Best for
Geothermal ice caves
Hot springs, steam vents, and ice caves.
Kverkjökull at the Kverkfjöll Geothermal Area
A northeastern Vatnajökull outlet at the Kverkfjöll geothermal area, where volcanic heat meets glacial ice and carves ice caves.
Region
Northeast Vatnajökull
Geothermal area; exercise extreme caution.
Kverkjökull, a northeastern outlet of Vatnajökull, flows from the Kverkfjöll mountain ridge, where intense geothermal heat creates hot springs beneath the glacier, carves ice caves through the ice, and sends steam off the glacier surface. Few places in Iceland put volcanic heat and ice so close together, and reaching it takes a demanding highland journey.
Sources and last reviewed
Last reviewed: 2026-03-03
Kverkfjöll has serious hazards including unstable ice caves, boiling hot springs, and crevassed glacier terrain. Stay on marked paths, never enter ice caves without expert guidance, and register your travel plan.
Pages are reviewed for practical usefulness, source quality, and volatile claims before publication.
Official sources to check
Access
Highland F-roads
4×4 required, mountain hut available.
Pro tip
Book the mountain hut
FÍ hut at Kverkfjöll; reserve well ahead.
What to Expect
- Steam rising from ice and volcanic ground
- Hot springs and boiling mud pots near the glacier
- Ice formations carved by geothermal heat
- Geothermally carved ice caves (view from safe distance only)
- Remote highland wilderness and volcanic terrain
- Volcanic heat and glacial ice side by side
Nearby Attractions
- Askja caldera and Víti crater (northwest)
- Herðubreið table mountain (known as the queen of Icelandic mountains)
- Dettifoss waterfall (Europe's most powerful, further north)
- Holuhraun lava field from the 2014–2015 eruption
- Dreki mountain huts at Askja for overnight stays
- Jökulsá á Fjöllum glacial river canyon
How to Get There
- Highland F-roads from Route 1 via Möðrudalur
- Capable 4×4 vehicle essential; multiple river crossings
- Mountain hut available (book through FÍ)
- Roads typically open late June to early September
- Register your travel plan at safetravel.is
Best Time to Visit
- July–August for best road and weather conditions
- Book mountain hut well in advance for summer
- Allow 2–3 days for a proper Kverkfjöll visit
- Check conditions with the hut warden on arrival
- Not accessible in winter months
Planning help
Kverkjokull (Kverkjökull) Glacier FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.