Hofdi Park (Iceland, Myvatn) – visit tips + photos

At Lake Myvatn, the park of Hofdi, Iceland, is quite unique: the little peninsula has a mini-forest, giving you a nice break from the bare surrounding landscapes. 
And you still get to see a great volcanic feature: the lava pillars of Kálfastrandavogar.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit to Hofdi Myvatn with map, tips and photos.

Why visit the Hofdi Park in Myvatn, Iceland?

Hofdi  is a peninsula in Lake Mývatn:

•  It is so rare in Iceland to see trees that I had to introduce the Hofdi park to you. Apparently, it is the result of a couple spending their summer vacations at Hofdi for decades planting trees and plants. When the husband died, the wife donated the place.
• Plus, in one of the coves, you discover strange lava pillars standing in the water, a quite unique feature known as the lava pillars of Kálfastrandavogar.
• And it offers great views of Lake Myvatn!

It is not as famous as the lava formations of Dimmuborgir or the pseudocraters, but it is worth a visit.
And Hofdi has been selected by the local tourism office as a ‘Must do’ by the Myvatn Lake.

Hofdi House - not the same

Note that the name Hofdi is also used about a house with historical significance in Iceland. It is located in Reykjavik, built in 1909. It is the famous place where the 1986 summit of presidents Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbatsjov took place, marking the end of the Cold War

(Icelandic spelling: Höfði)

More photos after the planning tips.

Planning Tips and Map - Park Hofdi Iceland

Where is the park of Hofdi in Iceland? Location and map

• In the North of Iceland
• On the East shore of Lake Myvatn
• Akureyri to Hofdi = 1h10 drive
• Reykjahlid to Hofdi = 10min drive
• Below is a map to help you get oriented:

How to get to Hofdi

• Easy to access by car
• Along the main road around Lake Myvatn
• Between the Pseudocraters of Skútustadagígar and Dimmuborgir (but closer to Dimmuborgir)
• Carpark on the Lake side of the road
• Organized tours normally don't stop here

Need to rent a car in Iceland?
My tips:

• Option 1 - Compare car rental prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com - one of the best customer-rated comparison sites!
• Option 2 - compare cars and prices of local brands on GuidetoIceland.com
• If you plan on driving on F-roads in the Central Highlands, you need a good 4WD - otherwise, no.
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles (it is a popular island)

See my articles about renting a car in Iceland and driving there.

Visit tips

• There is a small parking near the entrance. It might look closed but the gate can actually be opened. I was there at 8am.
• Once inside there are paths in every direction with signs indicating the exit everywhere; it is quite strange. It is an easy walk and the area is not big. There is only a small part of the path that goes up with a few steps with nice views of the surroundings.
• The pillars are at the end of the peninsula; It took me 15min to find the viewpoint for them, but I am not able to tell you which paths I took. Just try them all!
• There is an area in the middle that would be nice for kids to play.
• You walk near the water, so the flies are very much present especially in summer.
• Free entrance - normally
• Great option on windy days
• You can plan less than 1 hour unless you want to enjoy the change in scenery and stay among trees.
• This is also a great place to just sit and enjoy some birdwatching.

Walking loop at Hofdi, Myvatn

What I like about the Myvatn area is the post-apocalyptic look of the landscape. So Hofdi was not high on my list of places to visit.
The trees with the autumn colors were nice but I was not in Iceland for such a scenery. Some people do really enjoy it as it provides a break from the lava and bare landscapes.

Plus, on a windy day, it is one of the rare areas around Myvatn where you can find a little bit of protection.

The Hofdi Lava Pillars - Kálfastrandavogar

I knew there was a path that would get me very close to the lava pillars. And crazy rock formations are what I am looking for.

IN my opinion, the most fascinating part of the visit were the lava pillars in the water.
Like in Dimmuborgir, the lava has created fascinating shapes and then been eroded.

Views of Lake Myvatn from the promontory

After a few steps (be careful with rain it can be slippery), I was rewarded with some nice views of Lake Myvatn and the pseudo-craters. This promontory is close to the gate. I should have drawn a map while I was there, I am sorry.
You can see the numerous trees in the Hofdi park compared to the bare volcanic landscapes around.

And you can see some of the pseudocraters that formed on the lake:

Want to see more of the best Iceland has to offer?

• The best locations off the beaten path around Iceland - read article
• 21 Most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland - read article
• 5 best Lava Fields in Iceland - read article
• The 10 best lava caves in Iceland - read article
• The 5 most beautiful black sand beaches in Iceland - read article
• The Golden Circle - read article
• The Snaefellsnes peninsula - read article

Planning a trip to Iceland?

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

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