Berserkjahraun is a lava field on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland. The lava is about 4,000 years old and lies in moss-covered ridges below a line of red scoria craters. A gravel road runs through the field from the main road and rejoins it further along, and the place is usually seen as a stop on that detour. The name comes from Eyrbyggja saga, after two berserkers who were set to clear a way through the lava.
Berserkjahraun
The lava is about 4,000 years old, and the field is named after two berserkers of an Icelandic saga who were set to clear a way through it.
- Accessibility
- Limited — rough gravel road, uneven lava
- Parking
- Roadside pull-off at the crest of the hill on the westbound run.
- Difficulty
- Easy — drive-through; short walks on lava
- Transport
- Self-drive — gravel loop off Route 54
- Address
- Berserkjahraun, 341 (off Route 54)
What makes it special
The lava field is met from the driving seat first. A gravel road leaves the main road, climbs over the flow and comes back down to the main road further along. From the top of the rise the view runs in every direction: black lava under grey-green moss, red scoria craters above it, and the fjord beyond.
The lava is about 4,000 years old. Close up it is broken and knuckled, full of hollows and collapsed tubes, and the moss rounds off every edge of it. Getting out and walking on the lava is worth more than the drive through. In rain the moss darkens to deep green.
Good to know
- Road: the way through is gravel, rough and bumpy in parts. Driven slowly, it is manageable in an ordinary car.
- Views: from the top of the rise the view opens in every direction over the lava and the craters.
- On foot: the lava is walked on directly from the road, with no approach to speak of.
- Underfoot: broken lava under moss. Boots hold better than trainers.
Getting there
Berserkjahraun is reached by car. A gravel road leaves the main road, crosses the lava field and rejoins the main road further along, so the detour works in either direction and needs no doubling back. Nothing has to be walked to get in: the lava begins at the edge of the road, and the walking starts wherever the car stops.
Sun & daylight
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Berserkjahraun on the map
The loop is a narrow, sometimes rough gravel road — drive slowly and pull fully off before stopping, and mind the sharp, uneven lava underfoot if you walk out.
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Frequently asked questions
Can Berserkjahraun be driven in an ordinary car?
Yes. The road through the field is gravel and rough in parts, but it is driven in ordinary cars at low speed. Take it slowly rather than fast.Is the gravel road a dead end?
No. It leaves the main road, crosses the lava field and rejoins the main road further along, so it can be driven straight through.Can you walk on the lava?
Yes. Walking out onto the lava field is part of the visit, and it starts from the road itself.How old is the lava?
About 4,000 years.Where does the name come from?
From Eyrbyggja saga. Two berserkers were set to clear a way through the lava, and the field carries their name.