By Monika
Leirhnjúkur Lava Field: Hiking Trails, Tips & What to Expect.
If you’re exploring the fascinating volcanic landscape around Lake Mývatn, don’t miss the Leirhnjúkur Lava Field.
We missed it the first time we visited Lake Mývatn area – we simply ran out of time – and I knew I had to come back to see it.
I just did, and it is incredible! It’s one of those spots where Iceland’s volcanic activity feels very close and very real.
As you walk across the dark, rugged lava, you’ll see colorful patches of earth, bubbling mud, and plenty of areas where the heat is still rising from the ground.
Let me take you through what to expect when visiting Leirhnjúkur, including how to get there, what the hike is like, and how much time to allow, so you can easily plan your visit to this amazing volcanic wonderland.
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- Leirhnjúkur Lava Field: Hiking Trails, Tips & What to Expect.
What is Leirhnjúkur?
Leirhnjúkur is an active volcano near Lake Mývatn. It’s part of the Krafla volcanic area.
According to the info sign at the parking lot, it rises about 50 meters above the surrounding lava field.
It’s a rhyolite hill, porous due to geothermal heat, which in some spots caused it to turn into clay.
That’s what the name “Leirhnjúkur” translates to: “clay hill”
The vast lava field around it is a result of a powerful volcanic eruption sequence, known as the “Krafla Fires” that occurred in 1975 -1984 and large parts of it are still hot and steaming!
How to get to Leirhnjúkur Lava Field
By car
The best way to get to Leirhnjúkur is by car.
If you’re coming from Akureyri, you can either follow rt. 1 (the Ring Road) all the way to rt. 863 or take a scenic route (on road 848), stopping by some other Lake Mývatn attractions on the way like Skútustagigar Pseudocraters, Grjótagjá Cave, Hverfjall Crater, or Hverir Geothermal area.
The drive takes about 1 hour 20 minutes from Akureyri and only about 15 minutes from Reykjahlíð.
The drive is very easy, on paved roads and you don’t need a 4×4 vehicle to get there (unless you’re visiting in the winter.
Just put “Leirhnjúkur Parking” in your navigation and it should get you to the right place.
READ MORE: Driving in Iceland – Essential Tips for a Great Road Trip.
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Helpful hint: don’t miss the geothermal Krafla Shower on your way to the lava field! Once you’re on road 863, you’ll see it on your right – it’s fun, quick and very unique stop, worth making. It will show up as a “Hot Spring Shower” or a “Krafla Shower” on your GPS map.
With a tour
Leirhnjúkur Lava Field is not included in many Lake Mývatn tours – I only saw one tour mentioning a stop there:
Lake Myvatn Sightseeing & Hot Springs Tour from Akureyri
Leirhnjúkur Parking
There is a large paid parking lot for Leirhnjúkur, just off the main road.
You can make your payment by scanning the QR code on the info sign or via the EasyPark app (parking area 665).
The fee, as of 2026, was 800 ISK per passenger car and covered the Leirhnjúkur Lava Field parking lot as well as the lot for the nearby Víti Crater Viewpoint.
There are also restrooms at this parking lot.
Leirhnjúkur Hiking Trails
There are two hiking trails at Leirhnjúkur.
- a short (1 km each way) out-and-back trail to the colorful mountain and a viewing platform
- a longer (about 4 km) loop trail through the steaming lava field
The short out-and-back Leirhnjúkur trail
From the parking lot, just follow the path through the grass-covered lava field.
Shortly afterwards, the landscape changes – the grass disappears and all you see is lava.
You see the colorful hill steaming in the distance and the path changes into a wooden boardwalk.
Keep walking till you get close to it and to a viewing platform above the bubbling mud pools and hissing steam holes – a pretty incredible sight!
Take a good look around at the landscape – you’ll feel like you’re on another planet!
That viewing deck marks the end of the short Leirhnjúkur trail.
The longer loop trail
If you continue walking on the boardwalk, it will soon turn into a dirt trail taking you into the lava field.
Follow the yellow sticks marking the path and stay on it!
This is not a place to wander off the trail. The lava field is still geothermally active, and you can see steam still actively coming from the ground in many places.
I’ve read that many deceptively safe looking places are still hot enough to melt your shoes!
The lava is still hot and it’s not safe to walk on it!
Just take in all the amazing scenery from the safety of the trail. It will eventually bring you back to the boardwalk and the parking lot.
Good to know: the trail is mostly flat, with minimal elevation gain, but good hiking boots or trail sneakers are recommended because the terrain can be uneven in some areas.
How long do you need for Leirhnjúkur?
Give yourself some time to explore this unique place.
To walk the short trail, I’d allow about an hour, but I highly recommend taking the longer walk into the lava field.
That will add at least another hour to your visit.
If you’re planning a full day around Lake Mývatn, see my guide to the best things to do around Lake Mývatn for itinerary ideas!
Is Leirhnjúkur Lava Field worth it?
Yes, it is!
It is one of those surprising spots where you just have to trust and explore.
Don’t judge Leirhnjúkur from the parking lot!
I have to admit that when we pulled up to our parking spot, directly in front of the lava field, I wasn’t overly impressed with the view.
I’ve already seen this grass-covered lava landscape in other parts of Iceland and thought: “that’s it???”
Well, it wasn’t “it”!
Leirhnjúkur is one of those places that get better, more impressive, the more you go into them.
The more into the lava field you go, the bigger the wow factor is.
So yes – it is definitely worth adding to your itinerary.
It’s the most geothermally active part of the Krafla volcanic zone and you don’t want to miss it!
Best time to visit Leirhnjúkur
Leirhnjúkur is accessible year-round, so you can visit any time of the year.
However, I personally feel like you’ll get the best views in the summer months when you can see all the lava formations and the rainbow colors of the mountain before it is covered by snow.
And keep in mind that winter weather can significantly affect road conditions. Always check the forecast and road status before visiting.
Where to stay near Leirhnjúkur
Leirhnjúkur is an easy addition to a Lake Mývatn itinerary, so I recommend staying somewhere in the Mývatn area, especially if you’re planning to explore several attractions nearby.
For us Akureyri was a perfect starting point to explore Northern Iceland.
We stayed at the Saga Apartments the first time (wonderful!) and at the Akureyri campsite the second time during our campervan trip (also wonderful!), but there are other towns nearby that are also very convenient for visiting this region, like Reykjahlíð, Laugar, Húsavík or Mývatn.
And for a truly unique experience, consider spending a night at Möðrudalur Farm – one of my favorite places in Iceland.
Nearby attractions:
- Víti Crater
- Lake Mývatn area
- Hverir Námafjall Geothermal Area
- Earth Lagoon Mývatn (Mývatn Nature Baths)
- Diamond Circle
Ready to include Leirhnjúkur Lava Field and other amazing Lake Myvatn attractions in your itinerary? Get some inspiration from our 10-day road trip!
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About Monika
An avid traveler and a passionate trip planner, mildly obsessed with being organized and prepared 🙂
Well aware of how precious travel time is, I’m here to share my experience and help you get the most out of your vacation time.
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