Saxhóll Crater: A 5-Minute Stairway Climb Up a Volcano in Snæfellsjökull National Park

Saxhóll is one of the easiest big views on the Snæfellsnes peninsula: a reddish scoria crater in Snæfellsjökull National Park with a stepped metal staircase running straight up its flank to the rim. No trail-finding, no scrambling — just steps, and a view over a lava field to the sea within about five to ten minutes of leaving the car.

A Volcano Built From Ash and Rock

Saxhóll is a scoria (cinder) cone rising roughly 40 meters above the surrounding Neshraun lava field, formed by an explosive eruption geologists date to roughly 3,000-4,000 years ago. The loose, rust-red rock that gives the crater its color is scoria — light, air-filled volcanic material thrown out during the eruption and never compacted into solid lava. That same looseness is why the site needed intervention: foot traffic was eroding the slope before the staircase went in.

The Staircase

A black steel staircase, installed in 2016, follows the old footpath in two arching sections that meet at a resting platform partway up. Sources put the step count at roughly 385 to 396 steps to the summit rim. The steel was left to rust on purpose, so it now reads as a dark line against the red scoria rather than a stark man-made object. It protects the fragile slope from further erosion and turns what used to be a slippery scramble into a quick, sure-footed climb suitable for most fitness levels and older kids.

What You See From the Top

From the rim, the view opens out over the Neshraun lava field — a wide, rumpled sheet of pahoehoe and jagged aa lava dotted with moss — running down to the coastline and the sea beyond. On a clear day you can pick out other craters and, depending on cloud, Snæfellsjökull’s glacier-capped summit inland. The crater’s own interior, a bowl of black and red volcanic debris, is worth a look down before you turn to the wider view.

• Getting there: Just off Route 574 on the western side of Snæfellsnes, inside Snæfellsjökull National Park, roughly an hour’s drive from Stykkishólmur along routes 58 and 54/574.
• Duration: About 5-10 minutes up, similar back down; allow 20-30 minutes total with time at the rim.
• Difficulty: Easy — it’s stairs, not a hike, though there’s no railing at the very top edge.
• What to bring: Windproof layers (the rim is exposed) and sturdy shoes; the steps can be slick when wet or icy.
• Cost and facilities: Free, with a small parking area at the base and no on-site services.
• Timing: Good any time of day; go early or late for softer light on the lava field and fewer cars in the small parking area.

Where to Stay

The Stykkishólmur Inn puts you in the walkable old town of Stykkishólmur, on the harbour side of the peninsula and a natural base for a full day looping the western end of Snæfellsnes — Saxhóll, the surrounding lava fields, and the coast beyond — before returning for the evening without needing to relocate. Book direct on Ourhotels.is for the best rate.

Photo: Diego Delso via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.