Hvítserkur: The Dragon of the North

May 2025

Photo credit: Visit North

Out along the rugged coastline of Vatnsnes Peninsula, where seals bob in the waves and the wind carries the scent of salt and stone, you'll find one of Iceland's most curious sights:

Hvítserkur — a jagged, weather-beaten sea stack rising 15 meters from the waters of Húnafjörður.

Standing alone in the surf, Hvítserkur looks less like a rock and more like something alive — a prehistoric creature caught mid-step on its way into the sea.

Some say it looks like a dragon.

Others see an elephant or a troll frozen by the first light of day.

Whatever you see, one thing is certain: you won't soon forget it.

The Story Behind the Stone

According to Icelandic folklore, Hvítserkur was once a troll who lived in the mountains to the east.

One night, he ventured down to the shore to destroy a nearby Christian monastery — but he lingered too long, and when the first light of dawn broke across the fjord, he was turned to stone, forever trapped by the rising tide.

It's an old story, but standing there, with the sea swirling at the base of the blackened rock, it's easy to believe.

"Hvítserkur" means "white shirt," a nod to the streaks of guano left by the countless seabirds who now call the rock their home.

Photo credit: Visit North

Things to Know Before You Go to Hvítserkur

Getting There:

Hvítserkur is located off the eastern side of the Vatnsnes Peninsula. From the Ring Road near Blönduós or Hvammstangi, follow signs toward Vatnsnes and look for the marked turn-off to Hvítserkur.

The Walk:

It's a short walk down a dirt path from the small parking lot to a viewpoint above the rock.
For those who don't mind a bit of a scramble, there's also a rougher path leading down to the beach — where you can walk along the black sands and see Hvítserkur from below. (Watch the tide carefully if you venture onto the beach.)

When to Visit:

Early morning or late evening light makes Hvítserkur truly magical, casting long shadows and turning the sea stack into a silhouette against the colorful sky.

What to Bring:

A windbreaker (it's often blustery), good shoes for walking the uneven ground, and a camera — though no photo ever quite captures the feeling of standing there.

More Than Just a Rock

At Key to Iceland, we believe that the best places aren't always the biggest or the loudest — sometimes they're the quiet ones, tucked away at the edge of the map, waiting for the right traveler to find them.

Hvítserkur is that kind of place.

It's not just a photo stop.

It's a reminder that Iceland's landscapes are full of old and wild stories written into the rocks and whispered by the waves.

Let Hvítserkur show you that even the smallest detours can lead to incredible memories.