Epic Travel → Europe → Iceland → West Iceland → Stefánshellir

♦ Intrepid Top Pick!

Location: Hallmundarhraun lava field, Borgarfjörður district, West Iceland

Time Required: 2-4 hours

Red Tape/Notes: If you have a vehicle that can handle the rough road out onto the lava field, and the right gear (helmet and headlamps – you shouldn’t need a rope), and you’re willing to wander around a bit and find an accessible entrance, you should be able to visit this cave on your own. I’ve read where people said they ran into locked gates, but I don’t remember any. You can also book a private tour and be certain to get into the cave – the only company I’ve seen advertising this is Extreme Iceland.

What’s Nearby?: Hallmundarhraun, Surtshellir, Víðgelmir, Húsafell Geothermal Pools, Hraunfossar, Barnafoss, Deildartunguhver, Snorralaug

Information on Stefánshellir is somewhat harder to find compared with the more famous Surtshellir (and possibly because it’s often considered as a part of Surtshellir). Stefanshellir is only slightly shorter than Surtshellir (it’s 1520 meters long, compared with Surtshellir’s 1970 meters) and has a ton of appeal, since for whatever reason it has experienced very little breakdown and therefore has floors that are largely clear and easy to walk through. It has a narrow, maze-like feel, and a lot of cool side passages and rock features that make it a really great cave.

Epic Travel → Europe → Iceland → West Iceland → Stefánshellir