Helgrindur’s volcanic peaks shape the landscape of the Snæfellsnes peninsula

In the centre of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, Helgrindur (also called Lýsuskarð, Lysuhóll or Lysukard) forms a dramatic volcanic backdrop to the fishing port of Grundarfjörður. Its sharp ridges, often crowned by snow that lingers all year, are part of a living volcanic system which continues to help define local geography and weather.

A natural barrier between north and south

Helgrindur spans 2–3 kilometres in width, stretching from southeast to northwest between the large northern bay of Breiðafjörður and the southern Faxaflói. It is situated around 105 kilometres north of Reykjavík, across the waters of Faxaflói. This position makes the mountains a border not just for landscapes but for weather: storms can whistle so fiercely through the passes that their howling is audible even down in the town below. The two bays regularly experience contrasting weather, which can be dramatically emphasised along Helgrindur’s wind-swept ridges.

A product of ancient and recent volcanic activity

The geological story of Helgrindur is closely tied to the Snæfellsnes volcanic belt, which stretches from the famous Snæfellsjökull volcano in the west, through Helgrindur, and eastward to other volcanic structures like Vatnafell and Ljósufjöll. The rocks here include both alkaline hyaloclastite basalt and picrite basalt, punctuated by a central area of rhyolite. The oldest volcanic material in the massif dates back 1.4 million years, lying above an even older, now-inactive rift zone created 10–7 million years ago.

A fissure swarm runs for around 30 kilometres, cutting from the southeastern portion of the range all the way into the sea at its northwest end. While Helgrindur is classed as potentially active today, its most recent volcanic eruptions, both basaltic in type, took place over 1,100 years ago. Reports suggest these activities took place in the middle southern part of the system.

Three distinct peaks dominate the range: Tröllkerling at 891 metres in the southeast, Böðvarskúla at 988 metres in the centre, and Kaldnasaborgir (also known as Kaldnasi) at 986 metres in the northwest. Although their dramatic appearance from below might seem intimidating, the mountains are considered approachable for experienced hikers, and reward those who reach the summits with expansive views in all directions.

TopicsGrundarfjörðurHelgrindurIcelandic volcanoesSnæfellsnes