Námafjall Geothermal Area
Námafjall is a geothermal mountain east of Lake Myvatn in North Iceland, and Hverir is the active geothermal field at its base, also known as Hverarönd. The site features boiling mud pots, hissing steam vents, and slopes stained yellow, orange, and red by mineral deposits, all driven by the Krafla volcanic system whose magma chamber sits just 3 to 5 kilometres underground. It is one of the most visually intense and accessible geothermal areas in Iceland, sitting directly off Route 1.
Iceland's Most Accessible High-Temperature Geothermal Field, Called Hell's Kitchen by Locals
The area is powered by the Krafla volcanic system, the same system responsible for the eruptions known as the Krafla Fires that reshaped this entire part of North Iceland between 1975 and 1984. Groundwater seeps down through cracked basalt, heats near the magma chamber, picks up gases and minerals, and returns to the surface under pressure. Where it escapes through surface cracks as steam it creates fumaroles; where it breaks down surrounding rock into clay-rich slurry it forms the bubbling mud pots. The sulphurous hydrogen sulphide gas responsible for the strong rotten-egg smell is an unavoidable feature of any visit. Icelanders historically called the site Eldhús Djöfulsins, the Devil's Kitchen, for the constant hissing and boiling. The slopes of Námafjall itself are stained vivid shades of ochre, sulphur yellow, and grey-green from mineral deposits, making the landscape appear almost extraterrestrial.
A marked walking path weaves safely between the mud pots and fumaroles, taking around 20 to 30 minutes to complete. The ground is unstable and superheated in places; staying on the marked path is mandatory for safety. A hiking trail also leads up Námafjall itself, a moderate one-hour climb that rewards with a panoramic view over the geothermal field below and the broader Myvatn area. Most visitors combine Hverir with the nearby Krafla volcano, Víti crater, and Dimmuborgir lava formations on a full Myvatn day.
Námafjall Hverir is located directly off Route 1 approximately 6 kilometres east of Reykjahlíð, making it one of the easiest geothermal sites in Iceland to reach. A large car park serves the site and charges a parking fee of around 1,200 ISK, payable via the Parka app. Entry to the geothermal field itself is free. There are no toilet facilities on site, so stopping in Reykjahlíð beforehand is advisable. The site is open year-round and remains dramatic in all seasons.
