Herðubreið

Herðubreiðarlindir is a rare green oasis in the lava: springs, lush vegetation, and a concentration of wildlife compared to the surrounding desert. In summer, rangers are on duty with current conditions. There’s a hut and a tended campground, toilets, and several short walks starting from the area. It’s the logical place to get briefed, fill bottles, and stage your climb.

This landscape sits where diverging tectonic plates and a mantle plume keep building and reshaping the earth. The Askja–Herðubreið area showcases that fire-and-ice dynamic—volcanic forms rising from vast lava while erosion sculpts everything back down—giving the mountain its otherworldly setting.

Local lore remembers the outlaw Fjalla-Eyvindur spending a winter at Herðubreiðarlindir—hardy proof of how unforgiving (and captivating) this region can be. Around the springs you’ll find wetlands, lush grasses, and seasonal birdlife; beyond that, it’s stark lava and big skies.

Late June to early July is the sweet spot: F-roads are typically open, conditions are more stable, and crowds are minimal even by Highland standards. July remains good; August is busier across the interior and evenings shorten. September brings fewer people but more rain risk. Start at dawn for the long day and best odds of clear summit views. If you don’t have a 4x4 or the time for a full climb, it’s still a striking landmark to admire from afar on a clear day.