Hjörleifshöfði & Gígjagjá Cave

The Hjörleifshöfði cave hike combines a short climb, a Viking-age legend and one of the most photographed caves in Iceland. Hjörleifshöfði is a lone, 221 m hill rising from the flat black sands of Mýrdalssandur, about 15 km east of Vík. On its flank is Gígjagjá, a cave whose opening, seen from inside, resembles the profile of a famous film character, earning it the nickname Yoda Cave.

This loop is about 5 km with around 220 m of ascent and takes roughly an hour and a half. It climbs onto the grassy top of the hill, where the views stretch across Mýrdalssandur to the sea and inland to the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, then returns to the base. The cave is a short walk along the base of the hill and easy to add on.

The hill is named after Hjörleifur Hróðmarsson, the foster brother of Ingólfur Arnarson, traditionally considered the first permanent settler of Iceland. According to the sagas, Hjörleifur was killed here by his slaves, who fled to islands later named Vestmannaeyjar. A grave mound on the summit is said to be his. Whether or not the story is true, standing on the hilltop above the empty sands makes it easy to imagine those first settlers arriving on this exposed coast.

Highlights

• Gígjagjá, nicknamed the Yoda Cave
• Views across the black sands of Mýrdalssandur
• A Viking-age legend and a summit grave mound
• Quiet, easy hiking close to Vík

The route

Getting to the trailhead

Hjörleifshöfði is about 15 km east of Vík, signposted off the Ring Road. A short gravel track leads to a car park at the base of the hill; it is usually passable for normal cars, but drive carefully on loose or sandy sections. Parking costs about 1,400 ISK per car per day (as of September 2026), paid via EasyPark (zone 870). There is no public transport to the trailhead.

Where to stay

Vík has hotels, guesthouses and a campsite. Farms and guesthouses east along the Ring Road offer more options. Wild camping on Mýrdalssandur is not permitted.

Best time to hike

Hjörleifshöfði can be visited year-round. Summer brings long days and green slopes; winter brings short days and icy paths. Early morning and evening are quietest and have the best light.

Safety

The trail is steep in places and can be slippery. In the cave, watch for rockfall and uneven ground. Mýrdalssandur lies in the flood path of the Katla volcano beneath Mýrdalsjökull; follow any warnings from the Icelandic Met Office. Check vedur.is and call 112 in an emergency.