Hveravellir

Hveravellir is a geothermal hot-spring area sitting at roughly 650 metres elevation in the Icelandic Highlands, midway along the Kjölur route (F35) between the Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers. The site has been known since the saga age — the outlaw Fjalla-Eyvindur reportedly sheltered here in the 18th century — and its vivid blue-and-orange pools, silica terraces, and fumaroles make it one of the most photogenic geothermal areas outside Mývatn.

A small geothermal pool beside the hut complex is open for bathing and is the perfect place to warm up after a long highland drive. The hot-spring field itself is roped off to protect the fragile silica formations, but a well-marked boardwalk allows close inspection of the boiling pools and coloured mud formations.

Hveravellir is accessible only by 4WD or highland bus in summer (roughly June to September); the F35 is closed in winter. A mountain hut with sleeping-bag accommodation, a small café, and basic facilities are operated by the Iceland Touring Association (FÍ). This is an excellent overnight stop for travellers crossing the Highlands by car or mountain bike.