Halldorsskora, known to most visitors as Elephant Rock, is a basalt sea cliff on Heimaey, the main island of Vestmannaeyjar, off the south coast of Iceland. Seen from the right side, the rock forms the head and trunk of an elephant lowering itself into the water. It stands by the road that loops around the island's golf course, and the view works without leaving the car. The slope above gives a wider outlook over the town and the ocean.
Halldorsskora Gorge
Local name: Halldórsskora
From one angle the cliff is an elephant putting its trunk into the sea; walk round it and the same rock turns into a rhino.
- Entrance
- Free. There is no ticket and no gate.
- Accessibility
- The entrance is not wheelchair accessible. The rock itself is in view from the road, so a visit from the car is possible.
- Parking
- Free car park close to the viewpoint.
- Difficulty
- No walk needed for the view from the road. The hike up the mountain above is a challenging uphill climb.
- Transport
- Ferry to Heimaey, then car/foot
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- Heimaey, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
What makes it special
The elephant is not a carving and not a stretch of the imagination. From one angle the cliff sends a long grey trunk straight down into the water, and the furrowed basalt reads as hide. Move along the shore and the animal changes. The same rock becomes a rhino, then something closer to a crocodile, and people argue about which is which.
The slope above the formation is the other half of the visit. The climb is a challenging uphill hike, and it opens up the town, the golf course and the open ocean in one sweep. Sheep graze the grass up there. Puffins were seen on the cliffs here in July.
Good to know
- The angle makes the elephant. From one side the shape is obvious. From another the same rock reads as a rhino, or as nothing much.
- The climb is optional. The walk up the mountain above is a challenging uphill hike, done for the views over the town, the golf course and the sea.
- Toilets are on site. The spot also works with children.
- Wildlife is a bonus, not a promise. Sheep graze the slope above, and puffins were seen on the cliffs here in July.
Getting there
Heimaey lies about 30 minutes off the south coast of Iceland, and the rock sits on the island's shore. Drive the road that loops around the golf course and the formation comes into view from the car, with no walking involved. A car park is close to the viewpoint. Walking out from the ferry is also done, and the coastal views along that route are part of the appeal.
Best time to visit
Better: summer. The slope above is walkable then, and that is when sheep and puffins are on the ground and the cliffs.
Avoid: arriving with the elephant as the only goal. From the wrong angle the shape does not appear at all, and the visit comes down to the coastline instead.
The rock stands on open coast, so wind and low cloud decide how much of it you actually see.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
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Halldorsskora Gorge on the map
The clifftop is open and unfenced with a sheer drop to the sea — keep well back from the edge, especially in the strong winds and wet, slippery grass common here.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Halldorsskora the same place as Elephant Rock?
Yes. Halldorsskora is the Icelandic name, and Elephant Rock is what visitors call the same cliff formation on Heimaey.How far out is the island?
Heimaey lies about 30 minutes off the south coast of Iceland. The rock is on the island, so the crossing comes first.What can you see from the slope above the rock?
The town, the golf course and the ocean. Sheep graze the slope, and puffins were seen on the cliffs here in July. Getting up there is a challenging uphill hike.Does it really look like an elephant?
From one side, clearly: head, trunk and all. From other sides the shape shifts into a rhino or something harder to name. Expect to move around before it works.