Your Guide to Hekla Volcano

If you are driving the road from Reykjavik to Hekla Iceland you won’t be disappointed. An off road driving route and the Hekla volcano, well worth a visit.

If you are visiting Iceland and planning on hiring a car to explore the country, then somewhere you might have on your radar is Hekla. Responsible for some of the biggest eruptions in Icelandic history, this is a great area to explore.

Even if you haven’t heard of it before, it is well worth including in your plans. As one of the deadliest volcanoes in Icelandic history, the ties with ancient Icelandic life as well as stunning surrounding landscapes make it a must-visit on a longer trip to this quirky island.

The road from Reykjavík to Hekla is a pleasurable drive, including some off-road driving in the Hekla region for those looking for a little more adventure. Hekla actually refers to the active volcano located in the region, but the surrounding area also shares the name. We have put together a guide about what to expect from Hekla and how to drive there from the capital.

Hekla’s Destructive History

While it has not erupted in over 20 years, this explosive geographic feature was nicknamed “the gateway to Hell” in medieval times due to the damage it caused. And while immediate damage was seen only in Iceland, effects could be felt across Europe and even the world! Hekla is well-known for its unpredictability throughout recorded history - sometimes major eruption followed major eruption, but sometimes the beast lay dormant for centuries. 

While the first time that a Hekla eruption was recorded was only in 1104, it is estimated that ancient eruptions contributed around ⅓ of all volcanic ash across the northern part of the continent across 7 millennia previously. This should paint a picture of just how large and frequent these eruptions might have been.

The 1104 eruption was no exception. The ash it produced moved over all of Europe and it is claimed that the impact on the weather and agriculture across the continent was felt for decades.

The next significant eruptions were noted in the year 1300. 1693 and 1845 were also years in which Hekla erupted, with consequences all over the world due to its ash production.

1947 saw a particularly nasty eruption. As well as the usual ash and lava, there were also lava bombs, huge chunks of molten volcanic rock weighing up to 20 kilos, that were launched from Hekla up to some 30 km away. In just over 2 days, the subsequent ash cloud sat covering all of Helsinki, however, signs of eruption didn’t cease for 13 months following their beginning. 

How Recently Has Hekla Erupted?

Iceland has more than 20 volcanoes that are considered active, with 18 of these erupting since the human population of the island. 6 different volcanoes have erupted in Iceland since the year 2000, with the most recent volcanic eruption taking place in 2021. It’s easy to see how Iceland gets its reputation as a land of fire and ice!

Although you might have seen the recent volcanic eruptions from Fagradalsfjall volcano in 2021, Iceland actually has over 30 volcanic mountains. Some are, of course, dormant but around 20 of these are still active and considered likely to erupt at some point in the future. However, this isn’t necessarily a cause for concern as there have only been 5 reported deaths in the last 100 years in relation to the volcanic eruptions. Hekla volcano last erupted in the year 2000 but it is a great site to visit and is only a 2-hour drive out of Reykjavík.

Alt Text: Horses grazing in the area below Hekla volcano.

How to Get to Hekla

If you are planning on driving to Hekla from Reykjavík then most of your journey will be straightforward and on major paved roads out of the capital. Take Route 49 out of the capital before joining Route 1 to Landvegur. You can then follow this route most of the way to Helka, passing through the small town of Selfoss on your way. After a short drive out of Selfoss, you will need to turn onto Route 26 towards Helka which, although a smaller road, is still paved and easy to drive at this point. Shortly after passing the Fossabrekkur waterfall, you will then need to head off-road. 

If you haven’t driven off-road before then you might want to take extra care. Drive slowly along this route as it is a gravel road and should only be driven in a 4X4. You can follow the signs along this road to find parking for Hekla volcano and, if you are feeling confident, you can drive up to the base of the mountain. On the other hand, you might prefer parking a little before this point and enjoying some picturesque walking some of the way up the mountain.

Things to See and Do Near Hekla

You might be wondering what you can actually expect to see at Hekla and if it is just the volcano itself. There are actually more things to do in the region other than the volcanic activity. It can be worth spending some time at the foot of the mountain in the Thjorsardalur valley region. While you may have seen a few on your journey, there are several waterfalls at the base of the mountain with some breathtaking scenery. 

There are also plenty of walks and trails to take around the volcano but you should be aware that these can take quite some time - it can take anywhere from 4-8 hours to hike around the volcano itself. There is also a visitor centre to find out more information and you can find the ruins of an ancient Viking farm amongst the waterfalls at the base of the mountain.

There are lots of things to see and do around Iceland outside of the capital in Reykjavik with hundreds of waterfalls, lots of volcanoes as well as plenty of other sites of natural beauty. You can plan your Iceland itinerary with our useful driving guides, noting the best places to drive for the best views and attractions. We recommend car rental so that you can fit as much into your trip as possible with as much freedom as you like.

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