Reynisfjara near Vík í Mýrdal is one of Iceland's most iconic locations. The black lava sand, basalt columns, and Reynisdrangar sea stacks have made this beach world-famous — including as a filming location for Game of Thrones. But during the winter of 2025/2026, nature fundamentally reshaped the shoreline.

What happened?

Unusually persistent easterly winds carried the black sand westward toward Dyrhólaey for months. Normally, Iceland's prevailing south-westerly winds move sand in the opposite direction, naturally replenishing the beach. This mechanism failed throughout the entire winter.

In early February 2026, a landslide beneath Reynisfjall mountain added to the destruction, sending rocks and debris onto the beach. The surf moved boulders weighing up to two tonnes across considerable distances.

How bad is it?

Sigurður Sigurðarson, coastal engineer at the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration, says: "I have never before seen changes of this magnitude to the appearance of the shoreline in this area."

Local landowner Guðni Einarsson, whose family has farmed the land for seven generations, confirms: "This is by far the greatest that we have seen."

Wide stretches of sand where visitors walked just months ago are now steep erosion cliffs or underwater. The erosion has reached the warning signs at the beach edge — even the car park is at risk.

What does this mean for visitors?

The Reynisdrangar sea stacks and basalt columns remain visible — though the columns now sit within the surf at high tide. The Hálsanefshellir cave is currently cut off by the sea and inaccessible.

Visitors are currently directed to the upper viewing platforms rather than walking down to the waterline. Before visiting, check the current hazard level at SafeTravel Iceland.

The old rule applies more than ever: Never turn your back on the ocean. The buffer zone of sand that once gave time to retreat from sneaker waves no longer exists.

Will the beach recover?

Experts are cautiously optimistic. Sigurður Sigurðarson emphasises that the changes were not caused by climate change — the land is actually rising as glaciers retreat. Relative sea levels have fallen rather than risen in many parts of Iceland.

Guðni Einarsson hopes: "We need westerly winds for a few weeks and then hopefully the sand will come back."

However, the long-term trend is clear: fifty years ago, the shoreline was approximately 500 metres further out.

Bottom line

Reynisfjara remains a spectacular place — perhaps especially right now. The raw power of nature is on display like rarely before. If you're visiting in the coming months, be prepared for changed conditions and follow current safety guidelines.