About
About Hverfjall Tephra Ring
Nearly perfect circular tephra crater near Mývatn
Walk the 1km rim for panoramic views of North Iceland
Photos
Photo Gallery
Background
History & Background
Hverfjall Crater has been a significant site in Iceland's landscape. Throughout the years, this location has played an important role in Icelandic culture and natural history.
Hverfjall (also spelled Hverfell) is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Mývatn area — a massive, nearly perfect circle of a tephra crater rising 140 meters above the surrounding landscape. The crater is about 1 km in diameter and was formed by a volcanic explosion approximately 2,500 years ago. A trail leads to the rim, where visitors can walk around the entire circumference with sweeping views of Lake Mývatn, Dimmuborgir, and the Krafla volcanic system.
Folklore
Story & Folklore
Hverfjall is one of the most dramatic and perfectly formed volcanic features in Iceland — a tephra ring crater 1 kilometre in diameter and 140 metres deep, formed in a single violent phreatomagmatic explosion about 2,500 years ago when magma encountered groundwater. The crater is dark grey and eerily uniform: the tephra (fragmented volcanic rock) has not yet had time to develop the thick vegetation cover that softens older Icelandic volcanic features. A 45-minute circular trail around the rim rewards with spectacular 360° views encompassing Lake Mývatn, Dimmuborgir, Krafla, Hverir and the entire volcanic landscape of North Iceland. Hiking down into the crater itself is prohibited to protect the fragile tephra surface.
💡 Did You Know?
Formed in a massive explosion about 2,500 years ago
Local Legend
The Troll of Hverfjall Crater
An ancient tale speaks of a troll who once roamed Hverfjall Crater. The troll was caught by the rising sun while traveling home and turned to stone, becoming part of the landscape. Local people say you can still see the troll's silhouette in the mountain formation, forever frozen as a reminder to respect the power of daylight.
Culture
Stories & Legends
Icelandic sagas and folklore from this area
Reykjahlíð
Reykjahlíð is a historic location in Iceland mentioned in "Ljósvetninga saga", one of the ancient Íslendingasögur (Sagas of Icelanders). These medieval narratives preserve the history of Iceland's Viking Age settlement.
Dimmuborgir – The Dark Fortress of North Iceland
Discover Dimmuborgir, a volcanic wonderland where legends of trolls and the devil still echo.
Grýla, the Yule Lads & the Yule Cat
Beware Grýla! The Yule Lads & their terrifying feline nemesis.
Dimmuborgir – City of Trolls
Explore Dimmuborgir, where volcanic rock formations become a mystical city for trolls.
Explore
Hidden Gems Nearby
✦ Lava Formations Close-Up
Look carefully at the lava formations near Hverfjall Crater — each tells a story of how it cooled.
Rope lava, pillow lava, and columnar basalt each formed under different conditions, creating a geological textbook in stone.
✦ Moss & Lichens
The moss and lichen growing on the volcanic rock are some of the first life to colonize new lava fields.
Some of these organisms grow less than 1cm per year, meaning the patches you see may be decades or centuries old.
✦ Sunset Colors
The volcanic rock takes on incredible red and gold hues during sunset.
The iron-rich minerals in the lava glow in warm light, creating a photographer's paradise.
Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Location
📍 Location
Discover
Explore Nearby
Places from our database within 1.0 km — all data from Sanity
Loading nearby places…
0 places found within 1.0 km
Plan full itinerary →Explore More
