Snæfellsjökull National Park

Along the coast of Snæfellsness Peninsula in West Iceland lie several small fishing villages. Longline boats and drifters from Ólafsvík, Hellissandur and Grundafjörður set sail early in the morning in hopes of bringing fresh fish to town.

Some of the boats return again in the afternoon, others several days later. Upon their return, the fishermen gaze over the sea searching for that faint speck of light from their village in the midst of the various shades of black and green of the surrounding landscape. This rough and weather-worn landscape is a familiar and comforting sight, reminiscent of home.

A TEST OF STRENGTH

And a beautiful home it is. At the tip of the peninsula, the extraordinary sights in Snæ fells jökull National Park exemplify much of the outstanding natural beauty Iceland is well known for. Vast lava fields stretching as far as the eye can see and its coast spans multiple scenic beaches. The most iconic of which is Djúpalónssandur.

Svalþúfa.

Photo: Dimmerinn

Djúpalónssandur is nestled in a small bay of volcanic rocks with fantastic views of the ocean. Although tempting, do not stroll down toward the shore! The water from the crashing waves travels a hundred feet up the black pebbled beach and has a mighty undercurrent that could easily drag you out to sea. Many decades ago, Djúpalónssandur was a spot for landing fishing boats and evidence of the boats’ remains can be found scattered around the beach. At the time, fishermen proved their worthiness and strength by lifting one of the four famous lifting stones. The heaviest stone, “Fully Strong,” weighs 154 kg and the lightest stone, “Useless,” weighs 23 kg. The stones are round, making it a challenge of grip as much as it is of strength.

STANDING WATCH

Near the south entrance of the national park, the beach at Lóndrangar and its neighboring cliffs, have a mystical air. From a distance, two large pillars resembling watchtowers stand tall above the ground. These rock towers are the wonderful Lóndrangar and are the eroded remains of a volcanic crater.

Djúpalónssandur

Photo: Dimmerinn

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula was once an active volcanic area but over thousands of years has cooled down. Looming in the background is a majestic view of Snæfellsjökull Glacier, a tall and steep stratovolcano. On a clear day, its glacier-capped peak is visible from Reykjavik, across the Faxaflói Bay.

Perhaps the best location to observe the national park in its entirety is at the top of Saxhóll Crater. The inactive volcano is frequented by travelers and locals alike and is popular due its accessibility and relatively easy climb. The top of Saxhóll Crater offers a stunning 360-degree view of the ocean, lava fields, and Snæfellsjökull Glacier.

UNDERGROUND SECRETS

The flow of lava thousands of years ago left the area covered in rugged and mountainous plains. The earth below it is often hollow and traversing the lava fields poses a lot of danger due to the abundance of cracks and gaps in the ground. As a result, the peninsula hides a network of caves below its surface. New caves are still being discovered in the area and explored for the first time today! The most visited one is Vatnshellir in the middle of the national park.

Snæfellsjokull glacier.

Photo: Summit Adventures

Recently discovered, visitors can enter Vatnshellir Cave with the aid of guides only. Fortunately, tour operator Summit Adventure Guides offers hour-long tours year round. The comfortable descent and return take less than an hour which makes it a convenient mini-adventure.

RAUÐFELDSGJÁ RAVINE

Although not inside the national park itself, Rauðfeldsgjá Ravine is too beautiful to pass up when in the area. On the southern side of the peninsula near the once thriving fishing villages of Hellnar and Arnarstapi, just outside the park’s entrance, is an unsuspecting opening in the mountainside. The small ravine is easily missed because at first glance it looks to be another crevice in the face of the mountain when viewed from the road. Following the path formed by years of running water along the ground leads to Rauðfeldsgjá’s magical entry. Progress inside and experience the appealing moss-covered walls while venturing down the narrow path into the mountain’s core.

Raudfeldsgja Ravine.

Photo: HitIceland.com

ONE DAY ISN'T ENOUGH

Day trips to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula are very popular but exploring all of the peninsula’s beauty is not possible in the span of a day. A week in the West comes highly recommended but even that would barely suffice to learn the surrounding towns’ unique history while visiting Snæfellsnes’ most amazing sites. There’s still plenty left of Iceland to explore. Why not start with the West and work your way around the island?

Svörtuloft.

Photo: Dimmerinn