A starts in P1. It is 7.4 mile (12km) round-trip with 1676 ft (510 m) elevation gain. It follows the west side of the lava flow around to the crater site.

Path B

Path B starts in P1. It is the same trail at Path A, but it branches off and goes farther west. Now that that lava has cooled and toxic gasses aren’t blowing across the trail, this trail is not used very often anymore.

Path C by Nátthagi

Path C by Nátthagi starts in P2. It is 2.4 miles (3.9 km) round-trip with 1230 ft (375 m) elevation change. From this path you can see the newly formed lava, but the crater is not visible.

Path C by Langihryggur

Path C by Langihryggur starts in P2 is 5 miles (8 km) round-trip with 1230 ft (375 m) elevation change. It runs along the east side of the lava flow and leads to a lookout where you can see the crater.

What to Wear For Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike

Wear layers! Iceland weather changes quickly, so make sure you have layers so that you can remain comfortable no matter what the weather is.

Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike

Safety

Before heading out to explore the volcano, make sure you check the weather and check with https://safetravel.is/ for current safety information. Remember to follow any rules or guidelines set by local authorities to ensure the preservation of the natural environment and for your own safety. As volcanic activity can be unpredictable, it’s always a good idea to stay informed through official sources and make any necessary adjustments to your plans accordingly.

Places to Explore Close By

  • Seltanger
  • Blue Lagoon
  • Bridge Between Continents
  • Valahnukamol
  • Viking World
  • Reykjanesfolkvangur
  • Raufarholshellir
  • Bruarfoss Waterfall

Elizabeth is the mother of the Tall Adventure Fam. She is the organizer of chaos and planner of all activities. She had cancer when she was 12 and takes 1000s of pictures of everything to help combat memory issues from chemotherapy. She decided she wanted to share their travel experience so other people can get out and enjoy the world around them, so she started this family travel blog in 2023.

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