Katla Geopark Awarded for Viewing Trail at Eyjafjallajökull

Katla Geopark has received the Icelandic Tourist Board's Environmental Award for 2025. The award is given for the successful design and improved safety of a new viewing path and photo spot at Þorvaldseyri under the Eyjafjöll mountains. The project is a collaboration between Katla Geopark, Rangárþing eystra and landowners.

Safety and experience go hand in hand: The goal of the project was to improve tourist safety and better manage traffic in the area. A popular photo spot on the highway had created a hazard as visitors often stopped their cars and walked along the road to take photos of the volcano. With the new path, the flow of visitors is now directed safely from the parking lot.

Grants from the Tourist Attractions Development Fund made it possible to design and implement the project with the goal of increasing safety and improving education about the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption.

An informative footpath and improved accessibility: The project involved the construction of a 220-meter-long footpath that runs from the parking lot at Þorvaldseyri. The path is laid with gravel in so-called eco-raster grids that blend well with the environment. Special attention has been drawn to the fact that the name "Eyjafjallajökull" is spelled out in white stones in the path, which gives the area a fun look.

Along the path are 16 information signs that tell the story of the eruption and show different rock types. The signs have QR codes that link to the geopark website for those who want to learn more. At the end of the path, large columnar rocks have been installed to serve as seats, and a line has been set up to demarcate the area from the main road.

About the Award: The Icelandic Tourist Board's Environmental Award has been awarded annually since 1995. It is given to projects that are considered exemplary in terms of sustainable development, quality of design and planning. This is the tenth time that the award has been given to a project that has received funding from the Tourist Destinations Development Fund.

Katla Geopark hereby wishes to express its gratitude to the Tourism Site Infrastructure Fund, as well as to Rangárþing eystra and the landowners, for the excellent cooperation on this project.