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VolcanoWest Iceland

Skjaldbreiður

West Iceland, IcelandDormantShield1060 m

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VolcanoWest Iceland

Skjaldbreiður

West Iceland, IcelandDormantShield1060 m

About

Skjaldbreiður is an Icelandic lava shield formed in a huge and quite protracted eruption series from about roughly 9,500 years ago. The extensive lava fields which were produced by this eruption, flowed southwards, and formed the basin of Þingvallavatn, Iceland's largest lake, and Þingvellir, the "Parliament Plains" where the Icelandic national assembly, the Alþing was founded in 930.

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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Plan your visit to Skjaldbreiður

Build an itinerary — full days, multi-stop routes, drive times, alternatives.

Map of Skjaldbreiður

Skjaldbreiður is in West Iceland at 64.4092°N, 20.7518°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.

Open Skjaldbreiður on the interactive map →

Plan your visit

Elevation: 1,060 m above sea level
Off the main road: 10.6 km from Route 52
Nearest town: Bláskógabyggð — 22.4 km away
Distance from Reykjavík: 64 km in a straight line
What else is close: 80 mapped places within 20 km

Skjaldbreiður weather and conditions

At Skjaldbreiður in West Iceland, conditions as of 1 September 2026, 07:15 (Iceland time): 0°C (feels like -4°C), clear, wind 3 m/s. Daylight today: 14 h 43 m (sunrise 06:02, sunset 20:45). 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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West Reykjavík South Coast North 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 Skjaldbreiður

Free cancellation

Small groups

Hiking

Day Trek to Akrafjall: The Troll's Mountain

IF THIS ONE SHOWS UNAVAILABLE, CHECK OUR OTHER DAY TOURS as we run one tour per day.

Duration6 hours 30 minutes

HighlightsWest Iceland

From Grundarfjörður Port: Private Snaefellsness Tour

Step away from busy destinations like the Golden Circle and the South Coast with the tour.

Duration8 hours

HighlightsWest Iceland

Grundarfjordur Port: Small Group Snaefellsnes Peninsula from Cruise Terminal

Join a small group shore excursion from Grundarfjordur Port and explore the landscapes of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula often call

Duration5 hours

HighlightsWest Iceland

From

25.340 ISK

View tour →

Photos & videos

Skjaldbreiður — photo by Christian Bickel fingalo · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 de

Photo: Christian Bickel fingalo · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 de

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

Reviews

Frequently
asked
questions

Is it safe to visit Skjaldbreiður?

Skjaldbreiður 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 Skjaldbreiður?

Skjaldbreiður is in West 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 Skjaldbreiður?

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 Skjaldbreiður?

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

Waterfalls

#1.Skútafoss

13 km·~15 min drive

A waterfall in West Iceland.

#2.Leirárfoss

15 km·~17 min drive

A waterfall in West Iceland.

#3.Suðurárfoss

19 km·~22 min drive

A waterfall in West Iceland.

#4.Ósfossar

20 km·~24 min drive

A waterfall in West Iceland.

4 waterfalls near West Iceland

Hot Springs

#1.Geothermal hot spring near Bláskógabyggð

20 km·~24 min drive

Hot_tub hot spring

#2.Natural hot pot near Bláskógabyggð

21 km·~25 min drive

Swimming_pool hot spring

#3.Konungshver

24 km·~29 min drive

mountain in Iceland [Icelandic info]: Norðvestur frá Blesa er Konungshver (9) . Hann…

#4.Blesi

24 km·~29 min drive

Geyser hot spring

4 hot springs near West Iceland

Campsites

#1.Laugarvatn

21 km·~25 min drive

The camp site at Laugarvatn is a large camp site with a lot of activities close by as…

#2.Tjaldsvæði Starfsmannafélags ÍSAL

21 km·~25 min drive

West Iceland camping. Access to Snæfellsnes peninsula and western attractions. Good…

#3.Tjaldsvæði Úthlíð

21 km·~25 min drive

Highland campsite accessible in summer only. F-road driving required. Basic facilities…

#4.Úthlíð, Biskupstungu

21 km·~25 min drive

The camp site Uthlid at Biskupstungur has much to offer. You will find a swimming pool, a…

4 campsites near West Iceland

Supermarkets

#1.Krambúðin

21 km·~26 min drive

Krambúð supermarket — supplies

#2.Krambúð

37 km·~45 min drive

Krambúð supermarket — supplies

#3.Bónus

51 km·~61 min drive

Bónus supermarket — supplies

#4.Nettó

53 km·~63 min drive

Nettó supermarket — supplies

4 supermarkets near West Iceland

Gas stations

#1.Laugarvatn

21 km·~26 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#2.Geysir

24 km·~29 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#3.Brautarhóll

30 km·~35 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#4.Húsafell

33 km·~39 min drive

Orkan · 308.6 kr/L petrol

4 gas stations near West Iceland

Tours

#1.Day Trek to Akrafjall: The Troll's Mountain

6 hours 30 minutes

IF THIS ONE SHOWS UNAVAILABLE, CHECK OUR OTHER DAY TOURS as we run one tour per day.

from 18.101 ISKView tour →

#2.From Grundarfjörður Port: Private Snaefellsness Tour

8 hours

Step away from busy destinations like the Golden Circle and the South Coast with the tour.

from 269.900 ISKView tour →

#3.Grundarfjordur Port: Small Group Snaefellsnes Peninsula from Cruise Terminal

5 hours

Join a small group shore excursion from Grundarfjordur Port and explore the landscapes of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula often call

from 25.340 ISKView tour →

3 tours near West Iceland

Data & sources

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

Wikimedia CommonsHero & gallery photography · Christian Bickel fingalo · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 de
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