Maelifell is a volcano in South Iceland, on the southern Fjallabak road next to the glacier Mýrdalsjökull. The cone stands 200 metres above the black sand around it and is covered in moss. It was formed by eruptions beneath the ice and surfaced about 10,000 years ago, as the glaciers retreated after the last glacial period. People come for the sight of a single green cone on a black plain, with the ice cap behind it. Access is by 4WD only, and only from July to the beginning of October.
Maelifell Volcano
Local name: Mælifell
Maelifell was built by eruptions under the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap and only emerged about 10,000 years ago, when the glacier pulled back.
- Difficulty
- Climb from the west side: about 20 minutes of easy walking, then one technical section just below the top. Not recommended for small children.
- Transport
- No public transport. Apart from walking, Maelifell is reachable only by 4WD, on the southern Fjallabak road.
- Address
- Mælifellssandur, 881
What makes it special
Maelifell stands alone on the plain. The cone rises 200 metres above its surroundings, green with moss, and everything around it is black volcanic sand. Behind it sits the ice of Mýrdalsjökull.
It is a composite cone, built by eruptions under that glacier, and it only surfaced about 10,000 years ago as the ice pulled back. The plain in front of it is crossed by braided rivers that shift with the weather, which is a large part of why the drive in is hard. The F210 that runs past it is one of the hardest F roads in Iceland, and one of the most scenic.
Good to know
- Season: the road is usually wet and sometimes flooded outright. Maelifell is reachable from July to the beginning of October, and not outside that.
- Opening date: the F210 has no fixed opening date, and in some summers it is open only briefly. Check road status before you commit a day to it.
- Vehicle: a large 4x4 is the minimum, and a small one will not do. When the road has just opened, a super jeep is the sensible choice.
- River crossings: Hólmsá on the F210 and Bláfjallakvísl on the F261 are the hard ones. Check them before you drive in.
- Ground: the road near Maelifell is boggy and behaves like quicksand. It is at its worst in the first weeks after opening, before the surface hardens.
Getting there
There is no bus, and no way in other than a 4WD or your own feet. The southern Fjallabak road, the F210, runs past Maelifell. One approach comes up from Vík on the F233, which crosses the river at Bláfjallafoss and then joins the F210; the F232 also joins it and is the way to avoid the worst of the driving. Stop right before the braided rivers below the cone and cover the rest on foot. The route up starts on the west side.
Best time to visit
Better: August and September, once the road surface has hardened.
Avoid: the first weeks after the F210 opens, and anything outside July to the beginning of October.
The road is at its most dangerous immediately after it opens, and it takes a good few weeks before the surface holds. River levels follow the rain, so a dry spell makes the crossings far easier than a wet one.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Maelifell Volcano on the map
The danger here is the driving, not the mountain. The F210 has deep river crossings, Hólmsá being the worst, and the ground near Maelifell is boggy enough to behave like quicksand. Rivers rise with rain and can flood the road completely. Do not attempt it in a small 4x4. On the cone itself, the final section below the top is technical and is not for small children.
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Frequently asked questions
When can you visit Maelifell?
From July to the beginning of October. Outside that window the road is wet and often completely flooded. The F210 has no fixed opening date, and in some summers it stays open only briefly.What vehicle do you need?
A large 4x4. Small 4x4s do not get through, and when the road has just opened a super jeep is the sensible choice. Apart from walking, there is no other way in.Can you climb the volcano?
Yes, from the west side. The first part is easy and takes about 20 minutes. Just below the top there is one technical section, which is not recommended for small children.Which river crossings are the difficult ones?
Hólmsá on the F210 and Bláfjallakvísl on the F261, the latter usually the easier of the two. Levels depend on recent rain, so check them before driving in.How high is Maelifell?
The cone stands 200 metres above its surroundings. It is a composite cone, formed by eruptions beneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.