• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer

ZigZag On Earth

Plan unforgettable road trips!

  • FRANCE
    • CORSICA
    • NORMANDY
    • PARIS
  • EUROPE
    • ANDALUCIA
    • CANARY ISLANDS
    • GREECE
    • ICELAND
    • ICELAND WINTER
    • PORTUGAL
    • SCOTLAND
    • SLOVENIA
  • REST OF WORLD
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • OMAN
  • EBOOKS
  • TIPS
  • PUZZLES
  • ABOUT

Hverir (Iceland) – Surreal Namafjall geothermal area (Photos + Tips)

Last updated on May 23, 2020 By Claire, the Travel Planning Geek

Hverir Iceland is one of the most out-of-this-world sites on the island. It is a place where you feel connected to the power of the planet. At the foot of the Namafjall volcanic mountain, the Namaskard geothermal area displays fumaroles, large mud pools, steam vents and a bare orangy-red landscape. A unique sight! (and one of my personal favorites). Below is my guide to help you plan your visit.

Travel Guide Iceland : Plan your visit to Hverir geothermal area
Quick Navigation
What is Hverir a.k.a. Namafjall a.k.a Namaskard ?
Planning Tips - Hverir Iceland
Visiting the Hverir geothermal area
Exploring the Namafjall geothermal area
Hverir Mud Pools
Extra photos of Hverir
Namafjall Hike
Attractions near Hverir
In Winter

Navigate back to the complete Iceland Travel Guide

Share0
Share +10
Tweet0
Pin0

This article contains affiliate Links (info on the Disclosure page). If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.


What is Hverir a.k.a. Namafjall a.k.a Namaskard?

Hverir is a geothermal area at the foothill of Namafjall, not far from Lake Myvatn. Features include colorful sulphurous mud springs, steam vents, cracked mud and fumaroles. It is also called Hverarönd or Namaskard.

Hverir Iceland - geothermal area

Hverir geothermal area, Iceland

Some say that compared to Wai-o-tapu in New Zealand or Yellowstone it is rather average but personally, I disagree. I have not seen Yellowstone, but I have visited Wai-o-tapu. It does have many geothermal features with intriguing colors, but the surroundings are a lush forest. Although there is more to see, I think Hverir and its bare landscape makes the experience surreal which is what I love. If it weren’t for the other tourists, I would have felt like I had landed on another planet.

This is why it is one of my top 5 places to visit in Myvatn and one of my favorite stops on the Ring Road.

Namaskard geothermal area heat map

Hverir Map Myvatn

At the Hverir site, there is this map on which are indicated the areas with high temperature. In light pink is the Krafla fissure system and in hot pink are the hot springs, including Hverir.

Many more photos after the practical info and planning tips.

How to pronounce Hverir

To facilitate the reading of this article, you can listen to the pronunciation of Hverir here.


Planning Tips - Hverir Iceland

Hverir Location

  • Located in North Iceland (see my guide about North Iceland)
  • Right by the Ring Road, 6km East of Lake Myvatn and the town of Reykjahlíð - easy to access on your Iceland Road trip
  • The Hverir parking is right after the mountain pass on the south side of the road - it is quite large 
  • You can't miss it, it is well indicated
  • Below is a Map to help you generally locate Hverir:
location Hverir Myvatn Iceland Map

Location of Hverir, Iceland - Map

Practical maps and info are available in my eBooks to make the planning of your road trip easy:

Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!

ssmall Road trip Iceland Travel Guide cover

8 Maps, 100+ locations
110+ photos
LEARN MORE

Iceland Ring Road ebook cover S

2 Maps, 30 stops, 10 detours
70+ photos
LEARN MORE

How to get to Hverir / Namaskard

If you are visiting North Iceland and the Myvatn area, I strongly recommend renting your own car. This gives you the freedom to visit all the locations you are interested in. 

To plan your trip, check out my article about how to rent a car in Iceland and about driving in Iceland
I personally rented my car with Route 1 car rental and really appreciated the experience.

Otherwise most of the Iceland Organized tours will stop at this location because it is so easy to access - to compare tour operators and programs, I recommend GuidetoIceland

Accommodations near Hverir

Lake Myvatn, with the town of Reykjahlid, is a great option to visit the area - Check out the Lake Myvatn accommodations

I stayed at the Dimmuborgir Guesthouse (I booked myself and paid entirely for my stay) - it is right next to the lake and with the Hverfjall crater in the background... perfect! Check out more photos and book


Visiting the Hverir geothermal area

At the site entrance, you can see a map of the site with the walking trails: 

Hverir map walk
  • Large parking lot with easy access from Road 1
  • From the parking area there is a short flat loop that leads you close to various geothermal features
  • How much time to visit Hverir? - The ground loop can be done in just half an hour or you can spend time admiring the bubbles in the mud pool and stay for an hour.
  • Beware of the sulphur smell – it is not recommended to stay too long!!! 
  • Note that although I suffer from allergies and all, I had no special difficulties while visiting Hverir.
  • I don’t remember seeing toilets, but I might be wrong
  • You can also hike on Namafjall mountain and do a loop
  • No entrance fee
  • Open all day long

And Check out my complete article with detailed suggestions and tips on what to wear and pack for Iceland to stay warm and comfortable

Need to rent a car for your road trip in Iceland?

  • You can choose from some great local companies - Iceland has a lot of specificities and their offerings are  adapted - you can compare cars and prices of quality local brands on this expert Icelandic website
  • Otherwise you can compare offers from international companies on RentalCars.com
  • Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

Exploring the Namafjall geothermal area

Hverir is not a big site but offers many features very close to each another. It is at the foot of a beautiful dark mountain.

Below are some wide shots of the scenic area, its bare landscape and the fumes emanating from the fumeroles.

Hverir Iceland - Namafjall mountain

Some impressive cracks are everywhere on the land creating interesting photographic effects:

Hverir Iceland Namafjall mountain

I think the shot below is my favorite (equal with the cracks above). I love the contrast of the blue-gray mud pools with the dark orange of the mountain in the background. Surreal!

Hverir geothermal area, North Iceland photo 3

A lot of fumes! But do not worry that much, look at the next pictures and you will see that they actually area are concentrated and not in the whole area:

Hverir fumaroles

The first time I sent the picture below to my mom, she freaked out! She was already worried that I was in Iceland with all those volcanoes but then she became scared that I would be swallowed by the Earth. This crack was actually not that big 🙂

Iceland Hverir hot springs

Hverir Mud Pools

By the parking you can walk to the viewing platform or down to the mud pools. They are quite big and very active.

Namafjall geothermal area
Hverir Mud Pools
Mud pools at Hverir Iceland

One of the great things to do in geothermal areas is to photograph some of the features up close. Especially the mud pools which sometimes, create crazy shapes: Like a heart... (great timing, don't you think?)

mud pool Hverir, Iceland photo 1

Or its side view...

mud pool Hverir, Iceland photo 2

The small cracked mud bubble inside the cracked hole:

mud pool Hverir, Iceland photo 3

You must have realized it by now, I love photographing cracked surfaces... So here is a last one!

mud pool Hverir, Iceland photo 4

I love that spot so much, that I want to share other sites with more photos:


Extra photos of Hverir

Because I love the place so much, I am sharing a few more photos of Hverir. I hope you are enjoying them 🙂

Namafjall Hverir 1
Namafjall Hverir 2
Namafjall Hverir 3

More photos by other photographers:

  • Hverir photos by Volcanic springs
  • Hverir photos with snow on Namafjall by Iceland for 91 days

Namafjall Hike

Past the mud pools there is a track that goes up the mountain (see photo below), then goes along the ridge of the mountain and goes down on the other side of the area.
The left side is the steepest with some slippery sections. So, it could be better to ascend on the right side and come back that way too.

Namafjall hike

Namafjall hike


Attractions near Hverir

Consider visiting:

  • Grjotagja - the cave filled with hot water - see article
  • Myvatn Nature Baths - see article
  • Hverfjall - a beautiful crater where you can walk on the rim - see article
  • The Leirhnjukur geothermal area that looks quite different with the steaming lava rocks - see article

Find them in my eBooks:

Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!

ssmall Road trip Iceland Travel Guide cover

8 Maps, 100+ locations
110+ photos
LEARN MORE

Iceland Ring Road ebook cover S

2 Maps, 30 stops, 10 detours
70+ photos
LEARN MORE


In Winter

As the field is along the Ring Road, it remains easily accessible in Winter.
The contrast of the boiling mud with the snow is impressive.

Hverir in Winter

Hverir in Winter


Want to see more of Iceland's beauty?

PREVIOUS: 

MYVATN NATURE BATHS

NEXT: 

KRAFLA'S VITI CRATER

Tourism Iceland Travel Guide

Surreal landscape, don’t you think?

Share0
Share +10
Tweet0
Pin0

You might also enjoy:

Fjadrargljufur Canyon (Iceland, Feather canyon) – Visit tips + Photos
Read More 
Sigöldugljúfur (Iceland) – the canyon of waterfalls (Tips + Photos)
Read More 
Skutustadir Iceland – Intriguing Myvatn Pseudocraters
Read More 
Hverir (Iceland) – Surreal Namafjall geothermal area (Photos + Tips)
Read More 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Becky Padmore says

    November 21, 2014 at 2:28 PM

    Love Iceland so much, these are great photos!

    Reply
  2. Sue B says

    December 25, 2015 at 2:58 PM

    Claire,

    I am reading through many of your posts at the moment as I am planning a trip around September 2016 with my little one and other half. What kind of lens did you use for these pictures if you don’t mind me asking? And also, we are planning to stay near Lake Myvatn for atleast 2 nights. Is there anything you would highly recommend in the area? We are keen to do the natural bath in the area, and Krafla crater is also on the list. I want to see some areas with geothermal activity.

    Reply
    • Claire Robinson says

      December 28, 2015 at 10:28 AM

      Hi Sue
      Thanks for your comment.
      I was using my usual Canon 7D with a Canon EFS 18-200mm lens.
      The Myvatn lake area was my favorite around Iceland. I think the Hverir geothermal area, the pseudocraters, the Dimmuborgir crazy lava shapes and the still fuming Leirhnjukur lava field were the best. Truly feeling on another planet!
      Enjoy your planning!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Footer

CONTACT ME

Search

Follow ZigZag on Facebook

Follow ZigZag on Pinterest

Website in French: ZigZagvoyages.fr

Website in German: ZigZagreisen.de

Privacy / Terms of Use / Disclosure Policies / Refund policy

Become an affiliate for the ZigZag road trip guide

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ZigZagOnEarth.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.uk and Amazon.ca

Copyright © 2021 ZigZag On Earth · Log in