Kerlingarfjöll Mountains

Kerlingarfjöll

Highlands

Kerlingarfjöll is a rhyolite mountain range in the central Highlands whose peaks reach around 1,477 meters at the highest summit. The rock's vivid spectrum — deep reds, burnt oranges, sulfur yellows — comes from active geothermal forces still bubbling across the valleys. The Hveradalir valley at the range's core is laced with steam vents, boiling mud pots, and hot springs, and a loop trail of roughly 7–11 km (depending on the branches you take) winds through it close enough to feel heat rising from the ground. Getting here requires a 4x4. Access is via the F35 Kjölur route — manageable by highland standards, with bridges over major rivers, but still unpaved and rough; the base is about 170 km from Reykjavík. The road typically opens in late June and closes in early September. The Kerlingarfjöll Highland Base offers chalets, dorm rooms, and camping at the range's edge, and super-jeep day tours from Reykjavík are possible though they make for a very long day. Budget at least half a day for Hveradalir. The hills' colors shift through the day as the light changes, and early summer often brings snow on upper slopes while steam rises from below. Highland weather can change fast even in July — bring layers whatever the forecast says.

Book & Explore

The links below are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it helps keep this guide free. See our about page for how we keep recommendations independent.