Deep within Iceland’s highland desert interior, Kverkfjöll is Iceland’s second-highest volcano. Kverkfjöll glacier splits the volcano. It has burrowed out a deep valley in rich hues of red, black and green.
Kverkfjoll is part of Vatnajökull National Park. The Kverkfjöll mountain range is a cluster of peaks formed by a volcano on the Vatnajökull ice cap. It is the third highest mountain range in Iceland after Öræfajökull and Bárðarbunga. Large, hot magma chambers hidden underneath the mountains lead to astoundingly beautiful glacial ice caves. Please note that the weather and glacial conditions around ice caves can be dangerous. We recommend that you visit the area with a local guide.
Massive glacier tongues extend from the Vatnajökull ice cap on both sides of the Kverkfjöll Mountains, while the glaciers Dýngjujökull and Brúarjökull lie to the west and east.
The highest peak is Skarphéðinstindur (1.936 m/6.352 feet) on the range’s eastern part. Moreover, the Kverk pass divides the mountain range into eastern and western halves. Kverkfjöll glacier flows outwards via the pass to the north-west down to the highland plateau, which is approximately 900 m (2.953 feet) above sea level.
The Kverkfjöll Volcano
Geologists believe that two calderas below the ice formed part of the Kverkfjöll Ridge. A glacier covers the caldera to the south. On the other hand, the northern caldera is now mostly ice-free.
Geothermal energy in Kverkfjöll
One of Iceland’s most active high-temperature geothermal areas is in the western Kverkfjöll Mountains. An area of hot springs 3 km (1.9 miles) long and nearly 1 km (.06 miles) wide sits at an altitude of 1600-1700 m (5.249 – 5.577 feet). Hveradalur valley lies in the uppermost and southernmost part of the area, separated from the Lower Hveradalur Valley by the Þrengsli pass. Gámur, one of Iceland’s most powerful geysers, sits in the northern part of the pass. A hiking trail from the Kverkfjöll glacier slants up the Langafönn slope onto the ridge and along its edge to the Icelandic Glaciological Society cabin.
Getting to Kverkfjöll
Historical evidence suggests that people travelled across the Vatnajökull ice cap in the Middle Ages. The glacier was somewhat smaller at that time. The route probably lay just east of the Kverkfjöll Mountains. In 1910, a German geologist named Trautz became the first person to scale these peaks.
Icelanders built a bridge over the Kreppá River in 1970 as part of a track across the Hvannalindir area and through the Kverkhnjúkaskarð pass to the Kverkfjöll Mountains. They also built a mountain cabin in an old crater on the slopes of Mt Virkisfell in 1971.
The Austurleið, or the East Route (Mountain Road F910), passes to the west of the Ódáðahraun, crossing a bridge over the River Jökulsá a Fjöllum. The Kverkfjöll track (Mountain Road F902) branches south to Kverkfjöll . The Austurleið continues east to Krepputunga, where another track (Mountain Road F903) leads from Kreppuháls to Hvannalindir.The roads leading to Kverkfjöll are only open during the summer months. You must have a 4WD vehicle with good suspension and a high carriage to handle the rugged, unpaved mountain roads. There is a park ranger station at Kverkfjöll . Here, you can learn about the area and find out the latest trail conditions. Accommodation in the area includes camping and mountain huts, which must be reserved in advance.
Important: Please note that the weather in Kverkfjöll and nearby area can change without notice. Fog, storms, and sandstorms can take hikers by surprise.
GPS: N64° 44,850 W16° 37,890
