5 best lava fields in Iceland (Tips + Photos) – fascinating!

The volcanic history of Iceland is what makes its landscapes fascinating.
Any Icelandic road trip should include stops around some of the impressive lava fields: mossy or still fuming, flat or with huge formations...
Below is my selection of the best lava fields in Iceland with map, tips and photos.

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Volcanic Iceland

Iceland is known as the "Land of Fire and Ice". The fire part of the nickname comes from the history of volcanic eruptions.
However, there is little chance you will be able to see a live lava flow (and I hope you don't as being near an eruption is not fun).
What you will be able to see in Iceland, are dried lava fields of various ages, some of the most fascinating landscapes in Iceland.

5 Best lava fields in Iceland - List and Map

If you are on a road trip around Iceland (see my article to help you plan), you will notice many of them around you. However below is my selection of the best ones you could admire up-close (and easy to access):

• Eldhraun is one of the largest of its kind and easy to stop by along Road 1
• Leirhnjukur is a young flow, so you can still see fumes coming out
• Dimmuborgir, the famous field near Lake Myvatn with giant formations triggering your imagination
• Berserkjahraun, an impressive filed accessible via an unpaved road on the Snaefellsnes peninsula
• Londrangar, with its famous basalt pillars is also surrounded by dried lava.

Below is a map to help you get oriented and locate them:

All my favorite locations are included (with GPS coordinates, map of region and planning tips) in my travel guide eBooks to help you easily plan your Iceland road trip (5 days, 7 days, 10 days, 14 days...)

Safety precautions

Lava fields are fragile environments.
Make sure to stay on walking paths or roads.
Do not venture on the lava and do not climb formations: the lava is sharp and there can be caves or tunnels below you feet that can collapse at any time (see my list of lava caves you can visit).

• Region
  South Coast of Iceland
• Where
  Along Road 1, between Vik and Skaftafell, South of Kirkjubæjarklaustur (so it is sometimes refer to as the Kirkjubæjarklaustur lava field).
• Age/Type
  The field is the result of one of the greatest eruptions in recorded history: the eruption named Skaftareldar lasted several months over 1783 and 1784.
  It is one of the largest filed with a size of 564km2
  As it is almost 250 years old, vegetation has come back. Moss is covering the lava and trees have grown in the middle.
  Its name means "Fire lava"
  The area also has lava tubes and caves.
  When people mention "the lava field in Iceland", they normally mean this one.
• Access
  Free access
  You just have to stop along Road 1, where it is safe (entrance side road)
• Getting around
  Appreciate its size from the road. And at its East end, you will find a small carpark with short path to see a little bit of it.

• Region
  North Iceland
• Where
  East of Lake Myvatn, not far from the Krafla Viti crater
• Age/Type
  It is part of the Krafla lava fields. The last eruption, the Krafla fires, date back to 1975-1984: 9 years of volcanic activity!
  This is a very young lava fields which is why:
  1. You can still see fumes coming from the ground
  2. There is hardly any vegetation. You can see a little bit of moss here and there and maybe a small plant. This is actually fascinating to see here and there how resilient nature is!
• Access
  Free access
  Easy drive from Road 1, short detour on a paved road
• Getting around
  Walk from the carpark, first to a geothermal area and then to the lava. There is a single track through the field. Stay on it!
• More photos in my dedicated article

• Region
  North Iceland
• Where
  Just East of Lake Myvatn, South of Reykjahlid
• Age/Type
  They are thought to be the remains of a lava tube which formed above a lake about 2300 years ago, trapping the water. As it began to cool, the reservoir estimated to have been 10 meters deep, was released, leaving only those shapes created by steam. 
• Access
  Gated area
  Donations are welcome
• Getting around
  Several walking paths. Map near the entrance
  10min on paved path to some formations
  Longer walk on trails to others such as the "Cathedral" you can see on the picture below.
• More pictures in my dedicated article

• Region
  Snaefellsnes peninsula
• Where
  North coast of the peninsula, East of Grundarfjordur - off the beaten path
• Age/Type
  Four prominent craters probably erupted at short intervals approximately 3600-4000 years ago, the largest one first and the smallest last.
  This lava field flowed between the mountain side and the sea. And when it cooled down, it created this amazing landscape.
  As an older field, it is covered with moss.
• Access
  Free access
  Unpaved road - I recommend a 4WD vehicle
• Getting around
  No walking path. Stay on the road.
• More photos on my dedicated article

• Region
  Snaefellsnes peninsula
• Where
  West coast of the peninsula, west of Arnarstapi
• Age/Type
  Londrangar is famous for its basalt volcanic dykes on the cliffs. The tallest one is 75m high!
  However don't miss the younger lava field surrounding it.
  Take the other path walking towards the pillars and you will be surrounded by lava covered in moss.
• Access
  Free Access
  Easy drive to the carpark
• Getting around
  There are several walking path to viewpoints and through the lava.