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VolcanoNorth Iceland

Mælifellshnjúkur

North Iceland, IcelandDormant1138 m

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VolcanoNorth Iceland

Mælifellshnjúkur

North Iceland, IcelandDormant1138 m

About

Mælifellshnjúkur is a mountain on the inner western side of Skagafjörður, Iceland. It is 1,138 meters tall, It is one of the most prominent and best-known of Skagafjörður's mountains, towering over those nearby.

The landscape around volcanic areas looks stark. Black rock, steam vents, the smell of sulfur. Another planet.

The terrain can be sharp and uneven. Good hiking boots aren't optional, they're essential.

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Map of Mælifellshnjúkur

Mælifellshnjúkur is in North Iceland at 65.4000°N, 19.3661°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.

Open Mælifellshnjúkur on the interactive map →

Plan your visit

Elevation: 1,138 m above sea level
Getting there: Road 756 (Efribyggð-Vesturheiði)
Off the main road: 10.2 km from Route 1
Nearest town: Varmahlíð — 17.3 km away
Distance from Reykjavík: 185 km in a straight line
What else is close: 81 mapped places within 20 km

Mælifellshnjúkur weather and conditions

At Mælifellshnjúkur in North Iceland, conditions as of 1 September 2026, 07:15 (Iceland time): 0°C (feels like -5°C), clear, wind 4 m/s. Daylight today: 14 h 51 m (sunrise 05:52, sunset 20:43). Check road status before driving on live road conditions.

Data verified 1 September 2026, 07:15· source: Open-Meteo at this location’s coordinates · refreshes hourly

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Visit now · Open year-round · 30 min stop · Visibility —

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North Reykjavík South Coast West East Westfjords Reykjanes Highlands

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Cars & campers

−12%exclusive discountFree cancellation

KEF airport pickup 24/74.8

SUV

Dacia Duster 4x4

Cheapest real 4WD in the fleet — gravel, the Westfjords and easy summer F-roads without truck prices.

VW Caravelle

Whole family or friend group in one car — gear in the back, room to stretch.

TransmissionAutomatic

12,750 kr15,000 kr/day

Reserve −12%

Camper

Key Camper Wild Duo

Sleep right by the trailhead, wake up at the falls — F-road ready from mid-June.

Tours near Mælifellshnjúkur

Free cancellation

Small groups

Sightseeing

(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss

Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area are an absolute must if you're exploring the North!

Duration6 hours 30 minutes

HighlightsNorth Iceland

(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

Discover the wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide.

Duration6 hours

HighlightsNorth Iceland

Adventure snowmobile tour Akureyri

The freedom of covering all kinds of terrain on a snowmobile is something everyone should experience.

Duration5 hours

HighlightsNorth Iceland

Photos & videos

Mælifellshnjúkur — photo by Navaro · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Navaro · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

No verified videos yet — we only show footage confirmed to be Mælifellshnjúkur, no lookalikes. Search YouTube

Reviews

Frequently
asked
questions

Is it safe to visit Mælifellshnjúkur?

Mælifellshnjúkur is not currently erupting, and the surrounding area is generally safe to visit on marked trails. Volcanic and geothermal ground can still be unstable or hide gas — stay on the path, and check safetravel.is for any local closures before you drive.

How do I get to Mælifellshnjúkur?

Mælifellshnjúkur is in North Iceland. Check live road conditions on this page before you drive — highland access often needs a 4×4 and some routes only open in summer.

Can I hike Mælifellshnjúkur?

It depends on the volcano and current activity. Some Icelandic cones have short marked trails to the rim; others sit under glaciers or in closed areas and cannot be climbed without a guide. Never approach an active eruption unless the official viewing area is open — conditions change fast.

What should I know about volcanic gas near Mælifellshnjúkur?

Volcanic and geothermal areas can release sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, which are toxic in high concentrations and collect in low-lying spots. Stay on marked paths, leave immediately if you smell strong sulphur or feel unwell, and check the Met Office gas forecasts during any eruption.

Nearby

km column = your drive

1Gígur120 km
2Krafla123 km
3Leirhnjúkur124 km
4Víti125 km
5Fremrinámar126 km

Waterfalls

#1.Bólugilsfoss

9.9 km·~12 min drive

A waterfall in North Iceland.

#2.Reykjafoss

11 km·~13 min drive

A waterfall in North Iceland.

#3.Háaleitisfoss

35 km·~42 min drive

A waterfall in North Iceland.

#4.Runufoss

36 km·~43 min drive

A waterfall in the Highlands.

4 waterfalls near North Iceland

Hot Springs

#1.Natural hot pot near Skagafjörður

7.3 km·~9 min drive

Swimming_pool hot spring

#2.Geothermal hot spring near Skagafjörður

7.6 km·~9 min drive

Public_bath hot spring

#3.Fosslaug

11 km·~13 min drive

Pool hot spring

#4.Reykjafoss Warm Waterfall

20 km·~24 min drive

Geothermal spot

4 hot springs near North Iceland

Campsites

#1.Bakkaflöt tjaldsvæði

7.1 km·~9 min drive

Next to the river Svartá, we have a beautiful campsite with Mountain View and lovely…

#2.Lambeyri

7.2 km·~9 min drive

North Iceland camping option. Less crowded than the south, with dramatic landscapes and…

#3.Tjaldsvæðið Steinsstöðum

7.6 km·~9 min drive

North Iceland camping option. Less crowded than the south, with dramatic landscapes and…

#4.Himnasvalir

13 km·~16 min drive

Himnasvalir is a camp site and mobile home site in the heart of they valley Norðurárdalur…

4 campsites near North Iceland

Supermarkets

#1.Hlíðarkaup

39 km·~47 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

#2.Skagfirðingabúð

40 km·~48 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

#3.Kjörbúðin

51 km·~61 min drive

Kjörbúðin supermarket — supplies

#4.Bónus

65 km·~78 min drive

Bónus supermarket — supplies

4 supermarkets near North Iceland

Gas stations

#1.Varmahlíð

17 km·~21 min drive

ÓB · 308.7 kr/L petrol

#2.Sauðárkrókur

40 km·~48 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#3.Sauðárkrókur Borgarflöt

40 km·~48 min drive

ÓB · 308.7 kr/L petrol

#4.Blönduós

51 km·~61 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

4 gas stations near North Iceland

Tours

#1.(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss

6 hours 30 minutes

Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area are an absolute must if you're exploring the North!

from 25.300 ISKView tour →

#2.(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

6 hours

Discover the wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide.

from 25.900 ISKView tour →

#3.Adventure snowmobile tour Akureyri

5 hours

The freedom of covering all kinds of terrain on a snowmobile is something everyone should experience.

from 166.750 ISKView tour →

3 tours near North Iceland

Data & sources

Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.

Wikimedia CommonsHero & gallery photography · Navaro · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
VegagerðinVisitor access & practical facts
VegagerðinLive road status & cameras · Icelandic Road Administration
Open-MeteoWeather forecast · CC BY 4.0
NOAA SWPCAurora (planetary Kp) forecast · public domain
OpenStreetMapInteractive-map data · ODbL
Esri, Maxar & Earthstar GeographicsSatellite imagery for the 3D terrain render · GIS User Community