Hvannadalshnúkur
2,110 m
Iceland
Also known as Hvannadalshnjúkur, Χβαννανταλσνγιούκουρ, +3Also known as
Hvannadalshnjúkur · Χβαννανταλσνγιούκουρ · Hvannadalshnúkur / Hvannadalshnjúkur · ჰვანადალსჰნუკური · Хваннадальсхнукюр
- Elevation
- 2,110 m
- Prominence
- 2,110 m
- Difficulty
- 5/10
- Easy alpine
- Best Season
- Apr–Jun
- Routes
- 1
AdvisoryReported 29 Dec 2025
The Icelandic Met Office reported elevated earthquake activity in Öræfajökull for about a week in late December 2025, with several small quakes (largest M1.8) under Hvannadalshnúkur on 29 December. IMO described such swarms as recurring; check en.vedur.is for the current status before a climb.
mbl.is
Routes
1Sources differ: Non-technical but long glacier ascent; guides rate it 'hard' for fitness (Icelandic Mountain Guides, Local Guide of Vatnajökull)
Iceland's standard route: a single 11–15 hour day of about 2,000 m of ascent and 22–25 km from near sea level at Sandfell. A rocky path leads to the glacier at about 1,100 m, then a long, roped walk up crevassed slopes to the Öræfajökull crater plateau at about 1,800 m, and a final 30° slope with a bergschrund to the summit.
About 75% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 3 check notes
- 74% approximate geometry
- Glacier edge on Sandfellsleið → Öræfajökull crater plateau: glacier (snap_failed, 8.5 km)
- Öræfajökull crater plateau → Hvannadalshnúkur: glacier (snap_failed, 2.1 km)
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 14.2 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +2,099 m
- −85 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,110 m
- Time Up
- 8h 56m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 6h 16m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the car park at Sandfell (about 100 m) on the Ring Road, a well-trodden path climbs the steep, sandy and rocky slopes of Sandfell in switchbacks, then becomes fainter above a rocky gateway, where cairns mark the way. There is no water on the route beyond the start except snowmelt. After about 2–3 hours the path reaches the snow and glacier edge at about 1,000–1,100 m, where parties put on crampons and rope up. The glacier rises in a long, even slope of about 15° between the Falljökull and Virkisjökull icefalls, crossing several crevasses, to the broad, nearly flat plateau of the Öræfajökull crater at about 1,750–1,800 m. Here the route curves around a heavily crevassed zone rather than taking the direct line across the plateau; hidden crevasses are the main danger. The final summit cone is the steepest part of the day: about 300 m at up to 30°, with a bergschrund and sometimes a short icy step near 2,000 m, before easy ground to the summit. Guided groups take 6–7.5 hours up and 4–5 hours down, starting at around 03:00–05:00 to have firm snow and better-bridged crevasses. Descend the same way. Iceland's mountain guides run this route mainly from April to June or July; later in summer the crevasses open and the snow bridges weaken.
Start
Sandfell95 m
- No public transport to Sandfell; seasonal long-distance buses stop at Skaftafell, about 10 minutes' drive away. Guided groups usually meet at Skaftafell.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandfell → Hvannadalshnúkur | 14.2 | 2,099 | 85 | 8h 56m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Sandfell95 m
Car park and picnic site on Route 1, about 10 minutes' drive south of Skaftafell
- Feature: Glacier edge on Sandfellsleið860 m
Approximate point where the path meets the snow; rope up and fit crampons
- Shoulder: Öræfajökull crater plateau1,918 m
Broad plateau; curve round the crevassed zone rather than crossing directly
- Summit: Hvannadalshnúkur2,110 m
Key Passages
- Steep, sandy path up Sandfell
- Crevassed glacier slope from about 1,100 m
- Crater plateau: detour around the crevassed zone
- Final 30° summit slope with bergschrund
Equipment
0/9 packedDownloads
Route confidence 64%Overview
Iceland's highest point (2,110 m), a rock pyramid on the north-west rim of the ice-filled crater of Öræfajökull volcano, a few kilometres from the Atlantic. The standard ascent climbs about 2,000 m from near sea level in one long, roped glacier day.
Hvannadalshnúkur rises from the crater rim of Öræfajökull, the largest active volcano in Iceland, at the southern edge of Vatnajökull ice cap and within Vatnajökull National Park. Because the climb starts almost at sea level on the Ring Road, few European summits of this height involve as much ascent in a day: about 2,000 m, most of it on glacier.
Technically the standard Sandfell route is modest: a rocky path to about 1,100 m, a long, even glacier slope, a flat crater plateau and a steeper final cone with a bergschrund. The seriousness lies in crevasses, hidden on the plateau, fast-changing Atlantic weather and whiteout, and the sheer length of a 12–15 hour day. Most people climb with a guide; independent parties need full glacier-travel and crevasse-rescue skills and good GPS navigation.
The official height was revised from 2,119 m to 2,109.6 m by a survey in 2005. Öræfajökull last erupted in 1727–28; its 1362 eruption was the largest explosive eruption in Iceland's recorded history. The volcano showed renewed unrest in 2016–2019, with an ice cauldron forming in the crater, and small earthquake swarms continue from time to time.
Climbing Notes
The key requirement is endurance: be able to walk for 12–15 hours with about 2,000 m of ascent and descent, much of it roped and in crampons. Altitude is not a factor. Guided groups have a briefing at Skaftafell the evening before, set off at about 03:00–05:00 and may postpone or turn back in bad weather, so allow one or two reserve days. Guiding companies supply harness, crampons, ice axe and rope; bring crampon-compatible boots, full waterproofs and warm layers.
The best period is April to June, when the snow cover is continuous and crevasses are bridged; guided ascents usually run from April into July. Later in summer the glacier becomes broken and icy and the route more dangerous. Independent climbers should register their plans at safetravel.is, check the forecast at en.vedur.is and carry crevasse-rescue gear and a GPS track; on the crater plateau follow a curving line around the crevassed zone rather than the direct line to the summit.
History
The crater of Öræfajökull was first reached on 19 July 1813 by the Norwegian Hans Frisak and the Icelander Jón Árnason. The first recorded ascent of Hvannadalshnúkur itself was on 17 August 1891 by the British traveller Frederick W. W. Howell, guided by Páll Jónsson and Þorlákur Þorláksson from the farm of Svínafell in Öræfi. Páll Jónsson returned to the summit several times, including with Danish army surveyors mapping Iceland around 1904. The survey of August 2005 lowered the official height from 2,119 m to 2,109.6 m.
Season
Best Apr–Jun- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- 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, storms; not advisable
- Feb
- Winter storms; experienced ski-mountaineers only
- Mar
- Lengthening days; winter conditions and storms
- Apr
- Guided season starts; good snow cover, crevasses bridged
- May
- Best conditions; long days
- Jun
- Best conditions; near-24-hour daylight
- Jul
- End of the main guided season; crevasses opening
- Aug
- Broken, icy glacier; more crevasse hazard
- Sep
- Icy glacier, autumn storms
- Oct
- Autumn storms; short days
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- There are no huts on the route. Stay at Skaftafell (Hotel Skaftafell, campsite) or in Öræfi (Svínafell, Hof) the night before.
- Fees
- No fee to climb; guided ascents cost about ISK 50,000 (Local Guide) or EUR 423 (Icelandic Mountain Guides) per person
- Rules
- Vatnajökull National Park rules apply
- Register your trip plan with safetravel.is before an independent ascent
- Getting There
Skaftafell and Freysnes (services); Höfn is the nearest town, to the east along Route 1
Keflavík International Airport (KEF); domestic flights to Höfn (HFN)
- By car on Route 1 (Ring Road) from Reykjavík, about 4 hours; the Sandfell car park is beside the road about 10 minutes south-east of Skaftafell
- Seasonal long-distance buses stop at Skaftafell; there is no public transport to Sandfell itself, and guided groups usually meet at Skaftafell
Hazards
- Glacier
- Crevasses
- Weather
- Avalanche
- Remoteness
- Volcanic activity