Krafla Lava Fields

Fire and Earth at Krafla

Krafla is not a single volcano but an entire volcanic system — a 90-kilometre-long fissure swarm stretching across northeast Iceland with a central caldera 10 kilometres wide. The area around Lake Myvatn has been shaped by repeated eruptions over thousands of years, and the most recent series, the Krafla Fires of 1975 to 1984, left behind lava fields that are still cooling today.

The landscape here is unlike anywhere else in Iceland. Black and rust-red lava stretches in every direction, split by cracks and punctuated by hissing steam vents. Sulphur deposits colour the ground yellow and green around fumaroles. In places, the rock is warm to the touch. This is geology in action, visible and tangible.

Leirhnjukur Lava Field

The main walking trail starts from the Leirhnjukur car park and follows a 2.5-kilometre loop through the heart of the lava field. The path is marked with stakes and passes through some of the most striking volcanic terrain in Iceland. You walk across ropey pahoehoe lava, past bubbling mud pots, and beside steaming fissures where the earth's heat escapes.

The lava here came from the Krafla Fires — a series of nine eruptions between 1975 and 1984 that produced enormous volumes of basalt. The youngest flows look almost fresh, with a glassy surface and sharp edges. Older sections have been colonised by moss, creating the distinctive black-and-green patchwork that Iceland is known for.

The trail is mostly flat but the surface is uneven. Sturdy shoes are essential. Stay strictly on the marked path — venturing off-trail risks breaking through thin crust into scalding ground below.

Viti Crater

A few kilometres from Leirhnjukur, the Viti explosion crater offers a completely different perspective. This 300-metre-wide crater was blasted into existence during the Myvatn Fires of 1724, a devastating eruption that destroyed farms across the region. Today, a milky turquoise lake fills the bottom of the crater, and a walking path follows the rim with panoramic views.

The contrast between the deep blue-green water and the barren, rust-coloured crater walls is striking, especially on a clear day. The walk around the rim takes about 20 minutes and is mostly level, though some sections are narrow.

Krafla Power Station

On the drive between the two sites, you pass the Krafla geothermal power station. Iceland harnesses the same volcanic energy that creates these landscapes, and Krafla has been generating electricity since 1977. The power station is not open to tourists, but the sight of steam rising from the industrial pipes against the volcanic backdrop is a reminder of how Iceland turns geological forces into practical energy.

Getting There

From Akureyri, drive east on Route 1 for about 90 kilometres to the Myvatn area, then follow Route 863 north toward Krafla. From Reykjahlid village at Myvatn, the drive is about 20 minutes. The road is paved to the Viti car park, with a short gravel section to Leirhnjukur. There are no facilities at either site — bring water and dress for changeable weather.