Hiking a Recently Active Volcano in Iceland

Fagradalsfjall is a volcano located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. It began erupting in March 2021 after a period of seismic activity, marking the first time the volcano had erupted in over 800 years. The eruption has attracted worldwide attention and has become a popular tourist destination in Iceland. On August 3, 2022, a new volcanic eruption began in the Fagradalsfjall fissure zone.

We decided to visit the Fagradalsfjall volcano last-minute in September when we found ourselves in Reykjavik with a half-day free. We went with a tour by Troll Expeditions that arranged everything from pick-up at the city-centre, snacks, to a well-guided hike up and down the volcano.

You can also go on your own by driving to the town of Grindavík, which is about a 20-minute drive from Keflavík International Airport. From there, you can park your car and begin a 4.5-kilometer hike to the volcano. The hike takes around 1.5-2 hours each way and can be challenging in some parts, so it's important to wear appropriate footwear and clothing. Note that the weather can change rapidly too, so remember to bring rain gear and waterproof and windproof clothing. We were caught in a downpour on the hike down and were thankful for our rain jacket and pants!

Once you reach the volcano, you can observe the cooled lava flows and the smoking crater from a safe distance. It’s incredible to see the vast distance the magma can travel and get an up-close look at volcanic rocks littered across cooling lava fields. As we hiked further up the volcano, the landscape changed dramatically. Where there was once green moss, now, everything was peppered ashen-grey. As we reached the summit, off in the distance, we could still see steam emerging from vent pockets dotted throughout the lunar-like landscape.

Even though we missed the most dramatic moments of eruption and didn’t see flowing lava, it was still incredible to see the after effects of the Fagradalsfjall volcano and witness the result of a newly formed lava field.

One final note on volcanoes - conditions can change rapidly so, before visiting the Fagradalsfjall volcano, it's recommended to check the latest updates and safety guidelines from the Icelandic authorities.