Place · North Iceland
Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters
Walk among rounded pseudocraters beside Mývatn, where lava and wet ground created a landscape unlike an ordinary volcano.
Plan a real visit
Your visit at a glance
- Time on site
- 45–75 min on site · editorial estimate; travel extra
- Start
- The designated visitor parking by Sel Hotel Mývatn at Skútustaðir on the southern lakeshore.
- Choose the walk
- The shorter western loop takes about 20–30 minutes of walking. For Tjarnahringur around Stakhólstjörn, plan about 2.9 km and 1–2 hours; this extension is outside our short-visit allowance.
- What to notice
- Rounded pseudocraters, lake views and wetland birdlife; these are not individual volcanic vents.
- Protection and fees
- Keep to marked paths in the protected landscape. Check the visitor-area signs for parking terms and any charges before setting off.
These small rounded hills tell a different story from Kerið. They formed where hot lava met wet ground and expanding steam broke through, leaving crater-like shapes without a separate volcanic vent below each one.
It is a good place to lower the pace. Walk a short loop, look back across the water and give the birds space; the pleasure is in the close detail as much as the view.
- A useful time allowance
- 45–75 minutes for a short visit — our allowance
- Season and conditions
- Year-round, subject to current access and conditions
- Getting there
- Independent visit; see arrival details below
Make the next choice
Plan your next step
Start with the option that matches how you will visit Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters. The alternative is useful only if it fills another gap in your plan.
These parts of your trip are already arranged. Keep the guide handy and check conditions before you go.
Start with the shorter paths
Begin at the signed visitor area near Sel Hotel Mývatn. Choose the short crater paths and allow 45–75 minutes including pauses. Read the trail sign before committing to the longer circuit around the wetland.
Do not climb unmarked slopes for a photograph. The shapes and vegetation are fragile, and the wetland supports birdlife; the designated paths provide the visit without wandering through nesting habitat.
A Mývatn day with variety
Our suggested sequence is Skútustaðagígar, Dimmuborgir, lunch, then Hverir. It moves from lake and pseudocraters to lava formations and active geothermal ground.
For a gentler day, keep only the craters and Dimmuborgir and finish by the lake. The parent Mývatn guide helps you choose an overnight base and decide whether another northern excursion needs its own day.
Some source checks are due for an update. Confirm current prices, timetables and access with the linked official source before making plans.
Sources & editorial review · 2026-10-01
Time allowances and suggested combinations are our editorial recommendations. Check the provider for current access, opening times and conditions.
- Visit North Iceland — Skútustaðagígar — checked 2026-10-01
- Conservation authority — Skútustaðagígar — checked 2026-10-01
- Icelandic Tourist Board — crater trail — checked 2026-10-01
- Conservation authority — Mývatn walking routes — checked 2026-10-01
- Visit North Iceland — Tjarnahringur trail — checked 2026-10-01
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Connect this guide with the rest of your trip.
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