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When you visit Iceland, culture and nature are often intertwined in harmony which is hard to find in other parts of the world. Snæfellsjökull is one of the few mountains that embodies both these aspects to the tee. A trip to this mysterious and stunning mountain is a must if you want to experience the core of what Iceland is and, in this article, we explain exactly how this is possible.
Snæfellsjökull – a Humble Introduction
In Iceland, the national parks are often seen as the pride of the nation. There are currently three national parks in Iceland:
- Vatnajökull National Park – the largest
- Thingvellir National Park – the most historically significant
- Snaefellsnes National Park – the youngest and most inspirational
Snæfellsjökull is the snow-covered mountain that gave name to not only the national park, but also the entire peninsula it sits on. It has been the source of inspiration to an international community of creators for over a hundred years and is one of the oldest areas in Iceland.
The Snæfellsnes national park was founded in 2001, which makes it the youngest national park in the country. It’s also the only national park in Iceland that stretches all the way to the sea. Snæfellsjökull sits as the centerpiece of this area and is sure to inspire you as it has many others.
The Geography of Snæfellsjökull
Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which Snæfellsjökull sits on, is geographically between the Reykjanes Peninsula to the southwest and the Westfjords in the northwest. Snæfellsjökull Mountain sits in the westernmost part of the peninsula, snuggly between the coastline and the western stretch of Road 54.
The Snaefellsjokull glacier sits at an astonishing 1,446 meters above sea level and towers majestically over the surrounding landscape. On a clear day, the mountain can be seen all the way from the capital.
How Snæfellsjökull Came to Be
As you might already know, Iceland sits on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is the dividing point between the Eurasian and American tectonic plates. Since these plates are moving away from each other (incredibly slowly), the crust that holds them together sometimes breaks open and introduces large amounts of magma to the surface. This is how Iceland was initially formed hundreds of thousands of years ago and how it continues to grow. Since Snæfellsjökull sits far to the west, it was one of the first areas of Iceland to be formed and still carries the traces of it today.
It took 800,000 years of volcanic activity to form the mountain and the surrounding area, which can be clearly seen in the many layers of the mountain. Due to the age of the area and the distance to the diving border between the plates, the Snaefell Volcano responsible for the mountain hasn’t erupted in the last 1800 years. Despite this, it is still considered to be an active volcano.
The Snæfellsjökull Volcano is classified as a stratovolcano and is the type of volcano that would have an explosive eruption. This is due to the thick and slow-moving type of magma inside of it. Since the magma moves slowly to the top, massive amounts of pressure can build up and eventually end in an explosive event. This slow-moving lava is the reason why these volcanos look the way they do. The lava has no time to spread out and hardens close to the eruption zone, creating the characteristic steep and jagged sides that we normally associate with volcanos.
The caldera (crater) that is left after the eruptions is about 200 meters deep and completely filled with thick glacial ice. Despite this, the snow and ice at the peak of Snæfellsjökull mountain melted away completely in August 2012, marking the first time in history that the tip of Snæfellsjökull could be seen exposed. This served as a grim reminder of the relentless march of global warming and how soon Iceland might be without some of its glaciers.
The Geological Features of Snæfellsjökull and its Surroundings
If you’re interested in how Iceland was created, Snæfellsjökull will be one of the best places in the country to visit. Even though the oldest lava of 5 million years is buried far beneath the mountain, there are visible formations from almost every geological era that Iceland has gone through.
The most prominent formations can be dated back to the latest ice age, making them almost 10,000 years old. This, however, is nothing compared to the almost 800,000-year-old rock that can be seen in the Snæfellsnes volcanic belt, not far from the mountain. This makes the Snæfellsjökull Peninsula an important part of the studies of Icelandic geological history.
To the west of Snæfellsjökull Mountain, you can see multiple smaller craters from smaller eruptions on the lowlands, and there are plenty of caves in all shapes and sizes scattered across the landscape.
Snæfellsjökull Ecology
Despite the seemingly unhospitable area, the volcanic formations have created multiple safe havens for both animals and vegetation. The porous rock doesn’t retain much water, making it hard for most larger plants to survive. But that doesn’t stop the determined Icelandic nature from establishing itself.
Flora and Fauna
As with other lava fields in Iceland, moss covers most of the volcanic rock. It’s a slow-growing and enduring vegetation that doesn’t require much to thrive, which makes it perfect for this type of environment. Snæfellsjökull and the area around it is covered in a thick and lush moss that, for the most part, has been left untouched for centuries.
In multiple hollowed-out rock formations around Snæfellsjökull, you can spot thriving groups of flowers. Here, they are sheltered from the wind and have enough loose soil to take root and hold on when the rain pours through. In the small nooks and crannies of the lava field, you can find bilberries, blueberries, and crowberries in the late summer. Lush grass can be found in the areas where the lava fields have eroded down to nutritious soil closer to the coast, and some farms have managed to cultivate the land in the south.
Just like with most of coastal Iceland, Snæfellsjökull is predominantly inhabited by different species of seabirds. Many stay all year round, but some are migratory and only stay for the summer. These are typically different types of gulls that favor the cliffs for nesting in the spring and feast on the fish and crustaceans in the small ponds along the coast.
Even if we can’t always see them, Snæfellsjökull is inhabited by the only native land mammal of Iceland: the arctic fox. This elusive creature is accompanied by some field mice and the occasional mink that hide in the fields. The shoreline of Snæfellsjökull National Park can be seen populated by small groups of grey and common seals, and the small pools left by the tides are full of small fish and shellfish.
Ecological Preservation and What to Keep in Mind as a Visitor
Since the area around Snæfellsjökull is full of life and inhabited by such a large variety of flora and fauna, the national park was formed to protect them. When visiting the area, it’s therefore important to keep a couple of things in mind:
- Never pick up or disturb moss. It is a hardy vegetation when it is established but grows extremely slowly and can die if it is picked or trampled. It’s an incredibly important part of Icelandic nature and needs to be left in peace.
- Leave the area as you found it. This means that you must hold on to your trash until you find a bin, and you should generally not disturb anything unless absolutely necessary.
- Always follow the marked trails and routes where you can find them.
- You’re not allowed to pitch a tent or sleep inside the park.
- Between the 15th of April and the 15th of September, you’re not allowed to fly drones or other remote-controlled aircraft in Snæfellsjökull National Park.
In short, the rules are pretty simple: Don’t litter or disturb others, and keep to the marked trails and you’ll be fine.
How to Get to Snæfellsjökull
There are two main ways to reach Snæfellsjökull: self-drive or a guided tour. There is, technically, the option of taking the bus. However, that is a minimum travel time of 13 hours, including a minimum of 9 hours of waiting for the last change in the middle of the road. We strongly advise you not to take that option.
Join a Tour
From Reykjavik, there are plenty of guided tours that have Snæfellsjökull as a part of a Snæfellsnes Peninsula tour. These are either full-day tours for a single day or a two-day tour where you sleep over in one of the towns on the peninsula.
Self-Drive to Snæfellsjökull
Getting from Reykjavik to Snæfellsjökull is as easy as pie. Get on Ring Road 1 and head north until you reach Borgarnes. There, you take Road 54 going north. You will eventually follow the south coast of Snæfellsnes Peninsula and take a left onto a gravel road towards Arnarstapi to reach the southern foot of the mountain. This gravel road will take you all around the Snæfellsjökull Mountain, so you can choose your adventure from there.
The trip to the foot of the mountain takes roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes from the capital and you will cover about 180 kilometers in total.
Culture Surrounding Snæfellsjökull
Few places in Iceland inspire so many stories as Snæfellsjökull Mountain. Anything from folk tales dating back to the Settlement Era, to modern time centerpieces of world-renowned literature.
Folklore with Snæfellsjökull
The most well-known story in Iceland that features Snæfellsjökull is Bárður Saga Snæfellsás. It was written in the 1300s and features the half-troll, half-human Bárður and his misfortunate adventures on the peninsula.
According to the sagas, Bárður was the one to name Djúpalón and founded the farm Laugarbrekka. After his nephews, Rauðfeldr and Sölvi pushed Bárður’s daughter out to sea on an ice raft, he threw one of them into a ravine, and the other one off a cliff, giving the places the names Rauðfeldskjá Gorge and Sölvahamar Cliffs.
After a series of other misfortunate events, Bárður claimed Snæfellsjökull as his new dwelling and was named the guardian spirit of Snæfellsnes. Fishermen lost at sea and others in trouble in the area have claimed to have seen or heard him guide them to safety.
Snæfellsjökull in Modern Media
The most well-known media that has featured Snæfellsjökull is from the mid-1800s, so “modern” might be a bit of a stretch in this sense. In Jules Verne’s novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth”, Snæfellsjökull is the passage from the surface to the center of the Earth.
Snæfellsjökull has also been a popular motif for paintings, pictures, and poems.
Things to Do at Snæfellsjökull
As you might already have figured out, with the national park and all the legends, Snæfellsjökull is a place of wonder and mystery. There are plenty of things to do in the area, especially considering that Snæfellsnes Peninsula is considered a “miniature Iceland” with all that’s going on. Below are some attractions to visit around Snæfellsjökull:
Hike up the Snæfellsjökull Glacier
Multiple trails go around Snæfellsjökull National Park. The ones leading up towards the mountain are located on the northern side and can be accessed from the gravel road around the mountain.
The whole reason we’re here is to get a good look at Snæfellsjökull Mountain. Several marked hiking trails lead up to the top of the mountain, and it is generally advised to gather information from the visitor’s center beforehand. In the summer, the glacier becomes unsafe to walk on as the ice melts, so it’s encouraged to stay off the ice as much as possible.
Djúpalónssandur Beach
If you want to step foot where the half-man, half-troll once came ashore, this is where to go. This is one of the famous black sand beaches in Iceland that gets its characteristic color from the basalt-rich lava that hardens and erodes to sand.
On Djúpalónssandur Beach, there are four distinct stones that are said to be used by fishermen in the area to test their strength. They have four different sizes and are called (from lightest to heaviest) “Weakling” (23kg), “Half-carrier” (54kg), “Half-strong” (100kg), and “Full-strong” (154kg). According to stories, new fishermen were taken out here to test their strength and see if they were fit for work on a fishing boat. The amount of truth in that is disputed.
Lóndrangar Basalt Cliffs
Also known as “the Rock Castle”, Lóndrangar Cliff Formation looks like a naturally created, slightly weathered, rock castle. It is as if someone wanted a bastion of safety from the relentless barrage of waves from the North Atlantic Ocean.
Vatnshellir Lava Cave
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk a 200-meter-long cave that sits 35 meters underground. It is roughly 8,000 years old and features a wide range of colors and rock formations. You can only enter with a guide, so make sure you book a spot if you want to go.
Kirkjufell Mountain
The closest sibling to Snæfellsjökull is the photogenic Kirkjufell Mountain. It is said to be the most photographed mountain in Iceland, and we can’t help but wonder if it has anything to do with the presence of Snæfellsjökull and its legendary capability to inspire visitors to create art.
Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge
If you’re looking for a short hike somewhere in the lava fields surrounding Snæfellsjökull, what better spot to choose than the very gorge our local hero threw his nephew in? The Raudfeldsgja Gorge is a very short hike but is one of the hidden gems in western Iceland. Well worth the small amount of effort needed to complete it.
Where to Stay around Snæfellsjökull
Unlike the other national parks in Iceland, Snæfellsjökull National Park doesn’t have any camping spots inside but rather has them divided between the south and north of the park borders. The many villages surrounding the mountain are filled with different accommodations, and we strongly encourage you to at least visit some of them on your holiday.
Below are some of the accommodation options available in the area:
- Arnarstapi Center – the one-shop-stop for any accommodation needs you might have. This small area offers a hotel, a guesthouse, cottages, holiday apartments, and a family center. Arnarstapi Center has everything you could possibly need.
- Fosshotell Hellnar – for a luxurious stay, this high-quality hotel is in the pricier range but will ensure you’re well-rested and ready for a day of adventure.
- Hotel Budir – sitting right next to the beach, this is a relaxing option with a pristine dining experience and multiple international awards for hotel stays. The price matches the level of the awards.
- The Freezer Hostel and Culture Center – this is the accommodation for the ones who want something out of the ordinary. Offering apartments and shared hostel rooms, this place is a budget-friendly option on the northern side of Snæfellsjökull that offers a bit of modern culture.
- North Star Hotel Olafsvik – another luxury hotel stay is available on the northern side of Snæfellsjökull. It is a pricy option, but worth it if you want an easy and carefree stay in the area.
- Campsite Olafsvik – if you want to get closer to nature, nothing says Snæfellsjökull like pitching a tent at the foot of a mountain with the ocean next door. This is the budget-friendly option with showers, WC, and an outdoor cooking area.
Visit Snæfellsjökull – the Inspirational Mountain
If you want to experience all aspects that make Iceland unique, Snæfellsjökull is the center of attention in this miniature depiction of Iceland. It’s not far from the capital and overflows with natural attractions and cultural significance. All you need to do is rent a car in Reykjavik and set the course to the mysterious mountain in the distance!
