Eldborg — Attraction in undefined

Eldborg crater was the first major attraction we visited on our 8 day trip through Iceland in September 2018, and boy was it a wonderful beginning to the trip.

Blessed with unexpectedly and, from what we'd been told, uncharacteristically sunny weather, after several weeks of semi-intermittent rain, which had stopped the night of our arrival, we traveled up the road north of Borgarnes, where we'd slept our first night. After a half-day of excitedly gaping out the car window at the surreal scenery, we noticed the crater on our map and decided to stop by for a closer look.

Leaving the car at the nearby Snorrastadir Farmstead, we embarked on the short (~1 hour at a leisurely pace) hike towards the volcano. Crossing the river, the fairly wide path winds through shrubs and passes the occasional (and, we'd learn, omnipresent) grazing sheep, leading through a landscape which, under the autumn's yellow-brown colours, seemed reminiscent of the Dead Marshes from the Lord of the Rings, making for an appropriate transition to the very Mordor-esque, if short, climb to the crater's edge. Though a bit steep, there are poles and chains for support (although I'm sure most people can do very well without).

Once at the top of the crater, we were treated to an amazing 360 degrees view of the surroundings, with the ocean, sun setting lazily above it, on one side, and steep mountains on the other.

Though, as mentioned, only the first of many attractions we would see, Eldborg cemented our opinion that Iceland is nothing short of Europe's New Zealand. Certainly worth the short hike, if you happen...

Cool and easy hike to an old volcanic cone. If you’re active and healthy, it will take only 45 to 60 minutes one way. Maybe a little longer if you’re being super careful with your footing. It’s pretty flat but very rocky most of the way, until right at the end when you climb up the cone to the rim, and there you’ll find stairs with a chain you can hold onto. The views from the top are amazing—both the surrounding landscape and peering into the cone (FYI you can’t descend into the cone, just look down from the rim). Probably only worth going if it isn’t super foggy and cloudy, so you can see the 360° view from the top.

The trail begins just beyond the wooden bridge, next to the parking and campsite. When heading to the official trailhead parking lot there is an earlier turn off to the right, so you’ll want to keep going a bit further. If you do stop at this earlier turnoff you’ll have to wade across a river to access the trail (it’s not the official...

We had some time but the weather wasn’t great. Still we went ahead with the hike since it was quite a short one and not too difficult, although pretty exposed. The views were awesome and the colors were so vibrant even tho the sky was overcast and eventually rained. The wind was very strong tho, which made it really cold out there. We were very cold the whole time and wet in the end but I think it was well worth the effort. Good to start early because we met more people heading in as we were on our way out. It’ll be easier to get a parking spot too. Also watch out for a bonus small crater (not sure if it is one but sure looked like one) that is worth a...