Kerlingarfjöll

Bakgrunnur

Saga og bakgrunnur

The mountains are named after a legendary troll woman called Kerling — 'the old hag' — who according to folklore was petrified by sunlight while crossing the Highlands with her family of trolls. The area sits on one of Iceland's most intense geothermal systems. Mountains reach 1,477 meters and the range is one of the few places in Iceland where snow-capped peaks, colorful rhyolite hills and steaming vents all exist in one view.

Kerlingarfjöll is a remote highland mountain area whose best-known landscape is Hveradalir, where geothermal activity, steam and mineral-coloured slopes create distinctive scenery. The protected area has a network of marked hiking routes with varying difficulty. Access is seasonal and conditions can change quickly; travellers should check current road, weather and trail information before entering the area.