Hiking trails

Hörgsnes

A marked circular route runs from the Hörgsnes parking lot to the cliff Hörgur and Gíslahellir, where one can find beautiful views over Breiðafjörður and often see seals sunning themselves on the skerries on the beach.

Around 500 m, 30 minutes – 1 hour. Elevation 50 m.

Smiðjutóftin

From the roots of the old road on Þingmannaheiði, you can get to Smiðjutóftin, protected archaeological remains named after Gestur spaki Oddleifsson. The remains are approx. two hundred meters above the Ring Road, west of Þingmannaá.

Around 500 m, 30 minutes – 1 hour. Elevation 10 m.  

Þingmannaá and Nafnlausi fossinn

From the recess at the root of Þingmannaheiði is a marked circular route that runs along the banks of Þingmannaá and back down to the old road. Here you can see beautiful views over the river canyon and “Nafnlausi fossinn” (the Nameless Waterfall), stately cairns and pretty ash trees. At the top of the trail, you can see neat potholes in the rocks by the river.

Around 500 m, 30 minutes – 1 hour. Elevation 200 m. 

Þingmannaheiði

This is an ancient public road that runs between Vatnsfjörður and Vattarfjörður and is adorned with beautiful cairns; a part of the road is within the nature reserve. A rough vehicle road was built over the heath in 1951 and is passable on foot; it occasionally follows the old road and the row of cairns.

24 km, 6 hours. Elevation 500 m. 

Lambagil

A marked circular route runs from the recess for cars by the roots of Þingmannaheiði to the old forestry, into Vatnsdalur to Lambagil and along Vatnsdalsvatn over Mörkin, offering beautiful views over Vatnsdalsvatn and diverse landscape. East of the lake in Lambagilseyrar, birch grows higher than anywhere else in the Westfjords.

5 km, 3 hours. Elevation 200 m. 

Vatnsdalsvatn and Vatnsdalur

There are many hiking opportunities in Vatnsdalur, and it’s easy to find a suitable trail. The circular route around the lake is 9 km long, but shorter trails are available to suit the interest and resilience of each individual. From where the road ends by the northern part of Vatnsdalsvatn, it’s about 3 km to the heart of the valley where you can see beautiful waterfalls. Vatnsdalsá and Útnorðursár that flow into the heart of the valley to the west are usually difficult to cross and can be dangerous. Visitors should not be in Vatnsdalur when herding is in progress in the fall, mainly to prevent them from leading the sheep that are being herded astray.

Smalahellan

From the Vatnsdalur parking lot where the road ends, a marked trail leads to Smalahellan. It’s a barren patch in the mountain where spring water flows down and smooths the steep cliff. According to legend, sheep herders in the area were considered skilful if they could run over the slippery cliff.

1.2 km, 30 minutes – 1 hour, no elevation. 

Helluvatn

A marked hiking trail runs from Flókalundur to Helluvatn north of Flókalundur. The ascent has beautiful views over Vatnsfjörður. Once you reach the lake, you can extend the walk by going around the lake.

6 km (9 km if you walk around the lake), 3–4 hours, elevation 300 m.  

Pennugil

From the parking lot by the lower bridge in Penna, an easy hiking trail is marked along the river canyon to a beautiful waterfall. On the way, you’ll see interesting rock formations in the canyon.

2 km, 1 hour, elevation 50 m. 

Lónfell

From the sign that marks the beginning of the hiking trail in Dynjandaheiði runs a marked and rocky trail to Lónfell. The mountain is sometimes called the baptismal font of Iceland, as many think it’s probable that this is where Hrafna-Flóki named Iceland. It offers good views over Breiðafjörður and the southern Westfjords highlands. Sparse vegetation and wilderness is a change from the vegetated lowlands. Hiking from Helluskarð is also possible, and the views on that hike are quite different, as it looks down into the fjords from the north.

5–6 km, 3 hours, Elevation 300 m.