Eldfell

Eldfell is the cinder cone that appeared literally overnight on January 23, 1973, when a volcanic fissure opened just metres from the town of Heimaey on the Westman Islands. The eruption lasted five months and buried a third of the town under lava and ash, but thanks to a heroic evacuation and lava-cooling operation, the harbour was saved and most of the island’s infrastructure survived.

Today Eldfell is a free, straightforward climb from the town — the hike to the 226 m summit takes about 30–45 minutes on a well-worn path through still-warm red scoria. The crater rim gives sweeping views over the whole island, the ocean, and the surrounding Westman Islands archipelago. In places you can still feel residual warmth in the ground near the crater.

Heimaey is reached by ferry from Landeyjahöfn (approximately 35 minutes) or from Þorlákshöfn (2.5 hours). The trailhead for Eldfell is a short walk from the ferry terminal and town centre. There are excellent visitor services on the island. The Eldheimar museum nearby tells the story of the 1973 eruption in vivid detail and is well worth combining with the climb.