Djupalonssandur Beach

Local name: Djúpalónssandur

To be hired onto a fishing boat here, a man had to lift at least the third-heaviest of four stones that still lie by the beach: the lightest, Amlóði, weighs 23 kg, the heaviest, Fullsterkur, 154 kg.

Djupalonssandur is a beach of smooth black pebbles on the southern coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland. It lies inside Snæfellsjökull National Park, near the base of the Snæfellsjökull glacier and volcano. Jagged lava fields, sea stacks and steep cliffs frame the bay, and the Atlantic surf runs heavy. A fishing village stood here through the 18th and 19th centuries. Rusted iron from the British trawler Epine GY7, wrecked in 1948, still lies among the pebbles, and four lifting stones from the fishing era remain by the shore.

Beach Viewpoint

Entrance: Free
Parking: Large car park at the site.
Difficulty: Short hike from the car park down to the shore on an easy walking trail through the lava field. On the beach the loose pebbles shift underfoot and make walking hard.
Transport: Self-drive (Rte 574, Snæfellsjökull NP)
Hours: Open 24 hours, every day.
Address: 356, Snæfellsjökull National Park

What makes it special

The beach is pebbles, not sand — black, sea-rounded, known locally as Djúpulónsperlur. They shift with every step, and crossing them is hard work. Rusted iron lies scattered among them: fragments of the British trawler Epine GY7, which ran aground here in 1948. The pieces stay where they fell and are preserved as a monument. Behind the shore stand four lifting stones, used by fishermen to prove they were strong enough for a place on a boat. The path down crosses the Dritvík lava field, past named rock formations and a keyhole opening in the rock that frames the freshwater lagoon.

Good to know

Underfoot: the pebbles shift with every step. Walking across the beach takes effort, and firm shoes help.
Wind: gusts at the viewpoints can be very strong. Bring a windproof jacket.
The wreck: iron fragments of the Epine GY7 lie scattered along the beach, not gathered in one place.
Lifting stones: the four stones by the beach are there to be tried, and they are heavier than they look.

Getting there

Djupalonssandur sits off Route 574, the main road across the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, roughly 200 km northwest of Reykjavík. There is no bus; visitors drive. The turn is a roadside pull-off leading to a large car park. From there it is a short hike down to the shore through the Dritvík lava field, and the walking trail itself is easy. Several other trails and viewpoints start from the same car park, so read the information signs before setting off.

Access & restrictions

Djupalonssandur lies inside Snæfellsjökull National Park. The pebbles are part of the beach and visitors are asked not to remove them. The iron fragments of the Epine GY7 are preserved as a historical monument, not scrap, and stay on the beach. The volcanic ground either side of the path is fragile, so keep to the trail.

Sun & daylight

Cave

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