Dyrfjöll rises inland from Borgarfjörður eystri, in the Múlaþing municipality of East Iceland. The range is volcanic and its highest point reaches 1136 m. A gap cut through the main ridge gives the massif its shape and its name: dyr means door. Trails run into the mountains, a glacier lies back among the peaks, and folklore places the home of the Elf Queen here. The nearest car park sits several kilometres out, so the range is reached on foot.
Dyrfjoll Mountains
Local name: Dyrfjöll
Volcanic mountain range above Borgarfjörður eystri, rising to 1136 m with a notch cut through its ridge.
- Entrance
- Free. Open mountain ground, with no gate and no ticket.
- Accessibility
- No step-free access. The approach runs several kilometres over open mountain ground on foot.
- Parking
- Two car parks within about 5 km of the mountain. The nearer, roughly 3.5 km away in a straight line, is free and open to all; the second lies about 4.7 km away.
- Difficulty
- Mountain walking. The nearest car park lies about 3.5 km away in a straight line and the range rises to 1136 m, so the whole approach is on foot and climbing.
- Transport
- None. No bus stop within 5 km of the mountain.
- Advance booking
- Not needed.
- Hours
- Open at any time.
- Address
- Dyrfjöll, 721, Iceland
What makes it special
The gap in the ridge is what you see first — a squared notch cut clean through the rock, picked out from well down the valley. Dyr means door, and the range is named for it.
The mountains are volcanic and reach 1136 m, and a glacier lies back among the peaks. Folklore puts the home of the Elf Queen in this range. Trails run in from the lowland, but the walking is real mountain walking: the nearest car park sits about 3.5 km away in a straight line, and the ground climbs from there.
Good to know
- Nothing on site: no toilets, no drinking water and no information board within 800 m of the mountain. Sort all of that out before you set off.
- No public transport: no bus stop within 5 km. Arriving without a vehicle is not practical.
- The approach is long: the nearest car park lies about 3.5 km from the mountain in a straight line, and everything past it is on foot and uphill.
- No shelter on the high ground: cloud can hide the gap that makes the range worth the climb, and there is nowhere to sit it out.
Getting there
The range stands inland from Borgarfjörður eystri in East Iceland, and you get to it by road and then on foot. Two car parks lie within about 5 km of the mountain; the nearer is roughly 3.5 km away in a straight line and open to anyone, the other about 4.7 km.
From the car park onwards it is open mountain ground, climbing the whole way. Nothing shortens that — no bus stops within 5 km of the range, and no track brings you closer than the car parks do. Plan the day around the walk in as much as around the mountain itself.
Sun & daylight
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Dyrfjoll Mountains on the map
Exposed mountain ground: loose rock underfoot, no shelter on the ridge, and weather that closes in fast. Turn back if cloud comes down — the way off is easy to lose.
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Frequently asked questions
How high is Dyrfjöll?
The highest point of the range reaches 1136 m.Can you drive up to the mountain?
No. The nearest car park sits about 3.5 km from the mountain in a straight line, and the rest is on foot over open mountain ground.Is there a bus?
No. There is no bus stop within 5 km of the range, so you need your own vehicle.Are there marked facilities at the mountain?
No toilets, drinking water or information board stand within 800 m. Bring what you need with you.Why is Dyrfjöll linked to the Elf Queen?
Folklore holds that the Elf Queen makes her home in these mountains; the range is known for the story as well as for its trails and views.