Hjörleifshöfði cave (Yoda cave)

63.2500° N, 18.4552° W

Hjörleifshöfði mountain was once an island in the Atlantic Ocean. It is of volcanic origin but was covered by a glacier at the time of its formation. It consists of palagonite, which is a type of rock, formed from the interaction between water and the rapidly cooling magma of the eruption, also called volcanic glass. The area was used as a location for the 2016 Star Wars spinoff film Rogue One. It is quite fitting because the opening of the Hjörleifshöfði cave looks exactly like an enormous Yoda – the legendary Jedi Master from the Star Wars movies. That’s why it’s often referred to as ”The Yoda-Cave”. From the parking lot, facing the cave, if you look to your right, out into the black sand, you can see a huge rock formation in the middle of the black sand. It takes around 30 minutes to walk there. Don’t recommend driving there because your car could get stuck in the sand. Drones are allowed in this area.

To get to the cave you must drive a short gravel road on the west side of Hjörleifshöfði mountain, it’s about a 5-10 min drive from the main road and you’ll know it when you see it. You can park right in front of the cave.

Surrounding locations:​​

• Dyrhólaey
• Vík í Mýrdal
• Reynisfjara beach
• Þakgil

Tours in the area: