Best for
Fire-and-ice experience
Hot springs, steam vents, and ice caves.
Kverkjokull (Kverkjökull) Glacier Iceland: Kverkfjöll Geothermal & Ice Caves
A northeastern Vatnajökull outlet where volcanic fire meets glacial ice—home to the extraordinary Kverkfjöll geothermal area and ice caves.
Updated February 1, 2026By the Iceland.org Travel Team
Region
Northeast Vatnajökull
Geothermal area—exercise extreme caution.
Kverkjökull is where Iceland's dual nature—fire and ice—is most dramatically on display. This 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 billowing from the glacier surface. The result is one of Iceland's most extraordinary and otherworldly landscapes, accessible only to those willing to make the challenging highland journey.
Safety + sourcing
Last updated: 2026-02-01
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.
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
- Dramatic ice formations carved by geothermal heat
- Geothermally carved ice caves (view from safe distance only)
- Remote highland wilderness with raw volcanic landscapes
- One of Iceland's most powerful displays of fire meeting ice
Nearby Attractions
- Askja caldera and Víti crater (northwest)
- Herðubreið table mountain—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.