Hiking: Volcanic Scenery, Black Sand Beaches and Lava Cliffs

Volcanic scenery, black sand beaches and lava cliffs.

The area has no dense forests or built-up trails. Expect open, exposed terrain with changing weather and occasional steep sections.

Hiking around Lake Kleifarvatn means walking through one of Iceland’s most striking volcanic landscapes. The entire area sits on the active Krýsuvík volcanic system, so the terrain is shaped by ancient lava flows, tectonic rifts, and past earthquakes. This creates a raw, rugged environment with dark hills, jagged rock formations, and open views across the lake. The volcanic setting gives every trail a dramatic, otherworldly feel, especially on days with shifting light or low clouds.

Along the shoreline, hikers often walk across black sand beaches formed from eroded basalt—the most common volcanic rock in Iceland. These beaches range from fine sand to coarse lava gravel, with some areas dotted with smooth black pebbles polished by the waves. The color contrast between the dark sand, the blue lake water, and the pale rhyolite mountains in the distance makes this one of the most visually unique hiking areas on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

In several places, the shoreline rises sharply into lava cliffs, created when ancient lava flows cooled and fractured over time. These cliffs have deep cracks, angular edges, and a layered structure that reveals the lake’s volcanic past. Erosion continues to shape the cliffs today, carving small notches and overhangs that add to the dramatic scenery. Together, the volcanic hills, black beaches, and rugged cliffs make hiking at Kleifarvatn both visually rich and very different from traditional marked trails elsewhere in Iceland.