Saxholl Crater stands on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland, inside Snæfellsjökull National Park. It was formed by a single explosive eruption 3,000 to 4,000 years ago and rises about 109 metres above the lava fields around it. A metal staircase leads to the rim, and from the top the view runs over the lava, out to the Atlantic and across to the Snæfellsjökull glacier. The site has two craters; the one with the staircase is the main one and takes almost all the visitors.
Saxholl Crater
Local name: Saxhóll
One explosive eruption 3,000 to 4,000 years ago built this cone, and a metal staircase now runs up its flank to the rim.
- Entrance
- Free. No ticket.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible — the rim is reached by a metal staircase.
- Parking
- Free car park at the foot of the crater; roadside parking is free as well.
- Difficulty
- Short climb on a metal staircase; the steps are not steep and there is a bench halfway up.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- Road 574, 356 Hellissandur
What makes it special
The climb is the point here. A metal staircase runs from the foot of the cone to the rim, so the top is reached without scrambling over loose lava. The crater rises about 109 metres above the lava field around it, and the view from the rim is a full circle: black and moss-covered lava, the open Atlantic, and the Snæfellsjökull glacier. You also look straight down into the crater bowl.
Saxholl is young for a volcanic feature. A single explosive eruption between 3,000 and 4,000 years ago threw it up, and the cone still holds a clean shape. There are two craters on the site, but the second one has no steps and is largely left alone.
Good to know
- No toilets. There are no toilets or other facilities at the crater.
- Stairs all the way. The route to the rim is a metal staircase, with a bench halfway up to rest on.
- Not step-free. The site is not wheelchair accessible.
- Fine with children. The climb is short and the steps are not steep.
Getting there
The car park sits at the foot of the crater, and the whole ascent is on a metal staircase that leads straight to the rim. Nothing else needs walking: the steps start a few paces from the cars. They are not steep, and there is a bench halfway up if you want a break.
Best time to visit
Better: a calm, clear day. The reward at the top is the 360-degree view, and it needs visibility — lava fields, the Atlantic and Snæfellsjökull all at once.
Avoid: windy days. The staircase and the rim are fully exposed, and hard gusts turn an easy climb into an unpleasant one.
Sun & daylight
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Saxholl Crater on the map
The staircase and the crater rim are completely exposed to the wind. Gusts here can be strong enough to knock a person off balance. In strong wind, stay off the rim edge, or skip the climb.
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Frequently asked questions
How hard is the climb?
Short and straightforward. The whole way up is a metal staircase, the steps are not steep, and there is a bench halfway for a rest.What can you see from the rim?
A full circle: the surrounding lava fields, the Atlantic Ocean and the Snæfellsjökull glacier. The crater bowl itself is right below you.Are there toilets at the crater?
No. There are no toilets or other facilities on site.Is it suitable for wheelchairs or people with limited mobility?
No. The rim is reached only by a metal staircase, and the site is not wheelchair accessible.Is there more than one crater here?
Yes, the site has two craters. The staircase serves the main one, and that is the one visitors climb.