Eyjafjallajökull
1,651 m
Iceland
Also known as Ейяфятлайокутъл, Εϊγιαφιατλαγιοκούτλ, +3Also known as
Ейяфятлайокутъл · Εϊγιαφιατλαγιοκούτλ · ეიაფიალაიეკული · Hámundur · Эйяфьядлайёкюдль
- Elevation
- 1,651 m
- Prominence
- 1,056 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Apr–Jun
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: Demanding / strenuous (guided tour rating) (Guide to Iceland; Icelandic Mountain Guides)
The usual guided ascent of the volcano that grounded Europe's flights in 2010: from Seljavellir near the south coast, about 1,600 m of ascent over steep moss and gravel foothills to the ice edge at about 950 m, then roped up the glacier and an ice slope to the caldera rim and the summit, Hámundur (1,651 m). About 5–7 hours up and 2–3 down.
About 100% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 5 check notes
- 100% approximate geometry
- DIN time down 4.8 h vs published 2.5 h (+92%)
- Seljavellir → Eyjafjallajökull glacier edge: glacier (snap_failed, 8.0 km)
- Eyjafjallajökull glacier edge → Hámundur: glacier (snap_failed, 1.3 km)
- waypoints at the same position: Eyjafjallajökull caldera rim = Eyjafjallajökull glacier edge
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 9.3 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,676 m
- −83 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,651 m
- Time Up
- 6h 55m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 4h 48m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start at the end of road 242 at Seljavellir, below the old Seljavallalaug swimming pool at the foot of the mountain's south side. The first part follows an old track and then steep foothills of gravel, moss and volcanic ridges, climbing at a steady pace with small streams for water. The snowline and glacier edge are reached at about 950 m, where parties put on harnesses and crampons and rope up. Above the ice edge an ice slope leads onto the gentler upper glacier, crossing icy ridges and crevasses, towards the rim of the ice-filled caldera, which is about 3–4 km across and open to the north; on a clear day the 2010 eruption crater is visible. The highest point, Hámundur, is a rock summit on the caldera rim, about 30–50 minutes beyond the first views into the caldera. Guiding companies give about 8 km and 1,600 m of ascent from Seljavellir, 5–7 hours up and 2–3 hours down, 9–12 hours in all. Descend the same way. The route is not technical, but the glacier is crevassed and visibility on the featureless ice cap can drop to nothing; guides and operators advise against crossing the glacier unguided without glacier-travel skills. Spring (March–June) gives the best snow cover over the crevasses; later in summer more crevasses open.
Start
Seljavellir54 m
- No public transport to the trailhead was confirmed; guided groups meet at Seljavallalaug, about 2 hours' drive from Reykjavík via Route 1 and road 242
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seljavellir → Hámundur | 9.3 | 1,676 | 83 | 6h 55m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Seljavellir54 m
End of road 242 below Seljavallalaug pool
- Feature: Eyjafjallajökull glacier edge1,488 m
Snowline; rope up here
- Feature: Eyjafjallajökull caldera rim1,488 m
Views into the ice-filled caldera and the 2010 crater (not on route line)
- Summit: Hámundur1,651 m
Key Passages
- Steep foothills from Seljavellir
- Ice slope above the glacier edge
- Crevassed upper glacier
- Hámundur on the caldera rim
Equipment
0/9 packedDownloads
Route confidence 55%Overview
The ice-capped volcano behind Iceland's south coast whose 2010 eruption closed European airspace for days. Its summit, Hámundur (1,651 m), is reached by a long, non-technical but crevassed glacier ascent from Seljavellir: about 1,600 m of ascent and 9–12 hours, usually with a guide.
Eyjafjallajökull is a small ice cap covering a stratovolcano just north of the Ring Road between Seljalandsfoss and Skógar, west of the larger Mýrdalsjökull and the Katla volcano. Under the ice lies a caldera about 3–4 km across and open to the north, drained by outlet glaciers such as Gígjökull and Steinsholtsjökull. The highest point, Hámundur (1,651 m, about 1,666 m with the ice), is on the caldera rim; the ice cap has shrunk to about 66 km².
The mountain became world-famous in spring 2010. A fissure eruption on Fimmvörðuháls in March was followed on 14 April by a summit eruption under the ice that caused meltwater floods, forced the evacuation of about 800 people and sent ash over north-western Europe, halting flights for 10 million travellers. The volcano has been quiet since mid-2010.
The summit climb from Seljavellir in the south is a long glacier day rather than a technical ascent. The lower half is steep moss, gravel and volcanic ridges; above about 950 m it is roped glacier travel among crevasses. On a clear day the view takes in the 2010 crater, Mýrdalsjökull, the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) and the Atlantic.
Climbing Notes
This is a 9–12 hour day with about 1,600 m of ascent, so you need excellent fitness; no technical climbing skills are needed. Unless you have your own glacier-travel and crevasse-rescue skills and equipment, go with a guide: operators such as Icelandic Mountain Guides run the trip (minimum age 16, up to six clients per guide) and provide crampons, harnesses, ropes and ice axes. Guided ascents run mainly from March to July.
Weather decides everything. Wind, rain and whiteout are common on the south coast, and trips are often postponed; keep spare days. Bring waterproof layers, warm mittens, category 3–4 sunglasses (ski goggles in April and May), plenty of food and about 2 litres of water, which can be topped up from streams on the lower slopes. The volcano is monitored by the Icelandic Meteorological Office; check its current alerts and safetravel.is before any trip.
History
Eyjafjallajökull ('glacier of the island mountains', after the nearby Westman Islands) has erupted around 920, in 1612, in 1821–1823 and in 2010. During the 1821–1823 eruption, ash rich in fluorine was blamed for livestock deaths, and a group of men climbed the glacier in 1823 to inspect the craters. The 2010 eruption began on Fimmvörðuháls on 20 March, moved to the summit caldera on 14 April and was declared over on 23 May; the airspace closures it caused led to new international rules for flying in volcanic ash.
Season
Best Apr–Jun- January: Not advisable
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Possible
- September: Possible
- October: Not advisable
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Short days and winter storms
- Feb
- Ski-touring possible in good conditions
- Mar
- Guided ascents begin; good snow cover over crevasses
- Apr
- Good snow bridges; ski goggles advised
- May
- Long days, good snow cover
- Jun
- Near-continuous daylight; crevasses start to open
- Jul
- More crevasses open; end of the main guided season
- Aug
- Bare, crevassed ice; experienced parties only
- Sep
- Bare ice and autumn storms
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Guided ascents cost roughly EUR 300–365 per person (Icelandic Mountain Guides, 2026)
- Rules
- Off-road driving is illegal in Iceland
- Check Icelandic Meteorological Office volcano and earthquake alerts before going on the ice
- Getting There
Hvolsvöllur; Skógar (small village)
Keflavík International Airport (KEF)
- Car: Route 1 along the south coast, then road 242 to Seljavellir and the car park below the Seljavallalaug pool; about 2 hours from Reykjavík
- Guided trips meet at Seljavallalaug; transport from Reykjavík is not normally included
Hazards
- Glacier
- Crevasses
- Weather
- Avalanche
- Volcanic activity