National Parks

At Malarrif is the Visitor Center for Snaefellsjokull National Park. It´s fun to walk around the area and explore the nature, the beach and the lighthouse. 

Snæfellsjökull National Park is located at the edge of Snæfellsnes in the West part of the country. It is about 18km2 and the first national park to stretch from the top of the mountain and all the way down to the ocean. The Park is open all year long. There is a Visitor center at Malarrif and National Park Center at Hellissandur . See a map of the area in 3-D. Snaefellsjokull National Park 

Ondverdarnes is the westernmost point of Snaefellsnes peninsula. In the olden days there was a huge fishing industry in Ondverdarnes, compare to other places in Iceland and many small houses were both fisherman and resident lived. The farm, itself, became desolate in the year 1945. There are still some ruins there and also a lighthouse.  From the ruins you can see that many people lived at Ondverdarnes before. Also you can see a very ancient will, named Falcon (Fálki), made out of stones, that you have to walk down few steps to reach to the water. There is a folk tale about this will, that three types of water come out of it. 

The beginning of the hiking trail is at the parking lot at Beruvík. The trail leads through the ruins of houses that used to be in Beruvík and the path is well marked. It is said that a woman named Bera lived in Beruvík. In Beruvík there were two lands, Garðar and Hella. Nýjabúd, Bakkabúd and Helludalur were sublet. The land was difficult for farming because small fields and lava made it difficult for farmers. However, it was sheltered and good grazing all year round. Farmers fetched the sea from Beruvík and used the driftwood from the ocean. The settlement ceased in the middle of the 20th century. The walk through Beruvík, you pass between town ruins, but you can see, among other things, sheep bath where sheep were bathed due to itch mite in sheep, Nýjabúd ruins and various ruins while Snæfellsjökull towers over visitors. Area: Beruvík, Snæfellsjökull national park. Road number to the starting point: Útnesvegur (no. 574). Level of difficulty: Moderate. Lenght: 1.17km. Elevation: 7 meters. Markings: Markings are visable. Duration: 18 minutes. Route type: Lava field and grass. Obstacles: Trails are narrow, grass paths, and mixed surfaces. Services in the area: No services. Illumination: No illumination. Season: The trail is open all year, except in the months March and April. GPS coordinates starting-and ending point: N64°48.7933 W023°57.6929

From the crater Rauðhóll, lava flowed into the sea, all the way from Hellisandi to Skarðsvík. A marked path leads from the parking lot at Eysteinsdalsvegur to Rauðhóll, with the hiking trail going over an old lava field along with grass and small rocks, next to beautiful ponds that have formed around the area. Rauðhóll is in the protected area of theIcelandic Environment Agency, and you should keep in mind to avoid off-trail walking, in order to protect the area from trampling. Rauðhóls trail is one of 35 trails that have been put up in the trail brochure for SnæfellsjökullNational Park, and there you can find information about the length of the trail in km, the duration of the trail and information about trail markings. When hiking up Rauðhól, the view down to Öndverðarnes and Saxhól, together with theproximity to Snæfellsjökull, is great and the view of the surrounding countryside is also immense.   Area: Rauðhóll, Snæfellsjökull national park.  Road number to the starting point: Útnesvegur (no. 574). Eysteinsdalsvegur (F575).  Level of difficulty: Moderate.  Lenght: 2.83km.  Elevation:103 meters.  Markings: Markings are visable.  Duration: 43 minutes.  Route type: Lava field, grass and small rocks.  Obstacles: Steps are on the path.  Services in the area: No services.  Illumination: No illumination.  Season: The trail is open all year, but it is advised the the path may be slippery due to ice during the winter and the areais wet with mud during March until May.  GPS coordinates starting-and ending point: N64°52.1638 W023°52.8236   

Exploring Vatnshellir Cave is truly an amazing and unforgettable experience. This 8.000 year old Lava Tube reaches over 200 meters and reaches 35 meters below the surface. During summer, guides tours are offered from 10am-6pm. During winter season 2 tours are offered per day. Please check the website www.summitguides.is for further information.  All guests are provided suitable equipment such as flashlights and helmets.  Hiking shoes and warm clothes are recommended.  10 minutes drive west of Arnarstapi, 25 minutes south of Hellissandur.  Further info:  info@summitguides.is - summitguides.is - (+354) 787 0001 

Outermost on Malarrif on Snaefellsnes is a lighthouse that was build the year 1917, close to Londrangar.  A newer lighthouse was build 1946 and is 20,2 meters also an house for the lighthouse keeper as build, a bit later.  The lighthouse was protected the year 2003, along with six others along the coastline, when 125 years had passed since the first lighthouse was build in Iceland. 

Djupalonssandur is a beautiful pebbled beach, with a series of rocks of mysterious form emerging from the ocean. It is one of the few areas that lead down to the sea along this coast with its high dramatic cliffs. Watch out for the famous ghosts roaming the place! The rests of a shipwreck can be seen on the beach. On the beach there are also big stones which people tried to lift and test their strength in the days of the fishing stations: Fully Strong 154 kg, Half-Strong 100 kg, Weakling 54 kg and Bungler 23 kg. Weakling marked the frontier of wimphood, any man who couldn't lift it was deemed unsuitable for a life as a fisherman.

Uniquely-formed remnants of ancient basalt volcanic dikes sticking out from the sea. Londrangar and the hill Svalthufa are the remains of a crater, which has been eroded to its present form by the sea. The farmers in the area never made or make hay on the hill, because it is said to belong to the elves living in the area. Younger lava fields surround this old crater ruin. The higher pillar (75m) was first climbed in 1735 and the lower (61 m) in 1938. Below the hill you may find Thufubjarg cliff where according to a folktale the poet Kolbeinn Joklaskald had an encounter with the Devil. On these cliffs, puffins and fulmars have their nests.

Eyrarhringur is located in the protected area, Snæfellsjökull National Park. The national park is located on the outskirts of Snæfellsnes, but its purpose is to protect the special nature of the area and the monuments that can be found, but also the goal is to make it easier for people to travel around the area and get to know it. The coastline at Eyrar and Snæfellsjökull are a major part of the experience for visitors to the area, but the monuments in the area are also bulky. There are two hiking trails from the parking lot, one to Öndverdaneshólar and the other to Eyrahringinn. Eyrahringur is an easy trail. The path leads down to the sea and mostly through lava field. There are beautiful ponds in the lava and there are various types of birds in the area. Along the way, you can see relics of the settlement in many places. There are ruins at Stóru-Eyri but that area was inhabited there until the middle of the seventeeth century. Area: Eyrar, Snæfellsjökull national park. Road number to the starting point: Útnesvegur (no. 574). Level of difficulty: Moderate. Lenght: 6km. Elevation: 50 meters. Markings: Markings are visable. Duration: 1.3 hours. Route type: Lava field and grass. Obstacles: Steps and rough surface. Services in the area: No services. Illumination: No illumination. Season: The trail is open all year, except in the months March and April. GPS coordinates starting-and ending point: N64°49.3462 W023°57.9035

The Snæfellsjökull glacier at Snaefellsnes peninsula is 1446m above sea level. The glacier is an active volcano, having been built up through numerous eruptions during the last 800,000 years. Many believe the glacier to be one of the seven main energy centres of the earth and its mystique is noticed by many. The glacier plays big role as the Center of the Earth in the novel Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864) by Jules Verne. Snæfellsjökull is a part of the Snæfellsjökull National Park which  was established on June 28, 2001. The Park's purpose is to protect and conserve the areas unique landscape, indigenous plant and animal life as well as important historical relics. At the same time, the Park is meant to allow visitors easier as well as improved opportunities to get to know the area. Driving on the Glacier is prohibited except with a permission from the park ranger.  

Ondverdarnes in Snaefellsnes, a lighthouse. The first lighthouse was build there 1909. A new lighthouse was then made out of concrete the year 1973, taller than the old. 

Klukkufoss waterfall is located in Eysteinsdal in Snæfellsnes. The trail is quite short but challenging, where you walk up a steep hill to the basalt formed mountain Klukka and Klukkufoss waterfall falls amidst beautiful basalt colums formations. On the hike up to Klukkufoss , there is a chance to enjoy the view of the surrounding countryside, but the rock formations catch the attention of visitors along with the beautiful Klukkufoss. Klukkufoss hiking trail is one of 35 hiking trails that have been put up in the hiking trail brochure for the Snæfellsjökull National Park, and there you can find information about the km length of the hiking trail, the duration of the hiking trail and information about the markings on the hiking trail. When walking up to Klukkufoss, there is a view down to Öndverðarnes and Saxhól, together with the proximity of Snæfellsjökull and a view of the surrounding countryside.  Area: Klukkufoss, Snæfellsjökull national park.  Road number to the starting point: Útnesvegur (no. 574). Eysteinsdalsvegur (F575).  Level of difficulty: Moderate.  Lenght: 0.94km.  Elevation: 58 meters.  Markings: Markings are visable.  Duration: 13 minutes.  Route type: Lava field, grass and small rocks.  Obstacles: Steps are on the path.  Services in the area: No services.  Illumination: No illumination.  Season: The trail is open all year, but it is advised the the path may be slippery due to ice during the winter and the areais wet with mud during March until May.  GPS coordinates starting-and ending point: N64°52.1791 W023°51.6872 

Skálasnagaviti lighthouse at Snaefellsnes, is located on the cliff, Saxhólsbjarg which is called Svortuloft from sea.  It is very popular among tourists because of its extraordinary surroundings and extreme nature.

Svalthufa is a high cliff teemed with birdlife and there is a great view to Lóndrangar Cliffs, the front part is named Thufubjarg. Lóndrangar are uniquely-formed remnants of ancient basalt volcanic dikes sticking out from the sea. The higher pillar is 75 m high and the lower one is 61 m. On these cliffs, fulmars have their nests. At Malarrif is the Visitor Center for Snaefellsjokull National Park and it´s fun to walk around the area and explore the nature.  The Devil itself and Kolbeinn the Glacier-poet once sat side by sig at Thufubjarg. They were competing about whom were better poet, as is said in an old folks tale. The Devil lost and Kolbeinn became his master, as is said in the tale. 

Saxhóll Crater is located in the Snaefellsjokull National Park. It´s easy to climb and the view from the top is spectacular. A low-set metal stair follows the path´s course to the top. The stair is made up of modules three meters long and 1,5 meters wide that hold seven treads each between solid stingers with open risers. The units join together like a necklace on the slope. The stairs were awarded Rosa Barba International Landscape Prize 2018 which are the fourth awards the project achieves since 2017. 

Near Gufuskalar on the uttermost part of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, there was one of the many winter fisher villages consistant in Iceland in former times. If you come from Hellnar and look at the lava fields at your right, you may disover the ruins of some 200 very small stone buildings which were used to dry and stock the fish. Their age is estimated at 500-700 years. It is a 10 minutes walk from the road to one of the ruins which is still in so good condition that you can crawl inside. There, to your surprise, you may find the ceiling high enough for an adult to stand upright.