Víðidalur Valley
Valleys, Outdoors, Nature
Víðidalur, Northwest Iceland
Mælifell is a small but extraordinarily photogenic cinder cone volcano sitting alone on the vast black ash desert of Mælifellssandur in the southern highlands. What makes it truly remarkable is its coating of vivid green Racomitrium moss — a striking contrast against the surrounding dark sands and the flanks of nearby Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
The cone itself rises about 200 m above the plain and can be climbed in under an hour from the base, rewarding you with views over the sandur, the glacier, and the stark highland landscape stretching to the horizon. On clear days the summit offers a remarkable panorama of the glacier cap and adjacent mountain ridges.
Mælifell is reached via the F210 (Fjallabak Southern Route) or F232 highland roads, requiring a capable 4×4. Access is typically June to September. The route passes through the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. River crossings may be required depending on the approach; check conditions locally before departure.
